Visa description |
Minimum CEFR level required |
Skills |
IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill1 |
Tier 1 (General) visa |
C1 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 7.0 overall, and for each of the four skills |
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa |
B1 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and for each of the four skills |
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa |
B1 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and for each of the four skills |
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa |
B1 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and for each of the four skills |
Tier 2 (General) visa |
B1 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and for each of the four skills |
Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa |
A1 |
Speaking and Listening |
IELTS Life Skills at A1 – Pass
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening2 |
Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa |
B2 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 5.5 overall, and for each of the four skills |
Tier 4 (General) student visa – below degree level |
B1 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and for each of the four skills
|
Tier 4 (General) student visa – degree level and above and including some pre-sessional courses3 |
B2 |
Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening |
IELTS for UKVI – 5.5 overall, and for each of the four skills
Other Cambridge English exams can also be used at this level of study at Tier 4 Sponsor universities3
|
‘Family of a settled person’ visa |
A1 |
Speaking and Listening |
IELTS Life Skills at A1 – Pass
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening2 |
Further leave to remain, for partners and parents on the family route after 2.5 years in the UK4 |
A2 |
Speaking and Listening |
IELTS Life Skills at A2 – Pass
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening2 |
Indefinite Leave to Remain (to settle) or Citizenship5 |
B1 |
Speaking and Listening |
IELTS Life Skills at B1 – Pass
IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening2 |