Key Facts
| Ecctis English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison fee | £210 |
|---|---|
| Ecctis English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison timeframe | within 20 working days |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
English language exemption UK visa rules allow you to skip the English test if you hold the nationality of a majority English-speaking country on the GOV.UK list, hold a UK degree or a non-UK degree taught in English and confirmed by Ecctis, or fall within an age, health or previous-application exemption. Each route page for the Student, Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker and Family visas sets its own wording and CEFR level, so the route you apply under decides which option is open to you.
Most applicants find that one of the first three options removes the need for a Secure English Language Test (SELT) altogether. The sections below take each option in turn, say what GOV.UK states for each route, and list the evidence to gather before you apply.
Which nationalities are exempt from the UK visa English requirement?
Nationals of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British overseas territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA do not need to prove their English on the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker routes.
The Student visa page words its list differently, adding Ireland and the UK and treating Canadian nationals as a separate exemption. It also exempts applicants who completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of its listed countries. Check the list on the page for your own route before relying on it.
Can a degree taught in English replace an English test?
A degree taught in English can replace a test when a UK institution awarded it, or when a non-UK institution awarded it and Ecctis confirms it was taught in English. A UK degree counts even if you studied outside the UK. For a non-UK degree, Ecctis runs the English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison, which confirms the qualification is comparable to a UK bachelor's, master's or PhD and states the CEFR level of English needed to obtain it.
Ecctis judges the qualification itself, including whether the course is taught in English and the level required to achieve the degree. A successful outcome gives a Unique Person Identifier (UPI) code, which goes to the Home Office with your application. An application can fail if the qualification was not taught in English or the awarding institution does not confirm it as genuine in time. Ecctis states no English level for study at an institution in a country the Home Office defines as majority English-speaking.
IELTS Preparation tutors
Mark
Master TutorI have thirty years in education, including Head of English at an independent school and GCSE and A-Level examiner. I teach English, Literature, Language, Creative Writing and Critical Thinking, ages four to eighteen. I start from what a student can already do and adapt my methods to them.
Enquire about this tutor
Johanna
Expert TutorI have two decades' teaching experience in English Literature, English Language and Philosophy, and hold a PhD in English Literature. I teach GCSE, A-Level, Oxbridge entrance and UCAS personal statements. My approach is person-centred, working through dialogue and ongoing assessment.
Enquire about this tutor
Owen
Expert TutorI gained an MA and MPhil at Girton College, Cambridge, and am a British Council certified counsellor. I specialise in Oxbridge preparation and university admissions, and teach A-Level English Literature, French and German, using the discursive, oral-first style of an Oxbridge supervision.
Enquire about this tutorDo UK school qualifications count as proof of English?
UK school qualifications count on the Student, Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker routes when you started them before the age of 18. Accepted qualifications are GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, and Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English.
The Family visa page lists degrees, tests and previous applications as the ways to prove English, so applicants on that route should check whether a school qualification is accepted before counting on it.
Who is exempt because of age or a health condition?
Applicants over 65, and those with a physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting the requirement, do not need to prove English for a Family visa. The same page exempts child applicants, adults coming to be cared for by a relative, and partners or parents extending after 5 years on a family visa.
Skilled Worker applicants have a different exemption: doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives and vets who have passed an English assessment accepted by their regulated professional body. Vets may need to show they passed an assessment with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The Health and Care Worker page lists doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives only.
Can a previous visa application count as proof of English?
A previous successful visa application can count when it already proved your English. The Student, Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker and Family pages all allow this, though the wording and level differ by route.
On the Family route, a result at B1 or higher can be reused for settlement after 5 years if the test is still on the approved list, and an existing Ecctis certificate can be reused. Keep the paperwork from the earlier application so you can show which level it covered.
How do the English requirements differ between visa routes?
Each route page sets its own list of exempt nationalities, its own CEFR level and its own extra exemptions, so the same applicant can face different requirements on different visas. Where a test is needed, the levels stated are:
The Student page also exempts applicants on a study abroad programme that is part of a US university degree.
