• Quick facts about the test
• ‘Knowledge of language and life’ requirement for skilled workers
• Who needs to take the test - Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• Who needs to take the test - Citizenship
• Spouses and partners
• Are there new books for 2012?
• What to study for the test
• I’ve passed my test. What are the next steps?
• Citizenship applications summary

• Your choices for studying for the Life in the UK test
• 7 top tips from people who have passed the Life in the UK test
• Study Techniques and Tips
• Difficult Chapters
• Life in the UK Study Checklist

• Book Your Test

• Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• Absences during your qualifying residence period for ILR
• Fees for settlement (ILR) applications
• Using the Settlement Checking Service (SCS)
• Applying for citizenship
• Absences during your qualifying residence period for citizenship
• Fees for citizenship applications
• Using the Nationality Checking Service (NCS)
• About your Citizenship ceremony
• Applying for your passport

‘Knowledge of language and life’ requirement for skilled workers

This means that anyone in the following visa categories who is applying for settlement (and isn’t otherwise exempt) will have to take the test:

• Tier 1 (Exceptional talent)
• Tier 1 (General)
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
• Tier 1 (Investor)
• Tier 2 (Intra company transfer)
• Tier 2 (General)
• Tier 2 (Minister of religion)
• Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
• work permit holder
• highly skilled migrant (excluding those covered by the HSMP ILR Judicial Review policy document)
• representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation
• representative of an overseas business
• overseas government employee
• minister of religion, religious missionary, or member of a religious order
• airport-based operational ground staff of overseas-owned airlines
• person intending to establish themselves in business
• innovator
• person intending to establish themselves in business under the provisions of EC Association Agreements
• investor
• writer, composer or artist

This change was brought into effect in April 2011. It means that migrants in these categories can no longer meet the KOL requirement by passing an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification.

This change means that even if your ESOL course is from an accredited school and teaches the citizenship materials, you must take the Life in the UK Test.

Transitional arrangements are in place for people who enrolled on their courses before 23 November 2011. More information about these can be found on the Demonstrating your knowledge of language and life in the UK page of the UKBA website.