The Life in the UK test for settlement
The Life in the UK test is a mandatory requirement for ILR. This guide explains how the test fits into your ILR application, when to take it, how to prepare, and how your pass carries forward to citizenship.
- Section
- Costs, English & General
- Reading time
- 8 min
- Last checked
- 2 March 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
- 24 questions, 45 minutes, pass mark 75%.
- It costs £50, and you pay again each time you sit it.
- Book online at least 3 days in advance.
- A pass gives you a unique reference number. The application asks for that number.
- One pass covers both settlement and a later citizenship application.
- You do not need it if you are under 18, 65 or over, have passed it before, or have a long-term physical or mental condition.
The Life in the UK test is part of the knowledge of language and life requirement for settlement. It costs £50, has 24 questions in 45 minutes, and the pass mark is 75%. Book online at least 3 days in advance. One pass covers both settlement and a later citizenship application. People under 18, people aged 65 or over, and people with a long-term physical or mental condition do not have to take it.
The Test as an ILR Requirement
Regardless of which route you are using to apply for ILR ( Skilled Worker, spouse visa, long residence, or others), the test is part of the knowledge of language and life requirement in Appendix KoLL, alongside the English requirement. They are two separate things and settlement asks for both.
GOV.UK says you do not need to take the test if you are:
- under 18 at the date of application
- aged 65 or over at the date of application
- someone who has passed the test before
- unable to take it because of a long-term physical or mental condition, with medical evidence
Some settlement applications fall outside Appendix KoLL entirely. GOV.UK’s exemptions page names settlement as a refugee, with humanitarian protection or with discretionary leave, settlement as a victim of domestic abuse, and settlement as the surviving partner of a British citizen or settled person among them. Settlement with refugee or humanitarian protection status also has no application fee.
See our full exemptions guide for details.
When to Take the Test
GOV.UK puts no expiry date on a pass — it lists having passed before as a reason you do not need to take the test again. So the test can be taken well ahead of the application.
Two published rules shape the timing:
- The test must be booked online at least 3 days in advance, so it cannot be sat at short notice.
- GOV.UK says you can rebook as many times as you need and pay each time. It sets no minimum waiting period between attempts. Any seven-day or 24-hour gap you see quoted elsewhere is not a published Home Office rule.
Book through the GOV.UK booking page. See our booking guide for tips on finding available slots.
How to Prepare
For detailed preparation advice, see our complete test guide and study guide. Key tips:
- Read the official handbook thoroughly
- Take practice tests regularly
- Focus on the key topics
- The pass mark is 75% — 18 correct answers out of 24
Including the Pass in Your ILR Application
GOV.UK says that when you pass, “you’ll get a ‘unique reference number’. You’ll need this number to complete your citizenship or settlement application.” Keep it. It is what the application form asks for, and the Home Office checks it against the test record.
For the full list of documents needed, see our ILR documents checklist.
From ILR to Citizenship
Your Life in the UK test pass is valid for both ILR and citizenship. When you later apply for British citizenship, GOV.UK lists having passed before among the reasons you do not need to take it again. The same unique reference number is used.
Cost
The test costs £50, and you pay it again each time you sit the test. See our cost guide for a full breakdown. For any changes to the test in 2026, see our 2026 changes guide.
Questions and answers
Do I need the Life in the UK test for ILR?
For most routes, yes. GOV.UK says you do not need the test if you are under 18, aged 65 or over, have passed it before, or have a long-term physical or mental condition that means you cannot take it. Some settlement applications sit outside the requirement altogether, including settlement as a refugee or with humanitarian protection.
When should I take the Life in the UK test?
Any time before you make the application. The test must be booked online at least 3 days in advance. GOV.UK sets no waiting period between attempts and no expiry date on a pass — it says you do not need to take the test again if you have passed it before.
Can I use my Life in the UK test pass for citizenship too?
Yes. GOV.UK lists having passed the test before as a reason you do not need to take it. One pass covers both the settlement application and a later citizenship application. Keep the unique reference number you are given.
What if I fail the test close to my ILR application deadline?
GOV.UK says: 'You can rebook the test as many times as you need. You’ll have to pay each time.' It sets no minimum wait between attempts. It does require the booking to be made at least 3 days in advance, so a retake cannot be same-day. The application asks for the unique reference number a pass gives you, so unless an exemption applies the pass has to come first.
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.