B1 English test for a UK work visa
B1 is the English level many UK work visas used to ask for. Since 8 January 2026 a new Skilled Worker needs B2, one level higher, while B1 still covers a worker extending a visa held before that date. Either way the proof is usually a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from a Home Office approved provider.
- New Skilled WorkerB2reading, writing, speaking and listening
- Extending a visa held before 8 January 2026B1no new proof needed
- Approved providers5four in the UK, four abroad
- Result must be awarded2 yearsor less before the visa application
Figures from GOV.UK, secure English language tests (SELT).
Which English test for a visa is approved?
Only a SELT counts, and only from one of the five providers below. The test also has to be one of the named test types and be sat at an approved centre, so the booking should say IELTS for UKVI, for example, rather than the standard IELTS a university asks for.
Trinity College LondonSecure English Language Tests for UKVI: ISE (all four skills) or GESE (speaking and listening).In the UK onlyBook with Trinity College London
IELTSIELTS for UKVI, or IELTS Life Skills (speaking and listening).In the UK and abroadBook with IELTS
LanguageCertLanguageCert Academic SELT, General SELT or International ESOL SELT.In the UK and abroadBook with LanguageCert
Pearson PTEPTE Academic UKVI, or PTE Home (speaking and listening).In the UK and abroadBook with Pearson PTE
PSI Skills for EnglishSkills for English UKVI.Outside the UK onlyBook with PSI Skills for English
GOV.UK says a test should be available within 28 days of booking, though not always at the nearest centre, and warns against third parties that claim to be official partners. Booking straight with the provider is the safe route.
B1 or B2: the level each case needs
| Your worker | Level |
|---|---|
| New Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker | B2 |
| Held the same visa before 8 January 2026, now extending or updating it | B1 |
| Switching between Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker | No new proof |
| Switching from any other visa | B2 |
| Settlement after 26 March 2027 | B2 speaking and listening |
B1 and B2 are steps on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). B1 means someone can handle everyday work conversations; B2 means they can follow complex discussion and write clear, detailed text. For a new hire, plan on B2 unless one of the exemptions below applies.
Who does not need an English test?
- Nationals of majority English-speaking countries on the GOV.UK list, such as Australia, Canada and the Bahamas.
- Anyone with a GCSE, A level or Scottish qualification in English from a UK school they began before 18.
- Anyone with a degree taught in English, from a UK university or from one abroad that Ecctis confirms as equal to a UK degree.
- Anyone who already proved their English in an earlier successful visa application, in most cases.
What the worker does after the test
The test result carries a SELT unique reference number (Trinity calls it the UER). The worker types it into their own visa application; you do not send it with your certificate of sponsorship. An application without the reference number may be refused, so ask for it before you assign the certificate and plan the start date.
The same visa application may also ask for a TB test and an identity appointment. The Skilled Worker visa guide lists each step the worker takes after you assign the certificate.
Questions about the B1 English test
Is a B1 English test enough for a Skilled Worker visa?
Not for a new Skilled Worker. Since 8 January 2026 a new applicant needs B2. B1 still covers someone who held the visa before that date and is extending or updating it.
How old can the test result be?
The test must have been awarded in the 2 years before the date of the visa application, and sat at an approved test centre.
Can the worker take the test before coming to the UK?
Yes. IELTS, LanguageCert, Pearson and PSI run approved tests outside the UK. Trinity College London tests are taken in the UK only.
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