How to Book the Life in the UK Test

Booking the Life in the UK test is done online through GOV.UK. The process is straightforward but there are specific requirements for ID, timing, and payment. This guide takes you through every step so you know exactly what to expect.

Checked 28 February 20269 min readWritten by the Rowan Editorial Team

Section: Costs, English & General
Reading time: 9 min
Last checked: 28 February 2026
Source: The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
Rowan does not: Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.

In short

Book only through the official GOV.UK website. Avoid third-party sites that charge extra.
The test costs £50 each time you take it, paid by debit or credit card when you book.
GOV.UK says you must book online at least 3 days in advance.
Bring the same original identity document you used to book — not a copy or a screenshot.
You get a refund only if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test.

You book the Life in the UK test online at GOV.UK. It costs £50, and you must book at least 3 days in advance. There are over 30 test centres in the UK and you choose which one. On test day you bring the same original identity document you booked with. This guide covers the booking process, the refund rules, and what GOV.UK does and does not publish.

Before You Book

Before booking your test, make sure you are ready. There is no point paying £50 if you have not studied. See our study guide for advice on how to prepare, and our pass rate guide, which explains why no current pass rate is published.

Check first whether you are exempt from the test. GOV.UK says you do not need to take it if you are under 18, are 65 or over, have passed it before, or have a long-term physical or mental condition — for that last one you have to send an exemption form or a letter from a doctor confirming the condition.

The pass mark is 75%, which is 18 correct answers out of 24.

Step-by-Step Booking Process

Step 1: Go to the Official Booking Page

Visit gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. This is the only official booking website. Some third-party websites offer to book the test for you but charge an additional fee on top of the £50. There is no benefit to using these services.

Step 2: Create an Account

If this is your first time, you need to create an account. GOV.UK says you need:

An email address
A debit or credit card
An accepted form of identity document (see below)

If you have booked before (for example, if you failed and are rebooking), you can log in with your existing account.

Step 3: Enter Your Personal Details

GOV.UK says: “The name you give on your test booking must be an exact match with the name on the ID you use to book the test.” If your passport says “Mohammed Ahmed Khan”, your booking must also say “Mohammed Ahmed Khan”. A shortened name or a nickname is not an exact match.

If you would prefer test centre staff not to see details of a previous gender, GOV.UK asks you to email sensitivebookings@homeoffice.gov.uk before you book.

Step 4: Choose a Test Centre

GOV.UK says: “There are over 30 test centres in the UK. You can choose where to take your test when you book.” You are not restricted to the centre nearest you. GOV.UK does not publish how busy any centre is or how far ahead its dates run, so you find out by searching.

Step 5: Select a Date and Time

The system shows you the dates and times that centre has. You must book at least 3 days in advance.

Step 6: Pay the Fee

The test costs £50. You pay online by debit or credit card when you book.

Step 7: Confirmation

Your booking then appears under “Confirmed tests” in your account, which is also where you go to rearrange or cancel it. Keep the confirmation email for the centre address and the time. The one thing GOV.UK says you must take with you is the original identity document you booked with.

Accepted Identity Documents

GOV.UK says you must bring the same identity document you used to book: “This must be your original ID, not a copy or a screenshot.” It must have a photo that looks like you, and your photo is taken on the day to confirm it. The accepted documents are:

Your eVisa, with a share code
A valid passport
A valid national identity card from a country in the EU, or from Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
A valid travel document with a photo — an emergency travel document is not accepted
A biometric residence permit or biometric residence card. These stopped being issued at the end of 2024, and GOV.UK accepts one only if your test is within 24 months of its expiry date and before 31 December 2026.

A UK driving licence is not on the list. GOV.UK also says you cannot bring children or other family members into the test centre.

GOV.UK is blunt about what happens if you turn up without the right document: “You will not be able to take the test and you will not get a refund if you do not bring the correct ID or if you refuse to have your photo taken.”

Rescheduling or Cancelling

GOV.UK says: “If you’re unable to attend your test, you can rearrange it or cancel it.” You do this by signing in to your booking account, choosing “Confirmed tests”, then “Cancel tests”. What you get back depends only on how much notice you give:

At least 3 days (72 hours) before the test: you get the £50 back, to the card you paid with.
Within 3 days of the test: no refund, whether you cancel or rearrange.
If you miss the test: no refund. GOV.UK lists arriving late, being ill, bringing the wrong document and refusing the photo as reasons that do not get your money back.

If the test centre cancels your test, you can ask for a refund. You have 3 months from the test date to ask, by contacting the test provider, PSI, at support@lituk.psionline.com or 0800 015 4245 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm).

If You Need to Rebook After Failing

GOV.UK sets no waiting period between attempts. It says: “You can rebook the test as many times as you need. You’ll have to pay each time.” Each attempt costs £50, and the 3-day booking notice applies to the new booking as it did to the first one.

Our guide to what to do after failing covers what happens next.

To rebook, simply log in to your existing account and make a new booking. You do not need to create a new account.

Special Requirements and Accessibility

GOV.UK says that if you have a disability you can make a special request when you book, for equipment or other support at the test centre. It does not publish a list of the adjustments available, so describe what you need in the request, or ask the Life in the UK Test helpline on 0800 015 4245 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm) before you book.

A long-term physical or mental condition can instead make you exempt from the test. GOV.UK asks for either an exemption form or a letter from a doctor confirming the condition.

Common Booking Problems

No Available Dates at My Local Centre

Try booking at a different centre. You are not restricted to your local area. Also try checking back at different times of day, as cancelled slots may become available.

Name on Booking Does Not Match ID

If you realise after booking that your name does not match your ID exactly, contact the test centre or update your booking online. Do not attend with mismatched details as you may be turned away.

Payment Failed

If your card payment fails, try a different card. Ensure your card is enabled for online payments and has sufficient funds. Some international cards may not be accepted.

Lost Booking Confirmation

Sign in to your account on the GOV.UK booking website to see your booking under “Confirmed tests”. If you cannot find it, the Life in the UK Test helpline is 0800 015 4245 or support@lituk.psionline.com, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.

After the Test

If you pass, GOV.UK says: “You’ll get a ‘unique reference number’. You’ll need this number to complete your citizenship or settlement application.” Keep it safe — it is what your settlement or citizenship application asks for. If you took the test before 17 December 2019, you were given a letter with a test reference identifier instead.

You only take the test once. GOV.UK lists among those who do not need to take it people who “have passed it before — for example, if you’re applying to become a citizen and already passed it as part of your settlement application”. For more on the test itself, see our complete Life in the UK test guide.

You may also find our English Language Tests for UK Visas andUK Visa Fees: Complete Guide helpful.

Questions and answers

Where do I book the Life in the UK test?

You book the test on the official GOV.UK website at gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. This is the only legitimate booking platform. Do not use third-party websites that charge extra fees.

How much does it cost to book the Life in the UK test?

The test costs £50 per attempt. You pay online by debit or credit card when you book. If you fail and rebook, you must pay £50 again.

How far in advance can I book the test?

GOV.UK says you must book online at least 3 days in advance. It does not publish how far ahead slots are released or how busy any centre is — you see the dates each centre has when you search.

Can I change my test date after booking?

Yes. You can rearrange or cancel through your online account. GOV.UK says you get your £50 back if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test, and that you will not get a refund if you cancel or rearrange within 3 days of it.

What ID do I need to bring to the test?

The same original identity document you used to book — not a copy or a screenshot — and the name on the booking must match it exactly. GOV.UK accepts an eVisa with a share code, a valid passport, a valid national identity card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, or a valid travel document with a photo. A UK driving licence is not on the list.

This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.

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