ILR English Requirement Rising to B2 in March 2027: Who Is Affected

From 26 March 2027, most people applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will need English at B2 level in speaking and listening, up from B1. The change was made by Statement of Changes HC 1691 and applies to people already on a route to settlement, not just new arrivals. If you can apply before 26 March 2027, B1 is still enough.

Key points

• Start date: settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 (HC 1691 explanatory memorandum, para 5.62).
• Level: B2 in speaking and listening (CEFR).
• Who: most work, family, long residence and private life settlement routes, including people already on them.
• Alternative: a qualified teacher’s letter confirming at least 75 guided learning hours in the past 12 months.
• Separate from earned settlement: this change is already law; earned settlement is still a proposal.

What exactly is changing

Currently, to meet the English part of the “knowledge of language and life” requirement for settlement, you need a qualification at B1 or above, a degree taught in English, or an exemption (GOV.UK).

HC 1691 “increases the English language requirement for settlement to B2 level” where the current requirement is B1. The new rules refer to speaking and listening at “at least level B2”. Applications made before 26 March 2027 are decided under the B1 standard.

	Before 26 March 2027	From 26 March 2027
Level needed	B1	B2
Skills	Speaking and listening	Speaking and listening
Typical evidence	Approved SELT, or a degree taught in English	Approved SELT at B2, or a degree taught in English (check the updated rules)

Who is affected

The explanatory memorandum (para 5.60) lists the parts of the Rules being changed. They include:

Route	Affected?
Skilled Worker (including Health and Care)	Yes, applied at settlement stage
Scale-up	Yes, applied at settlement stage
Global Talent	Yes
Innovator Founder	Yes
UK Ancestry	Yes
Representative of an Overseas Business	Yes
Tier 2 Minister of Religion and International Sportsperson	Yes
Long residence (10 years)	Yes
Private life	Yes
Settlement Family Life (partners and other family settlement)	Yes
Bereaved partner	Yes

Source: HC 1691 explanatory memorandum.

People already on a route

The memorandum says: “The changes will therefore apply to those already on a pathway to settlement in the UK.” The start date was deferred to give people “sufficient opportunity to take any steps necessary to meet them.”

This matters most for Skilled Workers. Many entered the route when B1 was the visa requirement (before B2 applied to new Skilled Worker applicants from 8 January 2026). At ILR, Skilled Workers have usually not needed to prove English again. From 26 March 2027, the B2 standard applies at the settlement stage “in addition to” the requirement for the visa itself.

BN(O) visa holders

The BN(O) route is not in the list of routes amended in the explanatory memorandum, and a parliamentary written answer in March 2026 stated the increase does not apply to the BN(O) route. If you are on this route, check the current GOV.UK BN(O) settlement page before applying.

British citizenship

HC 1691 amends the Immigration Rules, not the British Nationality Act or its regulations. The memorandum does not mention naturalisation. As of October 2026 we have not found official confirmation that citizenship applications will need B2. If you plan to apply for citizenship after 26 March 2027 and are relying on a B1 certificate, check the citizenship guide and GOV.UK for updates.

Who is exempt

The existing exemptions for the English requirement continue, including people aged 65 or over, people with a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting it, and nationals of listed majority English-speaking countries (GOV.UK). Under-18s do not need to meet the requirement.

If you cannot reach B2: the teacher-letter alternative

The Statement of Changes adds alternatives for applications made on or after 26 March 2027 (HC 1691):

• Appendix English Language, EL1.1(d)(iv): confirmation from a qualified English language teacher that you attended at least 75 guided learning hours in the 12 months before applying, and that in the teacher’s view you are unlikely to reach B2 through further study.
• Appendix KoLL, 3.2(ca): specified evidence from a qualified English teacher that you have made efforts to learn English but do not yet have sufficient knowledge to pass a B2 qualification.

How these provisions interact with each route, and whether they lead to settlement or to a further period of limited leave, depends on the route. On the family route, applicants who have not met the English requirement at settlement can already be granted a further 30 months of limited leave under HC 1491. Read the Home Office guidance for your route, or take advice, before relying on these alternatives. Keep records of your classes, hours and attendance.

Who can avoid B2 by applying earlier?

If you will reach your qualifying period before 26 March 2027, you can apply up to 28 days early under the current rules. For example, a Skilled Worker who arrived in March 2022 qualifies in March 2027 and could apply in late February 2027 with B1.

Be aware that the separate earned settlement policy is expected before the end of 2026 and could change qualifying periods for people who have not yet got ILR. See Earned settlement explained.

How to prepare for B2

1. Find your current level. Take a practice test from an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) provider.
2. Check the approved list. Only tests and centres on the GOV.UK approved list are accepted. Make sure the test covers speaking and listening at B2.
3. Allow time. Moving from B1 to B2 usually takes many hours of study. Start now if your qualifying date is after March 2027.
4. Consider a degree route. If you have a degree taught in English, check whether it meets the requirement with an Ecctis assessment.
5. Keep evidence of study. If you may need the teacher-letter alternative, attend a course with a qualified teacher and keep attendance records.
6. Book early. Test centres can get busy before major rule changes.

How this fits the wider picture

Change	Status (October 2026)
B2 for new Skilled Worker, Scale-up and HPI visas	In force since 8 January 2026
B2 for settlement	Scheduled: 26 March 2027
B2 mandatory and C1 reduction under earned settlement	Proposed only

For the full ILR process, read our ILR guide. Rule changes are tracked on the updates page and UK hub.

What to do next

1. Work out whether your ILR application date falls before or after 26 March 2027.
2. If after, book a B2 practice test this month.
3. Pass the Life in the UK test now so English is the only outstanding item.
4. If you have a health condition or learning difficulty, ask your GP or specialist about evidence for an exemption.
5. If you are unsure which rules apply to you, speak to an OISC-regulated adviser or solicitor.