- A SELT must be on the approved list, sat at an approved location and awarded in the two years before you apply.
- The page's last-updated date was 5 October 2026 when we read it, and the list changes, so check it yourself.
- Each provider issues a reference number, and if it is missing your application may be refused.
- You should be able to take a test within 28 days of booking, but proximity is not guaranteed.
The tests and the reference each one issues
| Test named by GOV.UK | Reference on the result |
|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills | UKVI number |
| LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT, Academic SELT and General SELT | Candidate URN |
| PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home | SELT URN (Pearson) |
| Skills for English UKVI (PSI) | URN |
| Trinity ISE and GESE for UKVI | UER |
The reference names come from the same GOV.UK page. No physical documents are sent: the Home Office checks the result on the provider's online system using the number, so one wrong digit can hold up an application.
The providers
In the UK the guidance names Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson. Outside the UK it names PSI Services, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson. If a test is offered by anyone else, ask which of those it is run by before paying.
Four skills or speaking and listening only
Which test you need depends on the route, not only on the provider. According to GOV.UK, work and study routes such as Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Start-up, Innovator Founder and Scale-up Worker need a four-skills test. Citizenship, settlement, partner, parent, International Sportsperson and Representative of an Overseas Business need speaking and listening only. The level varies by route, and you should read the guidance for yours before booking, since a pass at the wrong level or in the wrong skills does not meet the rule. For how the dates work, see the two-year rule.
Checking an offer before you pay
- Is the test on the GOV.UK list by its exact name, such as IELTS for UKVI rather than a plain IELTS?
- Is it sat at an approved location, and run by one of the named providers?
- Will the result carry a reference number from that provider's own system?
- Does the price and booking page come from the provider's own site, not an agent promising a pass?
The warning on the page
GOV.UK warns against using an unauthorised provider and strongly recommends official channels. Its guidance applies to how you book as well as who runs the test: a company that offers a result, a “certificate” or a guaranteed score is not offering a test. The comparison between the plain and UKVI versions of one exam is in IELTS for UKVI, and how those sales work is in fake IELTS certificates. If something has gone wrong, how to report a scam lists the first steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SELT?
A secure English language test is an English test from the Home Office approved list, sat at an approved test location. The result must have been awarded in the two years before the application and carry the provider's reference number.
Which providers can I use?
GOV.UK names Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson in the UK. Outside the UK it names PSI Services, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson. Read the page for the current list.
Where is my reference number?
It is on the result. GOV.UK calls it the UER for Trinity, the UKVI number for IELTS, the Candidate URN for LANGUAGECERT, the SELT URN for Pearson and the URN for PSI. If it is missing from your application, GOV.UK says the application may be refused.
Do I need all four skills?
It depends on the route. GOV.UK lists work and study routes such as Skilled Worker and Student as four-skills, and citizenship, settlement, partner and parent as speaking and listening only. Check the guidance for your own route.
Can a third-party agent sell me a pass?
No genuine provider sells a pass. GOV.UK strongly recommends official channels to avoid an unauthorised provider. A result that is not on the provider's record will fail the Home Office check.