- The old Tier 1 and Tier 4 visa categories no longer exist and have been replaced by the Student visa, Skilled Worker visa and other named routes
- From 8 January 2026 the Skilled Worker route requires CEFR level B2 instead of B1
- Student visa applicants need B2 at degree level and B1 below degree level
- IELTS for UKVI in India costs INR 19,250 and IELTS Life Skills costs INR 18,000.
What Is IELTS for UKVI?
IELTS for UKVI is a Secure English Language Test approved by the UK Home Office for visa and immigration applications. It is delivered by the IELTS SELT Consortium and must be taken in person at an official IELTS for UKVI centre, because the Home Office requires an extra layer of test security.
Anyone applying to study, work, join family or settle in the UK from a country where English is not a majority language usually has to prove their English ability with a Secure English Language Test, known as a SELT. IELTS for UKVI is one of the tests on the Home Office approved list.
Outside the UK the approved SELT providers are the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT, Pearson and PSI Services (UK) Ltd. Inside the UK the approved providers are Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson. Under the IELTS brand the approved tests are IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills.
How Does IELTS for UKVI Differ From Standard IELTS?
The test content, format, timing, marking and nine band scale are identical to standard IELTS. The differences are administrative rather than academic. The UKVI version is booked at a designated SELT centre, carries additional identity and security checks, and the Test Report Form states that the test was taken for UK Visas and Immigration.
It is a common myth that IELTS for UKVI is harder than the regular test. It is not. The same Academic and General Training papers are used, with the same four components of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, so a band 6.5 on the UKVI version means exactly what a band 6.5 means on the standard test.
Choose IELTS Academic for UKVI if you are applying for a degree level course or professional registration in the UK. Choose IELTS General Training for UKVI for below degree level study, work experience or training programmes, and for many migration applications.
All in One IELTS Exam GuideRead →Which CEFR Level Do You Need for Each UK Visa Route?
The level depends entirely on the route. Student visa applicants need CEFR B2 at degree level and B1 below degree level. Skilled Worker applicants need B2 from 8 January 2026. Family route applicants need A1 for a first application, A2 to extend and B1 for settlement or citizenship.
The single most important 2026 change is on the work routes. On 8 January 2026 the English requirement for the Skilled Worker route rose from B1 to B2. If you already held a Skilled Worker visa before that date and are extending or updating it, you still only need B1 and normally do not have to prove your English again.
| Visa Route 2026 | CEFR Level Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa (degree level and above) | B2 | Your university may assess your English itself if you hold a combined CAS |
| Student visa (below degree level) | B1 | A SELT is normally required |
| Skilled Worker | B2 | Raised from B1 on 8 January 2026; B1 still applies to extensions of earlier grants |
| High Potential Individual | B2 | Entry clearance and permission to stay |
| Scale-up Worker | B2 | A B1 exception applies in limited cases |
| Innovator Founder | B2 | Entry clearance and permission to stay |
| Minister of Religion | B2 | Entry clearance and permission to stay |
| Family visa (first application) | A1 | IELTS Life Skills A1 accepted |
| Family visa (extension) | A2 | IELTS Life Skills A2, offered in the UK only |
| International Sportsperson (12 months or more) | A1 | IELTS Life Skills A1 accepted |
| Representative of an Overseas Business | A1 | Entry clearance and permission to stay |
All four components of reading, writing, speaking and listening must be at the required level unless the route specifically allows a speaking and listening only test. Nationals of certain majority English speaking countries, and applicants who already hold a degree taught in English, are exempt from the SELT requirement.
What Is IELTS Life Skills and Who Needs It?
IELTS Life Skills is the speaking and listening only SELT used for family and settlement applications. It is available at CEFR levels A1, A2 and B1, takes about twenty minutes and is taken with an examiner and one other candidate. There is no band score; you simply receive a Pass or a Fail.
