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Tier 1 (General)

A highly skilled migrant reviewing their application

English language

This page explains what evidence of your English language skills you must send to support your application under Tier 1 (General) of the points-based system.

Full details of these requirements are in the immigration rules at paragraph 245A-F of part 6, which you can find on the right side of this page. You must read the policy guidance before you apply under this category. You can download the guidance and application form from the Applying section.

Proof you are a national of a majority English speaking country

You must send your current original passport or travel document.

If you cannot submit your current original passport or travel document at the time of your application, you must give full reasons under the 'passport information' section of the application form. The only valid exceptional circumstances in which alternative specified documents may be sent are where your current passport or travel document has been:

  • lost;
  • stolen;
  • returned to your national authorities because it has expired; or
  • submitted to another part of the UK Border Agency.

In these exceptional circumstances, you must submit:

  • your current national identity document; or
  • an original letter from your home government or embassy.

This document must be original, on the headed paper of the government or embassy and must bear the official stamp of that institution. It must have been issued by an authorised official of that institution and must confirm:

  • your full name;
  • your date of birth; and
  • your nationality.

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Proof you have passed an English language test

The original test result certificate must clearly show:

  • your name;
  • the qualification obtained; and
  • the date of the award.

The test must be on our list of approved English language tests, which you can download from the right side of this page.

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Waiting for your English language test result

If you have already made your application and are waiting to sit an English language test or waiting for the test result, you must write to us within 10 working days of submitting your application. You should write to the following address, giving the date of your English language test and your payment reference number:

UK Border Agency
PO Box 3468
Sheffield
S3 8WA

When we receive confirmation from the test provider that you have sat a test or have a confirmed date to take the test, we will hold your application open until you complete the test.

You must submit the English language test certificate to us within 5 working days. When we receive your test certificate, we will complete our assessment of your application.

If you do not pass the test on your first attempt, we will refuse your application because you have not scored 10 points for English language.

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Degree taught in English

If you want to show that you meet the English language requirement because you hold an acceptable degree taught in English, you should provide the original certificate of your award.

This certificate must be original, and must clearly show:

  • your name
  • the title of the award
  • the date of the award
  • the name of the awarding institution

Original provisional certificates are not acceptable.

You must provide the original certificate of your award unless:

  • you have successfully completed your degree but you are awaiting graduation; or 
  • you no longer have the certificate and the awarding institution cannot issue a replacement.

In either of those situations, you must provide the original academic reference from the institution, and the original academic transcript. Both documents must be on the institution's official headed paper.

The original academic reference must clearly show:

  • your name
  • the title of the award
  • confirmation that the certificate will be or has been issued
  • the date that the certificate will be issued, or confirmation that the institution cannot issue a replacement

The original academic reference will not be suitable evidence if it does not state which qualification has been awarded.

The academic transcript must clearly show:

  • your name
  • the name of the academic institution
  • the course title
  • confirmation of the award

You should ensure that the contact details for the awarding body are up to date. If we need to verify the details and we cannot contact the institution, we will not accept this evidence and may therefore refuse your application.

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See also

Policy & Law

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