IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

If you make a visa application to stay or move to the UK, you need to be aware of changes made by the United Kingdom Visas & Immigration (UKVI). If you’re applying for Tier 1 and Tier 2 visas to the UK, the IELTS for UKVI test is for you.

There are two types of IELTS for UKVI tests:

• IELTS for UKVI Academic

• IELTS for UKVI General Training

IELTS for UKVI Academic and IELTS for UKVI General Training are designed to meet certain administrative requirements that are specified by the UK Home Office. The actual test taken is the same as IELTS (for all other purposes), same content, examiners, level of difficulty, format, scoring and so on.

The difference is in the test taker journey on the test day. Test Report Forms will be slightly different, to show that you have taken the test at an IELTS UK visa session.

IELTS for UKVI Academic

• Applicable for test takers who want to study at Undergraduate or Post-graduate levels in the UK.

• Applicable for test takers who seek professional registration in the UK.

IELTS for UKVI General Training

• Applicable for test takers willing to migrate to the UK under certain visa categories.

• Applicable for test takers who want to train or study below degree level.

It is important to note that although the test formats are the same, the IELTS and IELTS for UKVI tests are different types of tests -- the IELTS for UKVI test is meant for UK visa applications and must be taken at a UKVI-approved test centre.