Migratio United Kingdom · Guides · Find advisers · For advisers

B2 English for Skilled Worker visas from 2026

New Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker applicants must show English at level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. People who held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating need B1. Settlement applications from 26 March 2027 need B2 in speaking and listening.

The English requirement for work visas changed in 2026, and many people searching for it are trying to work out which version applies to them: B1 or B2, a test or a degree, a first application or an extension. The answer is spread across a GOV.UK route page, a points table in Appendix Skilled Worker and a separate Appendix English Language, and the three do not always use the same words.

This guide pulls them together. It covers who needs B2, who keeps B1, what counts as proof, the approved test providers and the minimum scores on the Home Office's approved test list, how long results last and the separate rule for settlement from 26 March 2027. The wording comes from GOV.UK's Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker pages, rules SW 4.1, SW 7.1 to 7.3 and SW 22A in Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix English Language, the Home Office's guidance on secure English language tests and the lists of approved tests, all read on 10 October 2026. It explains the rules and does not say which test or route to use.

Which level applies to whom

Appendix Skilled Worker awards 10 mandatory points for English, and the level is set in the points table in rule SW 4.1: "English language skills at level B2 or, where the applicant’s most recent permission was as a Skilled Worker and which was granted subject to a requirement at level B1, level B1." Rule SW 7.1 requires the applicant to show ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) to at least that level, and SW 7.2 requires them to meet the requirement as set out in Appendix English Language.

GOV.UK's Skilled Worker page puts the same rules in plain words:

  • a new applicant must show B2: "You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale."
  • a holder from before 8 January 2026 who is extending or updating needs B1: "If you had this visa before 8 January 2026 and you’re applying to extend or update it, you need level B1 English. You do not need to prove your knowledge of English again."
  • someone switching from another visa needs B2: "If you’re applying to switch from a different visa, you need level B2."
  • someone switching from a Health and Care Worker visa does not need to prove English again, and the Health and Care Worker page says the same for people switching from a Skilled Worker visa

The Health and Care Worker route uses the same wording and the same levels. Both pages also list nationals who do not need to prove English, and the Rules give the same list in EL 4.1.

One wrinkle is worth knowing. The Health and Care Worker page's section on updating says "If you provided proof of your knowledge of the English language when you first applied, you’ll need to provide the same proof again", while its English section says holders who had the visa before 8 January 2026 "do not need to prove your knowledge of English again." The online application will say what it asks for, and a sponsor or adviser can check which applies.

Who is exempt: nationality and profession

Appendix English Language rule EL 4.1 says an applicant meets the requirement if they are a national of one of these majority-English-speaking countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Overseas Territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America. Nationality is what counts, not where someone studied or lives.

There is also a profession route. Rule EL 9.1 says an applicant for entry clearance or permission to stay under Appendix Skilled Worker meets the requirement if they are being sponsored to work as a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or veterinarian and have passed an English language assessment accepted by the relevant regulated professional body as a requirement for registration. GOV.UK's version is: "You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve already passed an English Language assessment that is accepted by the relevant regulated professional body." It adds that vets may need to show they passed an assessment with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Finally, rule EL 3.1 treats an earlier application as proof, but only "at the level required for their current application." A B1 result from a previous visa does not meet a B2 requirement.

Proving B2 with a degree or a school qualification

Rule EL 5.1 lets an academic qualification meet the requirement. The qualification must be one of these under EL 5.2:

  • a bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctorate awarded in the UK
  • a degree or degree-level qualification taught in a university or college in a listed majority-English-speaking country (not Canada) or Ireland, which meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a UK bachelor's, master's or doctorate
  • a degree or degree-level qualification that meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a UK bachelor's, master's or doctorate and was taught or researched in English

The proof (EL 5.3) is a certificate from the awarding body, a transcript from the university or college, or an official letter from the university or college containing information equivalent to a degree certificate. If the qualification came from outside the UK, EL 5.4 adds a confirmation from the qualification and language assessments provider. GOV.UK describes this step as an assessment from Ecctis, which gives a code confirming the qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher and was taught in English. Whether a given foreign qualification is equivalent is that provider's decision and cannot be assumed.

