Spouse or partner visa: what English level do I need at each stage, and is ILR now B2?

On the family (spouse or partner) route you need at least A1 for your first visa and usually A2 in speaking and listening when you extend after 2.5 years. For indefinite leave to remain, applications made on or after 26 March 2027 need B2 in speaking and listening; before that date the level is B1.

The three stages

• First visa: at least A1 on the CEFR scale, unless you have a degree taught in English or an exemption. You can choose to take a higher level.
• Extension after 2.5 years: if you passed A1, you need at least A2 in speaking and listening. If you passed A2 or higher, you can reuse that result if the certificate has not been withdrawn.
• ILR after 5 years: B1 in speaking and listening for applications before 26 March 2027, B2 for applications on or after that date.

Why the family route moves to B2

The partner settlement rules in Appendix FM (E-ILRP.1.6, and E-ILRPT.1.5 for parents) send you to Appendix KoLL for English, and Appendix KoLL moves to B2 for applications on or after 26 March 2027. We are confident about this, but note that it works through Appendix KoLL rather than being named on its own in the Home Office's explanation of the change.

Can I reuse the test from my first visa?

GOV.UK's family visa guide says a B1 or higher result can be used again at settlement after 5 years, if the test is still on the approved list. That wording dates from before the new rule. For applications on or after 26 March 2027 a B1 result is no longer enough, and a new test must also be no more than 2 years old. An earlier B2 qualification your permission was granted on may still count: see How long is an English test valid?.

Who may not need a test

People aged 65 or over, people with a long-term condition that prevents it (case by case, with a doctor's form), nationals of the majority-English-speaking countries on the GOV.UK list, and people with a degree taught in English. Victims of domestic abuse have no settlement English test. See Who is exempt?.

Check your own date

Work out the earliest date you can apply for ILR. If it is on or after 26 March 2027, plan for B2. The free checker takes about two minutes.

Last checked against GOV.UK: 21 October 2026.

Sources

1. Family visas: knowledge of English (GOV.UK, checked 21 Oct 2026)
2. Immigration Rules: Appendix FM (family members) (GOV.UK, checked 20 Oct 2026)
3. Immigration Rules: Appendix KoLL (updated 26 March 2026) (GOV.UK, checked 21 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.