- Results must be on the approved list, sat at an approved location and valid for 2 years from the award date.
- Each IELTS result carries a “UKVI number” that must go on the application.
- GOV.UK says applicants must be able to take a test within 28 days of booking, though not always at the nearest location.
- Skilled Worker, Student and Health and Care Worker routes need four skills; citizenship and settlement need speaking and listening.
Why there are different versions
GOV.UK's SELT guidance says results must be on the approved list, sat at an approved test location, and awarded within the two years before the application date. The IELTS versions that qualify are IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills. A standard IELTS result may be fine for a university or an employer and still be wrong for a Home Office application.
How a genuine booking unfolds
- Work out which test level your route needs on the GOV.UK English language page.
- Book through the IELTS SELT Consortium or one of its approved centres. GOV.UK says you should be able to take a test within 28 days, but perhaps not at the nearest location.
- Bring ID that GOV.UK accepts: a passport, convention or stateless persons travel document everywhere; in the UK also an eVisa or an expired BRP or BRC within the stated limits.
- Receive the result with its UKVI number.
- Enter the number in the application. GOV.UK says leaving it out may lead to refusal.
Which result does your route need
| Route (GOV.UK) | Skills tested |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, Student, Health and Care Worker, Start-up, Scale-up, Innovator Founder, High Potential Individual, Minister of Religion | Four: reading, writing, speaking, listening |
| Citizenship, settlement, partner, parent, International Sportsperson, Representative of Overseas Business | Speaking and listening only |
Two-minute checks before you pay
- Is the provider one GOV.UK names? In the UK: Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson.
- Does the test name say “for UKVI” or “Life Skills”, not plain IELTS?
- Is the fee the same on the provider's own site as on the one you were sent to? GOV.UK suggests comparing fees.
- Is anybody promising a band or a date? No genuine provider can.
The reference number
For IELTS the identifier is called the UKVI number. GOV.UK says an application can be refused without it. A fake result cannot carry a real one, which is one reason purchased results fail.
Third parties that look official
GOV.UK warns that some third parties claim to be affiliated with official Home Office partners when they are not. A site that offers a “guaranteed” band, or a date no centre can give you, is not part of that system. See fake IELTS certificates.
Settlement and citizenship
For citizenship and settlement, GOV.UK says the application will be refused if you send the wrong qualifications, and that settlement requirements are being changed. Read the current English language page before paying for anything. The full list of tests is on approved SELT tests, and timing is in the two-year rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is IELTS for UKVI?
It is an IELTS version on the Home Office list of approved secure English language tests, taken at an approved location.
Is ordinary IELTS accepted for a UK visa?
Not always. GOV.UK requires an approved SELT sat at an approved location, so check the route you are applying under.
Do I need a reference number?
Yes. GOV.UK says results need the unique identifier, which IELTS calls the UKVI number, or the application can be refused.
How soon can I get a test slot?
GOV.UK says you must be able to take a test within 28 days of booking, but it may not be at the location nearest to you.
Which skills do I need to prove?
It depends on the route. Skilled Worker and Student routes need four skills; citizenship and settlement need speaking and listening only.
How long is the result valid?
GOV.UK says SELT results are valid for two years from the date the test is awarded.