Since November 2005, applications made for British Nationality should be accompanied with evidence of English language and of Life in the UK. Since 2 April 2007, same requirement applies to applications made for settlement in the UK (indefinite leave to remain) in addition to meeting the usual requirements for settlement.
You can either take Life in the United Kingdom Test or join combined ESOL and citizenship classes to fulfill this requirement.
Here you will find answers to some frequently asked questions about the test and general immigration matters. If you do not find the answer to your query here, please use Life in the United Kingdom Forums to submit your question.
BBC Citizenship News
- Nearly a third of foreigners wanting to make Britain their home failed their citizenship test in 2009, figures show. - The BBC's Damien McGuinness explores what life is like for thousands of ethnic Russians who remain non-citizens in Latvia despite being born there. - Illegal immigrants to Italy get little shelter from the law - leaving them prime targets for exploitation by the local mafia, finds Emma Wallis in Castel Volturno, near Naples - Australian MPs debate changes to controversial citizenship tests said to discriminate against non-English speakers. - People who want to be UK citizens could speed up the process by joining political parties, under government plans. - Immigrants who choose to live and work in Scotland could earn UK citizenship more readily, says the Scottish Secretary. - Today in Parliament reports as outgoing Home Secretary Jacqui Smith defends the government's record on immigration and a Labour peer apologises over his expenses claims. - Immigrants who want to become British citizens will need to pass tests to prove their worth, under a new Home Office bill. - The Mayor of London is to commission a study of a potential amnesty for illegal immigrants in the capital. - The lower house of Italy's parliament approves a controversial scheme to create mandatory classes for the children of immigrants. - The full text of Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Party conference. - Germany introduces a multiple-choice citizenship test for immigrants with questions on politics, history and culture. - A 16-year-old schoolgirl is unable to leave the country or get a job because she does not officially "exist". - Foreign nationals are being offered ways to ensure they pass UK citizenship tests, a BBC investigation finds. - A BBC undercover reporter films a language school giving the candidates answers to an English test in advance.
December 20th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I pass my life in uk test in july 2007 and i am due to apply for my indefinite leave to remain in november 2009, can i still use the same result when applying or i have to take the test again.
manick
December 20th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
On your citizenship application form you will state that you have already passed the test and that is it.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
i have tried several questions and had them correct a home but i have failed four times. please help me to know the correct site. thank you.
January 31st, 2009 at 11:47 am
The best practice is to read the book, go through practice questions several times and once you can score over 90% re-read the book and take the test.
I will recommend http://www.lifeintheuk.org, it is free and contains everything you need.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:34 pm
i am completing two year period of settlement(marriage) visa i was granted. I am married to british citizen. what is the next step ? which visa should i apply for ?
February 5th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Hi Rajan
You will need Indefinite leave to Remain if you are married yo uwill need to take a test a nd pay £750..
February 9th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Thanks Kaj
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Is it allowed to bring notes for use during the test?
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 pm
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ANY MATERIALS
February 27th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I got my indefinate stay in 2002. I want to apply for british passport, do i have to give life in uk test before applying.Thanks.
February 27th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I Think admin’s answer No 9 should read – YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ANY MATERIALS.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Changed as suggested.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:58 am
hi, me and my wife are schedule to take life in the uk test. my question is how long can we hold the result ofthe test? because i’ll be 5years here in uk on september 2009.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
hi,i’m going to take a test on 30 of march. how long the validity of the test result co’z i’m due to applying indefinite leave to remain in uk on september 2009. thanks
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Hi Admin,
Thank you a lot for helping me via this web page. I passed the exam.Goodluck everybody.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I had pass the exam on January 2007 but in my document I put Town of Birth is Thailand I wonder it is wrong or not beause my friend her document put her town of birth in Thaialnd e.g.Bangkok.Thank you
April 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
How long is the Life In The UK test valid for? is it 1yr, 2 yrs or some thing else?
May 21st, 2009 at 11:16 pm
hi everyone i want to know if i fail the life in the uk test can i apply for another 2 year visa as my husband is a uk citizen and i would like some information about it i have tried phoning imagration on many ocations but can never get through can anyone help me on this matter ….thanks mila
May 25th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Hi admin,
I was wondering if you could provide me where am I gonna send the payable cheque for applying naturalisation. As far as I learned that the required amount is £720.00 GBP. But I am not really sure about that. Furthermore, there is none any detail on the application form that I was already filled in. I would be so appreciated if you can help me on that specific request. Thanks in advance.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
hi ,i am just woundring about this that i came to uk on 30 march 2009 and my visa will be expire on 17/06/11.can i give the life in th uk test now?or should i give it later.or can i apply for ILR now or should i apply before 2 months before my expiry date of visa?