Rule EL 7.1 adds a school route. An applicant meets the requirement with a GCSE, an International GCSE, an A level, a Scottish National Qualification at level 4 or 5 or a Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English (language or literature), awarded by an Ofqual-regulated (or SQA, Qualifications Wales or CCEA regulated) body following education in a UK-based school that began while the applicant was under 18. The proof is the awarding body's certificate or official transcript (EL 7.2). The qualification does not need a particular grade in the rule text, but it must be in English.

Proving B2 with a secure English language test

Where there is no degree or school qualification, the route is a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Rule EL 6.1 requires a valid digital reference number from an approved provider showing the applicant passed an approved test to the required level in each required component, in the 2 years before the date of application.

GOV.UK's SELT guidance says Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker applicants need a test that assesses reading, writing, speaking and listening. In the UK the approved providers are Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson. Outside the UK they are PSI Services (UK) Ltd, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson.

The approved-test list gives the minimum grades for B2 in all four components, for tests taken in the UK:

  • IELTS for UKVI: 5.5 in each of listening, speaking, reading and writing
  • PTE Academic UKVI: 59 in each component
  • LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT or General SELT: 60 in each component
  • LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT B2: 33/50 in each component (GOV.UK says this four-skill test was replaced from 6 July 2025 and existing results stay valid for 2 years)
  • Trinity Integrated Skills in English II: Pass in each component

The list for tests taken outside the UK shows the same B2 grades for IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI and the LANGUAGECERT tests, and adds Skills for English UKVI B2 (4 component) from PSI, with Pass in each component. The list is updated from time to time, so confirm on GOV.UK before booking.

Practical points from the guidance: the test must be on the approved list, taken at an approved test location and awarded in the two years before the application. GOV.UK says "You should be able to take a test within 28 days of booking, but it may not always be at the location nearest to you." The booking name must match your passport or other identity document. After passing you get a SELT unique reference number, which you use in the application; GOV.UK says if you do not include it, the application may be refused. "Test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded." A result from a test taken in the UK can be used for UK and overseas applications, and one taken overseas can be used for UK applications.

Components, resits and booking

Because the requirement is B2 in each of the four components, a single weak component fails the whole requirement. GOV.UK says "Where 2 or more components (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) of a test are examined and awarded together, you must show that you achieved the required scores in all the relevant components with the same test centre provider as part of the combined test assessment." It adds that in certain circumstances, if you failed one component, you may be allowed to sit that component again, and you should check the provider's terms before booking.

GOV.UK also warns about third-party sellers: "If you are booking a test through a third party provider, make sure you check their credentials." It says to confirm they are officially recognised by the test provider and their fees are the same as, or lower than, the price on the test provider's website. Test fees are set by providers, not by the Home Office, and are not listed here; check the provider's site.

Reasonable adjustments can be requested when booking, for example for a disability. The Rules also contain a mechanism for a test provider to exempt a component for a disability, but that provision (EL 8.3) is written for the Student route only.

Settlement: B2 in speaking and listening from 26 March 2027

English matters again at settlement. Rule SW 22A.1 says "Where the date of application is on or after 26 March 2027, the applicant must, unless an exemption applies, show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening to at least level B2." Before that date the settlement requirement is lower. Dependants have the same shape: rule SW 44.1 requires B1 in speaking and listening for dependants' settlement applications before 26 March 2027 and B2 on or after it.

Exemptions are in rule EL 1.1: aged 65 or over, under 18, or a disability that prevents the applicant from meeting the requirement, plus a narrower exemption for partners, parents and adult dependent children who have spent 15 years continuously in the UK with permission and meet extra conditions. For applications from 26 March 2027 those conditions refer to B2.

The GOV.UK settlement pages may lag behind the Rules on this point. The Rules text is the legal test. Settlement tests are speaking-and-listening tests, a different SELT type from the four-skill test used for the visa; the GOV.UK guidance lists settlement among the routes that need a test of speaking and listening. Our guide to partner settlement after 5 years covers the family route.

Worked examples (illustrative)

These examples are invented, they are not advice, and real cases turn on facts not shown.

Example 1. Ayesha is applying from abroad for a first Skilled Worker visa. She has a bachelor's degree from a university in her country, taught in English. Under EL 5.2(c) and EL 5.4, her degree could meet the requirement if the qualification and language assessments provider confirms it meets the UK standard and was taught in English. If it does not, a SELT at B2 within the last 2 years is the alternative.

