Stone Studio

01 April 2010

The UK Border Agency is making important changes to the ESOL provisions within the ‘knowledge of language and life’ requirement for people seeking settlement in the UK. These changes will come into force on 7 April 2010.

Most settlement applicants aged between 18 and 64 must show that they have sufficient knowledge of the English language and of life in the UK. They can meet this requirement by either passing the ‘Life in the UK’ test or obtaining an approved English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification. The ESOL provision is for people whose standard of English is below ESOL Entry Level 3.

Do I need to demonstrate my knowledge of language and life in the UK?

Certain applicants for settlement are exempt from the ‘knowledge of language and life’ (KOL) requirement. These exemptions are listed here.

How do I demonstrate my knowledge of language and life in the UK?

If you are not exempt from the KOL requirement, you must demonstrate a good knowledge of language and life in the UK before you apply for settlement. Most applicants will need to do this by:

• passing the ‘Life in the UK’ test, if they speak English to a reasonable standard; or
• taking and passing a course in English and citizenship, if they do not speak English.

For more information, please see the Knowledge of language and life pages in the Settlement section of UKBA website.