IELTS for UKVI 2026: What It Is, Who Needs It, Fees and Scores
IELTS for UKVI is the version of IELTS approved by the Home Office as a Secure English Language Test for UK visas. The questions are the same as standard IELTS Academic or General Training, but you must take it in person at an IELTS for UKVI centre. It costs £257 to £313 in the UK and ₹19,250 in India.
Written by Sahil Sayed, CELTA-certified IELTS trainer · Checked against ielts.org and the Home Office SELT lists on 4 October 2026
Key facts at a glance
- What it is
- A Home Office approved SELT for UK visa applications
- Versions
- IELTS for UKVI Academic, General Training, and Life Skills A1, A2, B1
- Content
- The same as standard IELTS Academic or General Training
- Where
- In person at an IELTS for UKVI test centre only
- Scores
- B1 = 4.0, B2 = 5.5, C1 = 7.0 in each skill
- Fee
- £257 to £313 in the UK · ₹19,250 in India
- Validity for visas
- 2 years from the date the test is awarded
What is IELTS for UKVI?
IELTS for UKVI is a Secure English Language Test (SELT) accepted by UK Visas and Immigration as proof of English for people who want to live, work or study in the UK. It is the same test as standard IELTS, but UKVI only accepts it when taken in person at an official IELTS for UKVI centre, because the Home Office requires an extra layer of security.
Your result includes a UKVI reference number, which you enter in your visa application so the caseworker can verify the result. Without it, the application can be refused.
Is IELTS for UKVI Academic or General Training?
It can be either. IELTS for UKVI comes in an Academic version and a General Training version, and both are on the Home Office approved list at B1, B2, C1 and C2. Choose Academic if the result is also for university or professional registration; otherwise choose the version you score better in. The format of each is identical to standard IELTS.
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic / General) | Standard IELTS | IELTS Life Skills | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accepted as a UK SELT | Yes | No | Yes |
| Skills tested | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Speaking and listening only |
| Result | Band 0 to 9 | Band 0 to 9 | Pass or fail |
| Typical use | Work and study visas | Universities, other countries | Family visas, ILR, citizenship |
For a fuller comparison of the two main versions, see IELTS Academic vs General Training.
Who needs IELTS for UKVI?
You need IELTS for UKVI if your UK visa route requires a SELT in all four skills, such as the Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Scale-up or High Potential Individual visas, or a Student visa for study below degree level. Family, settlement and citizenship routes test speaking and listening, so most applicants take IELTS Life Skills instead.
| Route | Level | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Scale-up, HPI (new applicants) | B2 | IELTS for UKVI, 5.5 in each skill |
| Student, below degree level | B1 | IELTS for UKVI, 4.0 in each skill |
| Student, degree level | B2 equivalent | As your university decides (may accept standard IELTS Academic) |
| Spouse visa, extension, ILR, citizenship | A1, A2, B1 | IELTS Life Skills |
What IELTS for UKVI score do you need?
The Home Office sets the minimum per skill: 4.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking for B1, 5.5 in each for B2, 7.0 for C1 and 8.5 for C2. The overall band does not matter if one skill is below the minimum. Most work visas now need B2, so 5.5 in every skill.
| CEFR level | Minimum in each skill | Example route |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | 4.0 | Study below degree level |
| B2 | 5.5 | Skilled Worker (since 8 January 2026) |
| C1 | 7.0 | Some specialist routes |
| C2 | 8.5 | Rarely required |
Need 5.5 in every skill?
Writing is the skill most likely to hold you back. Book a free consultation and Sahil will plan your IELTS for UKVI preparation around your weakest skill.
Book a free consultationHow much does IELTS for UKVI cost?
In the UK, IELTS for UKVI Academic or General Training costs £257 to £313 depending on the British Council centre, and IELTS Life Skills costs £182 to £209. In India, IDP charges ₹19,250 for IELTS for UKVI on computer and ₹18,000 for Life Skills A1 or B1. Fees in other countries are set locally.
| Test | UK (British Council) | India (IDP) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI Academic or General Training | £257 to £313 | ₹19,250 (computer) |
| IELTS Life Skills A1, A2, B1 | £182 to £209 | ₹18,000 |
| IELTS for UKVI One Skill Retake | £162 to £183 | Check with IDP |
Can you take IELTS for UKVI online?