Example 2. Joao held a Skilled Worker visa granted in 2024, subject to a B1 requirement, and is now extending with the same sponsor. GOV.UK says people who had the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating need B1 and do not need to prove English again.

Example 3. Grace is a Canadian national switching from a Graduate visa. Rule EL 4.1 lists Canada among the majority-English-speaking countries, so her nationality meets the requirement. A Canadian degree, by contrast, is excluded from EL 5.2(b), though nationality alone is enough here.

Example 4. Dmitri passed an IELTS for UKVI test with 5.5 in three components and 5.0 in writing. The approved list requires 5.5 in each, so that result would not meet B2.

Finding a regulated adviser

Which version of the English requirement applies depends on the type of application, the earlier permission and the evidence held. If you want a regulated adviser to check these against your documents, GOV.UK explains how to find an immigration adviser, and only IAA-registered advisers, solicitors and other qualified persons can give immigration advice in England and Wales.

The Migratio directory lists IAA-registered advisers (with their level) and SRA-regulated solicitors, each with their regulator and registration number. Migratio is not regulated by the IAA or the SRA and does not give immigration advice. This page explains how the rules work; it does not tell you what to do in your case.

Questions people ask

What English level do I need for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?

New applicants and people switching from another visa need B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. GOV.UK says people who had the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating need B1 and do not need to prove English again.

Can a UK degree prove B2 English for a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. Appendix English Language rule EL 5.2 accepts a bachelor's, master's or doctorate awarded in the UK, proven by a certificate, transcript or official letter from the awarding body. A degree from outside the UK needs confirmation from the qualification and language assessments provider.

What IELTS score is B2 for a Skilled Worker visa?

The approved test list shows IELTS for UKVI at 5.5 in each of listening, speaking, reading and writing for B2. It must be the IELTS for UKVI SELT test, taken at an approved location, and the result is valid for 2 years from the date it is awarded.

Do I need to retake an English test to extend my Skilled Worker visa?

GOV.UK says if you had the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating, you need B1 and do not need to prove English again. Earlier proof only counts at the level required for the current application (rule EL 3.1), so check the level your last grant was made under.

Does the B2 requirement apply to settlement?

Rule SW 22A.1 requires B2 in speaking and listening for Skilled Worker settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027, unless an exemption applies. Before that date the requirement is lower. GOV.UK's settlement pages may not yet reflect the change, and the Rules are the legal test.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-10.

Related guides

  • Spouse visa English requirement: A1, A2 and B1 explained — Partner applicants must show English at CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening for the first visa, and A2 at the extension after 30 months if A1 was used before. You can meet it by nationality of a listed country, a degree taught in English, or an approved SELT taken within two years. People aged 65 or over, and some with disabilities, are exempt.
  • Skilled Worker visa cost: worker and employer totals — A worker applying from outside the UK for up to 3 years pays £819 plus £1,035 a year in healthcare surcharge, and usually needs £1,270 held in savings. The employer separately pays a £525 certificate fee and the immigration skills charge, and its licence fee if it is new.
  • Switching from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa — A Student visa holder in the UK can apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa if the job and sponsor qualify and one of three course conditions is met: the course is finished, the job starts after it ends, or a full-time PhD is at least 24 months in. The in-UK fee is £943 for up to 3 years.
  • Graduate visa to Skilled Worker: timing and cost — A Graduate visa cannot be extended, but GOV.UK says holders may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa. The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027, and total time on Graduate and Skilled Worker new entrant terms is capped at 4 years.
  • Changing jobs on a Skilled Worker visa — A Skilled Worker must apply to update their visa if they move to a different employer, or to a job in a different occupation code. The update needs a new certificate of sponsorship and costs £943 for up to 3 years from inside the UK. You can keep working your current job until a decision, but should not start the new one.
  • Health and Care Worker vs Skilled Worker visa — The Health and Care Worker visa is a version of the Skilled Worker route for listed health and social care jobs with approved employers. It costs £324 for up to 3 years with no health surcharge, against £819 plus £1,035 a year on the standard Skilled Worker route. Which one applies depends on the job and employer, not on cost.
  • Settling as a partner after 5 years: ILR and form SET(M) — A partner on the 5-year route can apply for indefinite leave to remain after 60 months of continuous residence on partner permission with the same partner. The application costs £3,226, uses the online form SET(M), and needs the financial requirement, English and Life in the UK test evidence again.