Life in the UK Test Disability Exemptions and Adjustments

Who Qualifies for an Exemption

There is no published list of qualifying conditions. Appendix KoLL of the Immigration Rules gives the decision maker a discretion where, because of the applicant's mental or physical condition, it would be unreasonable to expect them to meet either or both parts of the requirement. The Home Office caseworker guidance says caseworkers must exercise that discretion where the applicant:

• is suffering from a long-term illness or disability that severely restricts their ability to learn English or prepare for the Life in the UK test; or
• has a mental condition which prevents them from speaking or learning English to the required standard.

The guidance gives examples of where a waiver may be appropriate: an applicant who is deaf, an applicant without speech, or an applicant with a speech impediment that limits their ability to communicate in the relevant language. It says each application is considered on its own merits.

It also makes the opposite point. Test centres and many colleges "can cater for a variety of disabilities, such as blindness", and "an applicant may be able to do the test even if they produce evidence of a disability". Evidence of a disability is not, by itself, a waiver.

Age is separate and does not need medical evidence: applicants under 18 and applicants aged 65 or over at the date of application are outside the requirement altogether.

The exemption is not granted by the test centre. It is assessed by the Home Office when you submit your settlement or citizenship application. See the GOV.UK Life in the UK test page for official guidance.

Medical Evidence Required

The Home Office guidance asks for a completed medical waiver form — it calls this a "proforma" — filled in by a doctor, confirming the physical or mental condition, together with all original and current medical reports setting out the diagnosis. GOV.UK publishes the form as Knowledge of language and Life in the UK Test exemption: long term physical or mental condition.

The GOV.UK booking page puts it slightly more loosely, saying you must provide "either an exemption form or a letter from a doctor confirming your physical or mental condition".

Whatever form it takes, the evidence has to address the test the guidance sets: how the condition severely restricts the ability to learn English or prepare for the test, or how a mental condition prevents speaking or learning English to the required standard.

Where a request for an exemption arrives without the completed form, the guidance tells caseworkers to give the applicant the opportunity to provide it, unless the application falls to be refused on another ground. For some older applications, and for settlement under certain simplified routes, the guidance says caseworkers cannot insist on the form and must weigh whatever medical evidence was sent.

Adjustments at the Test Centre

GOV.UK deals with this in one line on the booking page: "You can make special requests when you book your test, for example if you have a disability and need extra equipment or help accessing the centre."

It does not publish a list of adjustments, so what is available is a question for the test service. GOV.UK gives a helpline for booking questions: the Life in the UK Test Helpline, 0800 015 4245, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, or support@lituk.psionline.com.

The standard test conditions are the baseline any adjustment departs from: 45 minutes to answer 24 questions, at one of over 30 test centres, at a cost of £50, booked at least 3 days in advance.

This matters for the exemption question too. Because the guidance tells caseworkers that centres can cater for a range of disabilities, the availability of an adjustment is relevant to whether a waiver is appropriate.

The English Language Requirement

The two parts are treated differently, and the difference matters.

• Age. Appendix KoLL takes applicants under 18 and applicants aged 65 or over outside the whole requirement, English and Life in the UK together.
• Condition. Here the parts are considered separately. The guidance says that where a person provides evidence that they would be unable to satisfy one part, "it does not automatically mean that they will be unable to meet the second part", and gives the example of a condition that makes it unreasonable to prepare for and complete the Life in the UK test while the person can still demonstrate the English language requirement, which is assessed differently. The guidance tells caseworkers to consider whether the condition affects both parts or only one.

For more on English language requirements, see our English language for settlement guide and our general exemptions guide.

Applying with an Exemption

When submitting your settlement application or citizenship application:

• GOV.UK says the completed exemption form should be included with the application form, with the original current medical reports setting out the diagnosis.
• The application form has a section for the Life in the UK test where an exemption can be indicated.
• The rest of the application is unaffected, including the biometrics appointment.

One point the guidance is explicit about: an exemption granted on medical grounds for a settlement application does not carry over. A separate exemption request has to be made for a later citizenship application.

Where an exemption request is not accepted, the guidance says any refusal must make clear that the applicant does not meet the language or Life in the UK requirements and has not provided the specified evidence to be considered for a waiver.

For the settlement document requirements, see our settlement documents checklist.

Questions and answers