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Skilled Worker Visa - English language requirements

Understand the English language requirements under the Skilled Worker Visa route.

English language requirements

In addition to the other mandatory criteria, you must meet the English language requirement at Level B1 (AS-Level or equivalent) in order to be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa.

You can demonstrate that you meet the English language requirement if you meet one of the following criteria below:

Being a national of a majority English speaking country

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America.

Having an academic degree taught in English

  1. You must have:

    • a. a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate awarded in the UK; or
    • b. a degree or degree-level qualification taught in a university or college in a majority English-speaking country listed above (except Canada), or Ireland, which meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate awarded in the UK; or
    • c. a degree or degree level qualification which meets, or exceeds, the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s degree; master’s degree or doctorate and was taught or researched in English.

  2. This requirement must be proven by either:

    • a. a certificate from the awarding body; or
    • b. a transcript issued by the university or college that awarded the qualification; or
    • c. an official letter from the university or college that awarded the qualification containing information equivalent to a degree certificate. If the qualification was awarded by a body from outside the UK, the requirement must be proven by confirmation from UK ENIC (formerly known as UK NARIC) that the qualification meets the requirements at 1(b) or 1(c) above - the UK ENIC reference number must be provided to your HR Co-ordinator so that it can be included on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

Passing a secure English language test

You will need to provide a valid digital reference number from an approved provider to your HR Co-ordinator showing you have passed an approved English language test to the required level in the two years before the date of application. The list of approved tests and providers, updated from time to time, can be found here.

Having shown that you meet the required level in a previous successful immigration application

You will meet the English language requirement if you have already shown that you met the requirement, at the level required for your current application, in a previous successful application for entry clearance or permission to stay.