How long is an English test valid for ILR?

A Secure English Language Test must have been taken no more than 2 years before the date of your ILR application, and GOV.UK says results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded. The main exception is a qualification your current permission was granted on, if the provider is still approved.

The 2-year rule

Appendix KoLL asks for a test "taken ... no more than two years before the date of application". GOV.UK's SELT guide adds that, to be accepted, a test must be on the approved list, sat at an approved location and awarded in the 2 years before your application. So a test taken in early 2025 would normally be too old for an application in mid-2027.

When an older qualification still counts

GOV.UK says you can use a B1, B2, C1 or C2 qualification that has run out for settlement if it is on the current list of recognised tests and it was accepted for another UK immigration application. Under Appendix KoLL, for applications on or after 26 March 2027 this works only if your permission was granted on the basis of B2 or higher and the provider is still approved. A B1-based permission counts only for applications before 26 March 2027. Whether your own old result qualifies depends on your route and provider, so check before relying on it.

Degrees do not expire

A degree taught or researched in English has no date limit: see Does my degree count?.

Timing your test

Work back from the date you will apply. If it is on or after 26 March 2027 you need B2 (see When does the B2 rule start?), and the test must fall within the 2 years before that date. The free checker asks when you expect to apply.

Last checked against GOV.UK: 21 October 2026.

Sources

1. Prove your English language abilities with a Secure English Language Test (SELT), last updated 12 October 2026 (GOV.UK, checked 21 Oct 2026)
2. Immigration Rules: Appendix KoLL (updated 26 March 2026) (GOV.UK, checked 21 Oct 2026)
3. Prove your knowledge of English: proving it with a test (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.