Long Residence (10 years) ILR: what English do I need from 2027?

If you apply for ILR on the Long Residence route on or after 26 March 2027, you need English at B2 in speaking and listening, plus the Life in the UK Test, if you are aged 18 to 65. Before that date the English level is B1.

What the route needs

GOV.UK says you may be able to apply for ILR after 10 years' continuous lawful residence. If you are aged 18 to 65 you must pass the Life in the UK Test and prove your English. Long Residence is on the Home Office's list of routes moving from B1 to B2 for applications on or after 26 March 2027.

If you are not ready

GOV.UK says that if you do not meet the English and Life in the UK requirements, you can apply to extend your stay instead (the fee for that is £1,407, against £3,226 for ILR). See What if I am not ready for B2?.

Ways of meeting the English part

• A degree taught or researched in English, with no date limit: see Does my degree count?.
• Nationality of a majority-English-speaking country on the GOV.UK list.
• A B2 speaking and listening SELT taken no more than 2 years before you apply.
• An earlier B2 qualification your current permission was granted on, if the provider is still approved.

Is this the same as the 10-year settlement plan?

No. Long Residence is an existing route. The plan to make the usual wait 10 years is a separate proposal: see Is ILR going to 10 years?.

Quick check

The free checker tells you whether you probably need the test.

Last checked against GOV.UK: 21 October 2026.

Sources

1. Indefinite leave to remain if you've been in the UK for 10 years (long residence) (GOV.UK, checked 21 Oct 2026)
2. Long residence: eligibility (knowledge of language and life) (GOV.UK, checked 21 Oct 2026)
3. HC 1691 Explanatory Memorandum (paragraphs 5.60 to 5.62) (GOV.UK, checked 20 Oct 2026)
4. Immigration Rules: Appendix KoLL (updated 26 March 2026) (GOV.UK, checked 21 Oct 2026)
5. Life in the UK 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.