Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
Where it is approved
Gov.uk's SELT guidance lists four providers in the UK (Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Pearson) and four outside it (PSI Services (UK) Ltd, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Pearson). The approved PSI test is 'Skills for English UKVI', and a test taken outside the UK can be used for applications made in the UK.
Skills for English says you can take it at Home Office-approved centres in over 130 countries outside the UK, and use it for UKVI applications made in the UK if the test was taken abroad (Skills for English).
Levels and skills
You pick the CEFR level you need, from beginner to proficiency, either as a two-skill test (speaking and listening) or a four-skill test (Skills for English). Its own table matches visas to skills:
| Visa or application | Skills tested |
|---|---|
| Family visas, further leave to remain as a partner or parent | Speaking and listening |
| Indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship | Speaking and listening |
| Skilled Worker, Health and Care, High Potential Individual | Reading, writing, speaking and listening |
| Student visa | Reading, writing, speaking and listening |
Need a SELT for a UK visa?
Where the Home Office asks for a Secure English Language Test, IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI are approved. Practise the format free.
Free IELTS for UKVI practice →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Booking and test day
Book online through the booking portal; the price shows when you choose a test slot. All tests are computer-based at an authorised centre, and there is no online option. Arrive at least 15 minutes early with the ID you registered with (Skills for English FAQ).
Accepted ID includes a passport, an EEA national identity card, a UK-issued BRP, a UN or Red Cross travel document, a Convention Travel Document or a Stateless Person's Travel Document. If you test in a different country, the ID must be a passport; other national IDs work only in the country that issued them (Skills for English FAQ). Gov.uk's own SELT ID rules also apply (gov.uk). Rules and fees change. Check the test owner's own page for your country before you book or pay. This guide is general information, not official advice from the test owner.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Skills for English: SELT in the UK?+
No. Gov.uk lists PSI as an approved SELT provider only outside the UK.
Can I use a Skills for English result for an application made in the UK?+
Yes. A pass at the right level taken abroad is valid for applications made from within the UK.
Can I take Skills for English online?+
No. All Skills for English tests are computer-based at an authorised test centre.
Is there an examiner for the speaking test?+
No. Skills for English: SELT is a one-session computer-based test with no examiner present.
What ID can I use abroad?+
A passport. Other national ID cards are accepted only in the country that issued them.
Keep reading
Related
- Skills for English results and validity
- UK SELT list 2026
- IELTS for a UK family visa
- PTE Academic UKVI
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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