Life in the UK test changes: the short answer
The test has not changed yet, but it is under review. As of 17 September 2026, GOV.UK still describes 24 questions in 45 minutes, a 75% pass mark, a £50 fee and the official Guide for New Residents. A Home Office answer to Parliament in July 2026 gives no date for an updated test and says applicants will have sufficient notice of any changes.
Wider changes to settlement are a separate matter. Some are only proposals, with no published outcome yet. One has already been made: HC 1691 raises the English level for settlement on several routes, for applications made on or after 26 March 2027.
What is confirmed today
| Topic | Current position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Test format | 24 questions in 45 minutes; you need 75% or more to pass | GOV.UK |
| Fee | £50 | GOV.UK |
| Handbook | Official Guide for New Residents, as a book, eBook or audio; The Stationery Office (TSO) sells the 3rd edition, publishing date 28 January 2013 | GOV.UK, TSO |
| eVisa share code | Can be used as proof of identity; added to the test terms on 15 April 2025 | GOV.UK test terms |
| BRP or BRC as ID | Time-limited: the cut-off is 24 months after the card's expiry date or 31 December 2026, whichever is sooner | GOV.UK test terms |
| English for settlement | B2 instead of B1 on routes including Skilled Worker, for applications made on or after 26 March 2027 | HC 1691 |
To book, start from GOV.UK's Life in the UK test page. For more on the format and ID rules, see the test format guide and what ID you need for the test.
What the government has said about reviewing the test
The immigration white paper Restoring control over the immigration system (CP 1326), published on 12 May 2025, says: “We will also conduct a refresh of the Life in the UK test and how it operates.”
On 13 July 2026, Mike Tapp answered written question UIN 15780 for the Home Office. He said: “We are reviewing the test and will update it so that it better reflects the knowledge people need to live, work and take part in everyday life in the UK today. Our aim is to make the test clearer and more relevant.”
The same answer says the current Life in the UK contract expires in 2027. It says the government will announce any changes “in due course”, ensuring transitional arrangements are in place so that applicants have sufficient notice. It gives no date for an updated test and does not describe what those arrangements will be.
Earned settlement and 10-year ILR: not in the rules yet
In November 2025 the government published A Fairer Pathway to Settlement (CP 1448), with a consultation on earned settlement. It says the baseline qualifying period for settlement for most migrants will rise from 5 years to 10 years. This is a proposal and is not yet in the Immigration Rules.
Under the proposed minimum requirements, settlement applicants would need to:
- have English at B2 level
- show that they have passed the Life in the UK test
The consultation also asked how integration should be assessed. One option it gave was a formal test, such as a revised Life in the UK test. That is a consultation question, not a decision.
As of 17 September 2026, the earned settlement consultation page shows no published outcome. It says the Home Office is analysing the feedback.
The paper says settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and grants of settlement under the Windrush Scheme are out of scope of both the consultation and the planned reforms. People who already hold settled status are also out of scope.
GOV.UK's adviser page tells you to use the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) Adviser Finder to find a registered adviser. Start there if you are unsure how these proposals could affect your own plans.
B1 or B2 English for ILR: changes already in the rules
HC 1691, laid on 5 March 2026, raises the English requirement for settlement from B1 to B2. It applies to applications made on or after 26 March 2027, on routes including:
- routes under Appendix KoLL
- Skilled Worker
- Global Talent
- Long Residence
- Private Life
- Settlement Family Life
HC 1691 also removed the test requirement for one group. Since 26 March 2026, dependent children aged 18 or over at the date of application under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse no longer need to meet the English language requirements or pass the Life in the UK test.
Neither change alters the test's format, fee or handbook. For the wider rules, see who needs the test for settlement and citizenship.
Dates to watch
- 31 December 2026: the final cut-off in the current test terms for using a BRP or BRC as ID. If 24 months after your card's expiry date comes sooner, that earlier date applies.
- 26 March 2027: B2 English applies to settlement applications made on or after this date on the routes listed above.
- 2027: the current Life in the UK contract expires, according to the July 2026 written answer, which gives no exact date.
What this means for your revision now
Revise for the test as it is today. GOV.UK still says you will only be tested on the official Guide for New Residents, so keep that as your reference. The handbook guide explains which book to use and its official formats.
Until the government announces a change, be wary of material that claims to cover a new version of the test, and check its claims against GOV.UK.
Practise under today's conditions. Learn Britain's timed 24-question mock tests use original practice questions, not real test questions. Afterwards, review your mock test results topic by topic rather than only looking at the score.
Changelog
- 17 September 2026: first published. Checked against GOV.UK, the earned settlement consultation, HC 1691 and written answer UIN 15780.
Common questions
Will the Life in the UK test change in 2026?
Not so far. On 17 September 2026, GOV.UK still listed 24 questions, 45 minutes, a 75% pass mark and a £50 fee. The government is reviewing the test, but its July 2026 written answer gives no date: it says the current contract expires in 2027 and applicants will have sufficient notice of any changes.
Is there a new Life in the UK handbook for 2026?
The official sources still point to the existing book. GOV.UK says you will only be tested on the official Guide for New Residents, and TSO sells the 3rd edition, which has a publishing date of 28 January 2013.
Will I have to retake the test if it changes?
The July 2026 written answer does not say. It mentions transitional arrangements so that applicants have sufficient notice, without describing them. For now, GOV.UK says you do not need to take the test again if you have passed it before, for example if you passed it for settlement and are now applying for citizenship.
Is ILR increasing to 10 years?
It is proposed, not in force. A Fairer Pathway to Settlement (November 2025) says the baseline qualifying period for most migrants will rise from 5 to 10 years, but this is not yet in the Immigration Rules and no consultation outcome had been published by 17 September 2026. People who already hold settled status are out of scope.
Do I need B1 or B2 English for ILR?
HC 1691 raises the English requirement for settlement from B1 to B2 on routes including Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Long Residence, for applications made on or after 26 March 2027. The level that applies depends on your route and application date, so check with a registered adviser if you are unsure.
Go straight to the source
Keep these official sources handy as you revise.
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