Changes to the 'knowledge of language and life' requirement for settlement
06 April 2011
Skilled and highly skilled migrants must now pass the Life in the UK Test if they want to demonstrate that they have met the knowledge of language and life (KOL) requirement for settlement in the UK.
This new requirement affects applicants for settlement who are in the following immigration categories:
- Tier 1 (Exceptional talent)
- Tier 1 (General)
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
- Tier 1 (Investor)
- Tier 2 (Intra company transfer)
- Tier 2 (General)
- Tier 2 (Minister of religion)
- Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
- work permit holder
- highly skilled migrant (excluding those covered by the HSMP ILR Judicial Review policy document)
- representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation
- representative of an overseas business
- overseas government employee
- minister of religion, religious missionary, or member of a religious order
- airport-based operational ground staff of overseas-owned airlines
- person intending to establish themselves in business
- innovator
- person intending to establish themselves in business under the provisions of EC Association Agreements
- investor
- writer, composer or artist
From 6 April 2011, migrants in these categories can no longer meet the KOL requirement by passing an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification, unless they are applying for settlement under our transitional arrangements (see below).
The Knowledge of language and life in the UK page contains more information about the KOL requirement for settlement. To find out more about the test, visit the Life in the UK Test website.
Transitional arrangements for skilled and highly skilled migrants
If you are in one of the above categories, and you enrolled on an ESOL course or gained an ESOL qualification before 23 November 2010, you can rely on that ESOL qualification in any applications for settlement, regardless of the date of your application.
If you enrolled on an ESOL course on or after 23 November 2010, you will need to pass the Life in the UK Test if you apply for settlement on or after 6 April 2011