June 30th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
do u have to take the test even if u already have indefinate leave to remain in the uk? pls let me know asap…
July 30th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
If you already have indefinate leave to remain in the uk than you dont need to take test for life in the uk though you do need this certificate once you apply for british citizenship.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Answer to sara aman:
Its better if you take this test just 3 or 6 months before the expiry of your 2 year spouse visa. You can apply indifinate leave to remain just 4 weeks before the expiry of your 2 year spouse visa. If you apply more than 4 weeks before the expiry Home Office may refuse you application with non-refundable fee.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
DO U STILL NEED TO TAKE THE TES TO GET THE BRITISH PASSPORT?
August 1st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Once you have passed life in the UK test it’s valid forever, well that’s what a HO officer told.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Hi, could u pls tell me how long the indefinate leave to remain takes as i have an opportunity of a lifetime to perform in the presence of royalty and i need my passport to travel. I applied in june and received a letter frm the home office in july that they have my application. Can i request for my passport for this occassion? Its to travel for 3 days and i havent travelled in 25 years. Pls let me knw thank u
September 15th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
hi
my spouse visa will expiry in oct end 2009 and i alrealy took my life in the uk test on april end 2009, please let me know this result is valid or i need to take test again,
October 26th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Hi Admin
I’m on a 2 years spouse visa which is due to expire in March can u plz advise whats the next step as to what am I suppose to do and what rae the requirements for the next stage ?
Thanks
Sultan
November 4th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I’m on a 2 years spouse visa which is due to expire this coming december.When should i apply indefinite visa? I didnt take the exam until now,i dont know the rquirements needed to take the exam and how i gonna wait if i book it now?anybody can suggest where can i take the exam?pls help me
December 5th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Hi I’ve just passed my life in the UK test but I realised that on my pass certificate they have missed a letter from my name. Can I get a new certificate with amended name? Please let me know. Thanks.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:57 am
30/09/2005 i have got married on this date as a spouse of visa do i still need to do exam ?
December 29th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
i would like take life in uk test in january 2010
but i apply for my indefinite leave to remain in june 2011.
so for some reason i need take test January 2010 if i pass can i use the result for
june 2011,
December 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I have two years spouse visa granted in october 2008 and will expire in october 2010, i already been 4 months out of UK to visit my mother, and i planing to go again in may for another 4 months, do i will need to apply for extensions at the end of my spouse visa period? Please help me and let me know asap
Many thanks
December 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
hey i have been in uk for about 9 years and i have got my indifinate stay. i was wondering if i still have to take the test for citizenship.
that goes same for my mum she’s got undifinate leave and she is married and my dad has british citizenship so does my mum still have to take the test?
January 1st, 2010 at 12:42 am
I will be submitting my paperwork for my ILR. I will be grateful if someone could let me know which are the main documents that I will need to submit with my application? Thank you
January 18th, 2010 at 4:29 am
Hi, I have a friend who has an Indefinite leave to remain in the UK. He has lived in the UK for more than 5 years, and has a British Mother.
Does he still have to take the life in the UK test to apply for the British Passport?
January 27th, 2010 at 12:36 am
hi i have got a 5yrs resident permit and it is not due till end 2012, i was wondering if i can still take the life in the uk test until i apply for my indefinite leave?
January 28th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
hi
my two years spouse visa is going to expire soon.do i need test even my husband is british national.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
i got my indefinity march2009 when i’m due for british passport?
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:09 pm
i was born in pakistan i have a french nationality and im living in england for 6 years
and i want to apply for a british nationality how can i do that ?
March 11th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
hi!
we just passed our[me and my wife] life in the uk test last week,and i did’nt notice that in our passed notification letter that our country and citizenship are the same
re:
country:philippines
citizenship:philippines
should be our citizenship is ‘filipino’ do you think there will be no problem with that we are from philippines anyway. thanks
March 26th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
hi, i have been in the uk for a year and 4 months on a work permit dependant visa which will expire in september 2011 and have just will like to take the life in uk test. Will it be valid till when i apply for indefinite leave to remain?
