🇬🇧 UK Home Office Updates SELT English Test Requirements for Visa and Citizenship – April 2025

If you’re applying for a UK visa or citizenship in 2025, there’s important news you need to know. Starting April 2025, the UK Home Office has expanded its list of approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT), making it easier for international applicants to prove their English proficiency. Here’s a breakdown of the latest updates and how they affect your application.

What Changed in the 2025 SELT Update?

From January 1, 2025, the UK government will phase out the LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test and replace it with two new formats:

• LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT
• LANGUAGECERT General SELT

You can still use a previous ESOL SELT result if it’s less than two years old. Additionally, existing vouchers for ESOL SELT remain valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

The updated list of approved SELT providers includes:

• Pearson
• Trinity College London
• IELTS SELT Consortium
• LANGUAGECERT
• PSI Services – Skills for English UKVI

These changes aim to give applicants more flexibility and access to reliable, Home Office-approved tests worldwide.

Recommended for you: Massive 2025 UK Skilled Worker Visa Update: 200+ New Jobs Eligible

Who Needs to Take a SELT English Test?

The type of SELT test you need depends on your visa or immigration category:

1. 4-Skills Test (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)

Required for:

• Skilled Worker Visa
• Health and Care Worker Visa
• Student Visa
• High Potential Individual Visa
• Innovator Founder / Start-up Visa
• Scale-up Worker Visa
• Minister of Religion Visa
• Temporary Work – International Agreement

2. Speaking and Listening Only

Required for:

• UK Citizenship
• Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
• Spouse/Partner or Parent Visa
• International Sportsperson Visa
• Representative of an Overseas Business

Where Can You Take the SELT Test?

Inside the UK

Approved UK-based test providers include:

• Pearson
• Trinity College London
• IELTS SELT Consortium
• LANGUAGECERT

Outside the UK

International applicants can book their tests through:

• Pearson
• PSI – Skills for English
• IELTS SELT Consortium
• LANGUAGECERT

Important: Your test must be taken at an approved center and listed on the UK Home Office’s official SELT provider list. Results are valid for two years from the test date.

How to Book Your English Test in 2025

To book your test, visit the website of any approved SELT provider mentioned above. Test dates are typically available within 28 days, depending on your location.

When booking, your registration details must exactly match the ID document you plan to use. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• Passport
• UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
• Biometric Residence Card
• Valid EEA National ID Card
• Government-issued photo ID (for tests taken outside the UK)

Note: Emergency travel documents, photocopies, or expired IDs are not accepted.

After Your SELT Test – What to Expect

After passing the test, you will receive a unique SELT reference number. This must be included in your visa or citizenship application.

Each test provider issues a different type of reference number:

• Trinity College London: UER
• IELTS SELT Consortium: UKVI Number
• LANGUAGECERT: Candidate URN
• Pearson: SELT URN
• PSI (Skills for English): URN

You do not need to submit physical certificates. The UK Home Office will verify your test results directly using your reference number.

Final Thoughts

This 2025 update simplifies how you prove your English ability for UK immigration purposes. By choosing from a wider range of approved tests and providers, applicants now have greater flexibility and faster access to test centers both in the UK and abroad.

To get started, visit the official UK government SELT guidance page here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt

More Opportunities: