Do you need the Life in the UK test for ILR or citizenship?
Yes, unless you are exempt. GOV.UK says you need to take the Life in the UK test as part of an application for settlement (ILR) or British citizenship. If you have passed it before, you do not need to take it again.
There is one test for both, so if you passed it for settlement, you should not need to sit it again for citizenship. If the test is new to you, start with the test format and pass mark.
The test is separate from the English language requirement. Citizenship applications with ILR or settled status need both, and each has its own exemptions.
Life in the UK test for settlement (ILR)
Knowledge of life in the UK is part of the settlement rules, set out in one of two appendices depending on your route.
- Appendix KOL UK applies to settlement on the routes it lists, including Skilled Worker, Global Talent, UK Ancestry, Hong Kong BN(O), Long Residence, Private Life and Settlement Family Life.
- Appendix KOLL covers settlement on other routes. It sets out how applicants show knowledge of English and life in the UK where the rules require it.
Under current rules, GOV.UK says you can usually apply for ILR after living in the UK for 5 years. Earned settlement proposals would change that 5-year baseline, but they are not yet in force.
Residents of the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey have their own provision under Appendix KOL UK. They can provide a digital reference number showing they passed the Isle of Man's Life in the UK test, or the 'Citizenship Test' in Guernsey or Jersey, from a provider approved by the relevant Lieutenant Governor.
Life in the UK test for British citizenship
For naturalisation, the requirement is written into the law. Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981, paragraph 1(1)(ca), says an applicant under section 6(1) must have sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom.
GOV.UK's page on applying for citizenship with ILR or settled status says that, among other things, you must:
- be over 18
- prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
- have passed the Life in the UK test
GOV.UK also says that to apply for citizenship with ILR, you must usually have lived in the UK for 12 months after getting it, unless you are married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen.
Who is exempt from the Life in the UK test
GOV.UK lists four groups who do not need to take the test. The Immigration Rules and the British Nationality Act 1981 add detail for settlement and citizenship.
| Your situation | Need the test? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | No | GOV.UK, Appendix KOL UK |
| 65 or over | No | GOV.UK, Appendix KOL UK |
| Passed the test before | No | GOV.UK |
| Long-term physical or mental condition | No, with an exemption form or doctor's letter | GOV.UK, Appendix KOL UK |
| Partner, parent or dependent child over 18 settling with the 15-year English exemption (EL 1.1(d)) | No | Appendix KOL UK |
| Citizenship, where age or condition makes it unreasonable | May be waived in special circumstances | British Nationality Act 1981 |
Under Appendix KOL UK, your age counts at the date of application. The exemption for partners, parents and dependent children over 18 is tied to the English exemption after 15 years under Appendix EL 1.1(d).
For citizenship, Schedule 1, paragraph 2(1)(e) of the British Nationality Act lets the Secretary of State waive either or both of the language and life in the UK requirements in the special circumstances of a particular case. It applies where the applicant's age or physical or mental condition would make it unreasonable to expect them to meet them. It is a discretionary power, not an automatic exemption.
Exemptions and waivers depend on your own circumstances. If you are unsure, GOV.UK's find an immigration adviser page points you to the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) Adviser Finder for a registered adviser.
Life in the UK test medical exemption
GOV.UK says that for a long-term physical or mental condition you must provide either an exemption form or a letter from a doctor. For settlement under Appendix KOL UK, the condition must be one that prevents you meeting the requirement.
The GOV.UK exemption form page explains how to use the form:
- Ask a qualified medical professional to complete it.
- Include all original and current relevant medical reports that set out the diagnosis.
- Send the form with your application.
English language exemptions are a separate list
GOV.UK's English language page says you can currently prove your knowledge of English with an English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level, or with a degree taught or researched in English.
Nationals of the countries and territories on GOV.UK's English language exemptions list, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, do not need to prove their knowledge of English. Ireland is on that list for citizenship only.
Neither a degree taught in English nor being a national of a listed country appears on GOV.UK's list of people who do not need to take the Life in the UK test. Check both requirements for your route.
For settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the English requirement rises from B1 to B2 on the routes listed in HC 1691. The guide to Life in the UK test changes separates what is confirmed from what is only proposed.
When to take the test before you apply
GOV.UK says that if you pass, you get a unique reference number, and you need it to complete your citizenship or settlement application. So plan to pass the test before you apply.
Work back from the date you want to apply, leaving room to book on GOV.UK, revise, sit the test and get your result. The guides to booking the test and getting your result cover each step.
When the handbook topics feel familiar, try a timed 24-question mock test. Learn Britain's questions are original practice questions, and a practice score is feedback on your revision, not a prediction of your result.
Common questions
Do I need to take the Life in the UK test again for citizenship after ILR?
No, not if you have already passed it. GOV.UK says people who have passed the test before do not need to take it. You will still need your unique reference number to complete the application.
Is the Life in the UK test required for ILR?
GOV.UK says you need it for a settlement application unless you are exempt. The detailed rules are in Appendix KOL UK or Appendix KOLL, depending on your route.
I am 65 or over. Do I need the Life in the UK test?
No. GOV.UK says people aged 65 or over do not need to take it. Under Appendix KOL UK, your age is judged at the date of application.
Does a degree taught in English exempt me from the Life in the UK test?
No. A degree taught or researched in English can prove your knowledge of English, which is a separate requirement, but it is not on GOV.UK's list of Life in the UK test exemptions.
Is the Life in the UK test the same as the British citizenship test?
In the UK, yes. GOV.UK sets out one test, the Life in the UK test, for both British citizenship and settlement applications. Appendix KOL UK does refer to a separate 'Citizenship Test' taken by residents of Guernsey or Jersey.
Do I need the Life in the UK test for citizenship if I have EU settled status?
Yes, unless you are exempt. GOV.UK's page on applying for citizenship with ILR or settled status lists having passed the Life in the UK test among the requirements.
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