No. UKVI only accepts IELTS for UKVI taken in person at an official IELTS for UKVI test centre. At-home tests such as IELTS Online are not accepted for UK visas. You can, however, prepare fully online, and computer-delivered IELTS for UKVI at a test centre is widely available.
How long is IELTS for UKVI valid?
For UK visa applications, GOV.UK says SELT results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded. Plan to apply for your visa within 2 years of your test. Other organisations, such as universities, may set their own validity rules.
Can you use IELTS for UKVI for other countries?
The test content is the same as standard IELTS Academic or General Training, so many universities and organisations that accept IELTS also accept an IELTS for UKVI result. Check with the receiving organisation first, especially for immigration: for example, Canada's Express Entry requires IELTS General Training specifically. See IELTS score for Canada.
How to book IELTS for UKVI
- 1
Confirm the test and level
Check your route on the IELTS requirements for UK visas page.
- 2
Choose IELTS for UKVI, not standard IELTS
Pick Academic or General Training for work and study, or Life Skills for family routes.
- 3
Book at an IELTS for UKVI centre
Book through the British Council or IDP, depending on your country; in India, IDP runs IELTS.
- 4
Use your visa passport
Book and attend with the passport you will use for your visa.
- 5
Keep your UKVI reference number
Enter it in your visa application.
IELTS for UKVI test format
IELTS for UKVI has the same four parts as standard IELTS: Listening (about 30 minutes, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions), Writing (60 minutes, two tasks) and Speaking (11 to 14 minutes with an examiner). Only Reading and Writing differ between the Academic and General Training versions.
| Section | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes | Four recordings, 40 questions |
| Reading | 60 minutes | Three passages (Academic) or everyday and workplace texts (General), 40 questions |
| Writing | 60 minutes | Task 1 (chart description or letter) and a Task 2 essay |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes | A three-part conversation with an examiner |
How to prepare for IELTS for UKVI
- 1
Know your minimum per skill
For B2 that is 5.5 in each skill, so a weak Writing score can sink a strong overall band.
- 2
Take a timed diagnostic
Find which skill is furthest from the target.
- 3
Practise Writing with feedback
Two Task 2 essays a week, marked against the band descriptors.
- 4
Rehearse Speaking
Full Part 1 to Part 3 mock interviews with corrections.
- 5
Book when mocks are stable
Sit the real test once two recent mocks reach your minimum in every skill.
IELTS for UKVI One Skill Retake
If one skill falls short, the British Council offers IELTS for UKVI One Skill Retake in the UK for £162 to £183, which is cheaper than resitting the full test. Check that your visa route and test centre accept the retake result before booking.
IELTS for UKVI vs PTE Academic UKVI
| Level | IELTS for UKVI | PTE Academic UKVI |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | 4.0 | 43 |
| B2 | 5.5 | 59 |
| C1 | 7.0 | 76 |
Both are accepted at the same CEFR levels. IELTS has a face-to-face speaking test, while PTE is fully computer-based. See our PTE UKVI guide for the Pearson option.
Frequently asked questions
No. The questions, timing and marking are the same as standard IELTS Academic or General Training. Only the test-centre security and the UKVI reference number are different.
At IDP's IELTS for UKVI test centres. It costs ₹19,250 on computer, and IELTS Life Skills A1 or B1 costs ₹18,000.
Often yes, because the content is the same as standard IELTS, but check with the organisation first. Canada's Express Entry, for example, specifically requires IELTS General Training.
Rescheduling rules and fees are set by the test provider and centre, so check the British Council or IDP terms for your booking.
The content is the same. IELTS for UKVI is IELTS Academic or General Training taken at an approved UKVI centre with extra security, so it can be used for UK visas.
Both versions exist and both are accepted as SELTs. Choose based on your other uses for the result and which you score better in.
No. It must be taken in person at an IELTS for UKVI test centre; at-home tests are not accepted for UK visas.
For UK visa purposes, results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded.
For study below degree level, yes, or another SELT. For degree-level study your university can assess your English and may accept standard IELTS Academic.
IELTS for UKVI tests all four skills and gives band scores; Life Skills tests only speaking and listening and is pass or fail, for family, settlement and citizenship routes.
Pass IELTS for UKVI at the score your visa needs
Book a free 20-minute consultation. Sahil will confirm the version and score you need and build a plan to reach it in every skill.
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Sources and how we checked this page
Every fee, rule and deadline on this page was checked against the official sources below on 4 October 2026. Immigration rules and fees change, so confirm the current position on GOV.UK before you apply or pay for anything.