April 12th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Hi,
My visa expires on 10th Jan 2011 and my work permit expires on 28th Dec 2010.
Can I work the Life to UK test by next month or do I need to wait till the end of the year?
April 12th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Hi,
My visa expires on 10th Jan 2011 and my work permit expires on 28th Dec 2010.Can I work the Life to UK test by next month or do I need to wait till the end of the year?
April 20th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
FOR HOW LONG IS RESULT OF THE TEST VALID FOR? I , 2, OR 5 YEARS
April 26th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Hi
I am 17 and I already have ILR visa and when I apply to be a British citizen I will be 18 so will I need to take life in UK test as I have already lived here for 10 years and completed my GCSE’s and A levels
May 6th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
For those worried about the test, don’t be. I was scared stupid in preparation for the test, read the book once and took the test and passed it in 4 minutes. They don’t tell ya how many you got right or wrong but all that matters is a pass.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Hi Admin,
Thanks for the good site. I’m just wondering if I’m allowed to bring in a calculator on the day of the exam as for the population and religion sections for example, I could then just memorise the %s then calculate the actual no. of the populations on the day using the calculator. Please kindly advise. Also, was wondering whether the practise questions on this site is of a very similar difficulty of the actual exams? I found the questions on this site a lot easier than those on some other sites, so a bit worry that just doing these ones may not be sufficient for my exam. Thanks in advance!!
May 18th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
took the test on Saturday – passed at first attempt, thanks to this site! all you need to know is on here already, to answer my own q, you aren’t allowed to bring in calculators – therefore for the population & religion qs, i suggest you to refresh yourselves with both the exact numbers and the %s of overall UK population.
May 18th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
i’ve passed the life in UK test 2 years a go i’ve sent it to th e home office for my application leave to remain in uk ,when home office sent me the passport back and other documents they didn’t send my certificate back ,now i need to apply for British citizen i but i need the certificate which seems they’ve lost it ,what can i do ?please help me with some advice
May 26th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
hi, please i have some questions;i came to live in uk on 22 jan 2003 with my husband, he has frensh nationalety,and now iam seprated from him since 2009 for domesstic violence..my question is my 5 years visa she will end on september 2010.and i have 2 kids they are born in the uk,(the first one she is 6 years old and second she is 3 years old.)please i want know more about my case .. thanks in advance.
May 30th, 2010 at 12:24 am
im a domestic worker in a private household.i was entered the uk 5 dec.2005.i’ve been granted my entry clearance 21 oct.2005.this coming 19 oct.2010 my visa will expire.i want to ask which application i gonna be use.do i qualify to apply for indefinite leave to remain or apply for an extension using form FLR(BID).
June 13th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Dritan,
You do not need the pass certificate, Home Office will keep it for you.
June 13th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Aliena,
You can apply for settlement, have a look here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/othercategories/domesticworkers/settlement/
June 19th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Hi
I have been in this cauntry 2005 september working as a domestic worker in private house, what i like to know is do i qualify to do life in uk test or should i renue my visa?
June 21st, 2010 at 8:01 pm
You are eligible to apply for settlement visa as of September 2010.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/othercategories/domesticworkers/settlement/
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
hi i am on wp dependent visa and my friend told me that i have to give test now.bcz in couple of months there will be a written test instead of clicking on one option.
my visa will expire in nov 2011 can i giv the test now plz telllllllllll me
June 25th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
My husband send all doc. to UK Border Agency, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE 14 WEEKS TO COMPLETE the processing the case. Its now more than 6 monts and the case is still in progress, and we cant get any info. What WE CAN DO?
June 28th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
i am student. can i give the life for uk test?
June 29th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
HI..
I need to know how early can i appear for the test for life in the uk …Is it possible to appear a year before applying for my indefinte leave remain..??
thanks
will be waiting for your reply..
June 29th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
hi, i am a student can i go for life in UK test
July 4th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
I pass my life in the uk text in 2007 and i got my indefinite leave to remain in June 11th 2010.Could you tell me please
can i still use the same result when applying or i have to take the test again?Can i apply for citizenship stright away?
All the best
A.Bechrim
July 14th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
My spousal visa expires in November-I am unsure of the processes I need to follow to remain in the country. My wife is a British Citizen.