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

  • Immigrants fall into clutches of mafia - 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
  • Australia debates citizens' tests - Australian MPs debate changes to controversial citizenship tests said to discriminate against non-English speakers.
  • Citizenship points plan launched - People who want to be UK citizens could speed up the process by joining political parties, under government plans.
  • Points bonus for Scots immigrants - Immigrants who choose to live and work in Scotland could earn UK citizenship more readily, says the Scottish Secretary.
  • Tuesday in Westminster - 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.
  • Citizenship test plans published - Immigrants who want to become British citizens will need to pass tests to prove their worth, under a new Home Office bill.
  • Johnson ponders immigrant amnesty - The Mayor of London is to commission a study of a potential amnesty for illegal immigrants in the capital.
  • Italy proposes immigrant classes - The lower house of Italy's parliament approves a controversial scheme to create mandatory classes for the children of immigrants.
  • Brown speech in full - The full text of Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Party conference.
  • German citizenship is put to test - Germany introduces a multiple-choice citizenship test for immigrants with questions on politics, history and culture.
  • Schoolgirl's fight for passport - A 16-year-old schoolgirl is unable to leave the country or get a job because she does not officially "exist".
  • How UK citizenship tests are 'abused' - Foreign nationals are being offered ways to ensure they pass UK citizenship tests, a BBC investigation finds.
  • School 'helps citizenship cheats' - A BBC undercover reporter films a language school giving the candidates answers to an English test in advance.
  • Monday's gossip column - Sol Campbell is ready to leave Portsmouth, plus other rumours
  • British citizenship tests planned - Immigrants who want to become British citizens will need to pass tests to "prove their worth", under new plans.
  • 40 Responses to “Welcome”

    1. manick Says:

      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

    2. admin Says:

      On your citizenship application form you will state that you have already passed the test and that is it.

    3. sandra Says:

      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.

    4. admin Says:

      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.

    5. rajan Says:

      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 ?

    6. Kaj Says:

      Hi Rajan

      You will need Indefinite leave to Remain if you are married yo uwill need to take a test a nd pay £750..

    7. rajan Says:

      Thanks Kaj

    8. Nancy Peterson Says:

      Is it allowed to bring notes for use during the test?

    9. admin Says:

      YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ANY MATERIALS

    10. Naz Says:

      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.

    11. Douglas Says:

      I Think admin’s answer No 9 should read – YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ANY MATERIALS.

    12. admin Says:

      Changed as suggested.

    13. ART Says:

      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.

    14. ART Says:

      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

    15. Serkan Says:

      Hi Admin,
      Thank you a lot for helping me via this web page. I passed the exam.Goodluck everybody.

    16. Ubol Says:

      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

    17. Rajan Says:

      How long is the Life In The UK test valid for? is it 1yr, 2 yrs or some thing else?

    18. mila Says:

      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

    19. Gulsen Says:

      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.

    20. sara aman Says:

      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?

    21. s.a Says:

      do u have to take the test even if u already have indefinate leave to remain in the uk? pls let me know asap…

    22. Gulyana GujarKhan Says:

      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.

    23. Gulyana GujarKhan Says:

      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.

    24. kelly Says:

      DO U STILL NEED TO TAKE THE TES TO GET THE BRITISH PASSPORT?

    25. Ellie Says:

      Once you have passed life in the UK test it’s valid forever, well that’s what a HO officer told.

    26. Johnathan Says:

      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

    27. purvi Says:

      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,

    28. Sultan Says:

      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

    29. mrs.mb Says:

      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

    30. Gursharnpreet Says:

      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.

    31. Ece Says:

      30/09/2005 i have got married on this date as a spouse of visa do i still need to do exam ?

    32. lily987321 Says:

      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,

    33. slobie Says:

      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

    34. nimesh Says:

      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?

    35. Raj Says:

      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

    36. Liz Says:

      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?

    37. nana Says:

      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?

    38. sara Says:

      hi
      my two years spouse visa is going to expire soon.do i need test even my husband is british national.

    39. ola nike Says:

      i got my indefinity march2009 when i’m due for british passport?

    40. banish Says:

      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 ?

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