When does the B2 English rule for settlement start?

The B2 rule applies to ILR applications made on or after 26 March 2027. What counts is the date you apply, not the date you took your test and not the date the Home Office makes its decision.

Some examples

These are for the routes that move from B1 to B2 (most work and family routes; see Do I need B2 English for ILR?).

• You apply on 20 March 2027: the B1 rule applies.
• You apply in April 2027: the B2 rule applies, even if your visa started years earlier.
• You took a B1 speaking and listening test in 2026 but apply after 26 March 2027: that B1 result is not enough for the new rule.

Does it apply to people already in the UK?

Yes. The Home Office's Explanatory Memorandum to HC 1691 says the change comes into force on 26 March 2027 and applies to people who are already on a pathway to settlement. There is no exception for people who arrived before the rule was announced.

Can I still use a B1 test I already have?

Only if you apply before 26 March 2027, and only if the test was taken no more than 2 years before the date of your application. The same goes for a B1 qualification that was accepted for your current visa: under Appendix KoLL it counts for applications before 26 March 2027, but not on or after that date.

How old can my test be?

A SELT must have been taken no more than 2 years before the date of your application. GOV.UK says test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded. So a test taken in early 2025 would normally be too old for an application in mid-2027. The exception is a B2 (or higher) qualification that was accepted for your current permission, if that provider is still approved. Whether that applies to you depends on your route and your provider, so check before relying on it.

If you do not know your date yet

Work out the earliest date you can apply for ILR on your route. If it is on or after 26 March 2027, plan for B2. The free checker asks when you expect to apply and answers on that basis rather than guessing for you. Plans to change settlement more widely could also change timings later, so re-check GOV.UK whenever the Home Office publishes a new Statement of Changes.

Last checked against GOV.UK: 21 October 2026.

Sources

1. Immigration Rules: Appendix KoLL (updated 8 October 2026), GOV.UK (checked 20 Oct 2026)
2. HC 1691 Explanatory Memorandum (paragraphs 5.60 to 5.62), GOV.UK (checked 20 Oct 2026)
3. Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1691 (5 March 2026), GOV.UK (checked 20 Oct 2026)
4. Prove your English language abilities with a Secure English Language Test (SELT), last updated 12 October 2026, GOV.UK (checked 21 Oct 2026)

This is general information, not immigration advice. Check GOV.UK for your own route, or speak to a regulated immigration adviser (registered with the IAA, formerly OISC). Find a regulated adviser on GOV.UK.