Can I use my higher education diploma so I don’t have to take a language exam?
Yes, you can!
But there are some aspects to keep in mind. First of all, the classes must have been conducted in English. Secondly, a special authority (Ecctis) must confirm that the obtained diploma corresponds to a British bachelor's degree.
If the diploma was received in one of the following countries, no Ecctis approval will be required:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- British overseas territories
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
If you education doesn't match the aforementioned requirements, you’ll have to take a language exam. For a fiancé or a spouse visa, all you have to do is score at the A1 CEFR Level in your test results. To extend a wife visa you’ll have to have risen to level A2 after living in Great Britain for 2.5. years. To obtain permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain), you’ll have to score at B1 level in the test. A1 and A2 level certificates remain valid for 2 years following the moment they are issued. If you know English well, you can score a B1 in your test for your first visa and consequently use the same certificate to also extend your spouse visa to attain permanent residence status as well.
Titles of exams suitable for these visas:
- IELTS SELT Consortium: ‘IELTS for UKVI’ or ‘IELTS Life Skills’
- LANGUAGECERT: ‘LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT’ or ‘LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT’ or ‘LANGUAGECERT General SELT’
- Pearson: ‘PTE Academic UKVI’ or ‘PTE Home’
- PSI Services: ‘Skills for English UKVI’
- Trinity College London: ‘Secure English Language Tests for UKVI’ – Integrated Skills in English (ISE) or Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)
Exams are suitable for a spouse visa or a fiancé visa which test for two language aspects – Listening and Speaking. But if you've chosen this type of exams to take where all four language aspects are tested (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening), you’ll need to score a passing grade for each of the four aspects.
Great news for applicants over 65 years old: you will not have to prove your knowledge of English!
Important note! You can only take exams in accredited organizations. The lists of addresses update about every three months. Our professionals always have an up-to-date list of these organizations’ addresses in any country in the world.