- Student: CEFR B2 for study at degree level or above, B1 below degree level; a Higher Education Provider may assess English itself at degree level, using a test equivalent to B2
- Skilled Worker: at least CEFR B2 across reading, writing, speaking and listening; no proof needed when switching from a Health and Care Worker visa
- Health and Care Worker: at least CEFR B2; switching from a visa other than Skilled Worker also requires B2
- Family: at least CEFR A1 on the first application, then A2 in speaking and listening when extending after 2.5 years if A1 was passed first
How do you evidence each exemption?
Each option rests on a specific document, and the route page names the one it accepts. A UK degree needs the degree certificate, a UK school qualification needs the qualification itself, and a SELT needs a result from an approved provider. A non-UK degree needs the Ecctis UPI code, which Ecctis issues after you upload the final certificates, official transcripts signed, stamped and dated by the awarding institution, certified translations if the documents are not in English, a Medium of Instruction letter from the awarding institution, and photo identification.
Ecctis accepts documents only from the awarding institution, never an affiliate college, so request the letter and transcripts from the institution that issued the degree. Uploads can be JPEG, PDF or BMP files, with all four corners of each document visible.
If none of the exemptions applies and a SELT is required, practise reading, writing, speaking and listening separately, starting with your weakest skill, because the level applies across all four. Check each practice answer against the CEFR level your route names, and keep your results in one folder alongside the route page so you can see the level you are working towards.
Related guides
- English requirements for UK visas by route
- B1 English test for citizenship and ILR
- B1 English test example questions
- English test for a spouse visa
- B2 English test for the Skilled Worker visa
- Trinity SELT: GESE and ISE
- LanguageCert SELT
English tuition for adults with Taylor Tuition
Adults who come to us for English usually know the situation they need it for, whether that is a job, a test or daily life in the UK, so lessons start with a level check against the CEFR scale and are then built around the tasks the learner actually faces.
English for adults is taught one-to-one or in small groups, at every level from beginner (CEFR A1) to proficient (C2), online or in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level, there is no registration fee and the initial consultation is free. Employers can book programmes for staff and are invoiced directly.
Read more about our English tuition for adults, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
For IELTS, see our IELTS preparation tutors.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Ecctis test the applicant's personal English level?
- No. Ecctis assesses the educational programme, which means the applicant's individual proficiency is outside its scope. It checks whether the course is taught in English, then states the CEFR level of English needed to obtain the qualification.
- Can the affiliate college send documents to Ecctis on behalf of the applicant?
- No. Ecctis accepts documents only from the awarding institution. The Medium of Instruction letter, final certificates and signed, stamped and dated official transcripts should all come from the institution that awarded your degree, and Ecctis may share uploads with that institution for primary source verification.
- What happens if Ecctis cannot confirm that the applicant's degree was taught in English?
- No UPI code is issued and you are notified through your portal. Reasons include the qualification not being taught in English, the awarding institution not confirming it as genuine in time, the qualification being ineligible, or a failed identity check. Without a code, the English requirement for that route would need to be met another way, such as a SELT.
- Does an applicant need to prove English again when switching from one visa to another?
- It depends on the route. The Skilled Worker page states that switching from a Health and Care Worker visa needs no new proof, whereas switching from another visa requires CEFR B2. The Health and Care Worker page applies the same logic in reverse for Skilled Worker holders. Check the page for the visa you are moving to.
- Does a UK degree studied outside the UK still count?
- Yes. GOV.UK states that the degree must be taught in English and awarded by a UK institution, even if you studied outside the UK. Because the awarding body is a UK institution, no Ecctis assessment is needed, and the degree certificate is the evidence the Family visa page asks for.
Enquire about IELTS Preparation tutoring
Start your enquiryHow Taylor Tuition can help
Expert, one-to-one support from specialist tutors.
Editorial Notice
We use automated research tools to help collate and maintain information across our website. While each post is reviewed before publication, some details may be incomplete or inaccurate.
Taylor Tuition
Educational Consultancy
Contributing expert insights on education, exam preparation, and effective learning strategies to help students reach their full potential.