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Home / B2 English Requirement Checker

B2 English Requirement Checker

For applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the English level for settlement rises from B1 to B2 on many routes. Answer a few questions to see whether this is likely to affect you. Free for everyone.

General information only This checker gives general information based on the published Immigration Rules. It does not look at your personal documents or assess your case, and a result here is never a final answer. Nothing you select is stored or sent anywhere: it all runs in your browser. ILR Compass is an independent tool and is not run by, connected to, or endorsed by the Home Office or UKVI.
Last checked against GOV.UK: 19 October 2026 The Immigration Rules and guidance can change. When we checked, GOV.UK’s general English guide had not been updated to reflect the B2 change: it still listed B1 as an accepted level and said people settling on work visas such as Skilled Worker do not need to prove English again. The Rules text says otherwise for applications made on or after 26 March 2027. Where sources differ or details are uncertain, this checker says “unclear” and points you to GOV.UK.

Countdown to the date the B2 level applies

Until 26 March 2027

Official sources

Start here. These are the pages this checker is based on.

What this checker covers

Which routes are covered?

The checker covers Skilled Worker, Scale-up, Global Talent, Partner or Parent, 10-year Long Residence and Hong Kong BN(O). Other routes get an “unclear” result, because each route has its own paragraph in the Rules.

What does the date mean?

In the Rules, the B2 level applies where the date of application is on or after 26 March 2027. The date the application is made counts, not the date your visa ends or your qualifying period finishes.

What does it not cover?

It covers English only. It does not cover the Life in the UK Test, residence, absences or any other settlement requirement, and it does not cover wider reforms that are not yet in the Rules.