Tasks are built around everyday subjects such as work, travel, housing, health and the weather. At A1 you describe things, give opinions, state preferences and ask for information. A2 adds comparing, planning, prioritising and persuading. B1 adds narrating, expressing certainty or possibility, and adjusting formality to the situation.
| Life Skills Level 2026 | Used For | Skills Tested |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Joining a settled family member, partner or spouse in the UK | Speaking and Listening |
| A2 | Extending permission to stay on the family route, offered in the UK only | Speaking and Listening |
| B1 | Indefinite leave to remain, settlement and British citizenship | Speaking and Listening |
One rule catches people out. If you pass IELTS Life Skills at a given level you cannot sit that same level again for two years, so only book the level your application actually requires.
IELTS vs TOEFL: Which English Test Should You Take?Read →What IELTS Scores Do UK Universities Ask For?
Most UK universities ask for around 6.0 overall for undergraduate entry and 6.5 overall for a masters, with minimum component scores attached. The University of Leeds, for example, requires 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component at undergraduate level and 6.5 with 6.0 in each component for masters degrees.
| Course Level 2026 | Typical IELTS Requirement (University of Leeds) |
|---|---|
| Pre-sessional English | 4.0 overall with no less than 4.0 in each component |
| Undergraduate | 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each component |
| Masters | 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each component |
| Research degrees | 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each component |
Requirements vary by university and by subject, so always check the entry requirements page for your specific course. If you need a Student visa for a pre-sessional English course, you generally have to present a SELT such as IELTS for UKVI unless you hold a combined CAS covering both the pre-sessional and the main degree.
How Do You Register for IELTS for UKVI in India?
Book online through the official IDP IELTS India website. Create an account, choose IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills, pick a city and a date, upload your passport and pay online. In 2026 IELTS for UKVI costs INR 19,250 and IELTS Life Skills costs INR 18,000 in India.
- Create an account on the official IELTS test operator website with your email and contact details.
- Select the correct test: IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS for UKVI General Training, or IELTS Life Skills at A1, A2 or B1.
- Choose an official IELTS for UKVI test centre and a date. UKVI dates are fewer than standard IELTS dates, so book several weeks ahead.
- Upload a clear scan of the passport you will carry on test day. The same passport must be used at the centre.
- Pay the fee online by UPI, credit card, debit card or net banking and save the confirmation email.
| Test 2026 | Fee in India (INR) |
|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training) | 19,250 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1) | 18,000 |
| IELTS Academic or General Training (paper or computer) | 19,000 |
| IELTS One Skill Retake | 12,650 |
Only scores from a designated IELTS for UKVI centre are accepted by the Home Office. A standard IELTS result, however good, will not satisfy the SELT requirement, so confirm that the centre is listed as a UKVI centre before you pay.
How to Book Your IELTS TestRead →When Do IELTS for UKVI Results Arrive?
Paper based IELTS for UKVI results are released thirteen days after the test date, and IELTS Life Skills results are released seven days after the test. Computer delivered IELTS results in India are much faster and usually appear within one to two days, with paper based standard IELTS taking seven days.
| Test Format 2026 | Results Available |
|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI (paper) | 13 days after the test |
| IELTS Life Skills | 7 days after the test |
| IELTS on computer | Within 1 to 2 days |
| IELTS on paper | 7 days after the test |
Your Test Report Form is valid for two years and clearly identifies the result as an IELTS for UKVI result, which is what the Home Office caseworker looks for. Plan your booking so that the result lands well before your visa application date.
Can You Cancel or Transfer an IELTS for UKVI Booking?
Yes, but the refund shrinks as the test date approaches. Cancelling more than fourteen days before the test returns seventy five per cent of the fee, seven to fourteen days returns fifty per cent, and within two days returns twenty five per cent. No refund is given on or after test day.
| Cancellation Notice 2026 | Refund of Test Fee |
|---|---|
| More than 14 days before the test | 75 per cent |
| 7 to 14 days before the test | 50 per cent |
| Within 2 days of the test | 25 per cent |
| On or after test day | No refund |
You may transfer your booking once to another available date within three months of the original date if you apply more than fourteen days ahead, with an administration fee of up to twenty five per cent. Requests made inside fourteen days are treated as cancellations. Applicants with documented medical emergencies, bereavement or military service can appeal for a larger refund within five days of the test date.