The UK government has announced a list of nationalities whose citizens are exempt from proving English-language proficiency when applying for settlement or British citizenship.
The exemptions cover citizens of 19 countries and territories, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Jamaica, Ghana? No — Ghana is not on the exemption list, while countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Malta, and Trinidad and Tobago are included.
Citizens of Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda are not automatically exempt, despite English being widely used as an official language in these countries. Applicants from these countries must generally meet the UK’s English-language requirement.
For British citizenship applications, applicants who previously qualified for an exemption at the settlement stage may need to provide an exemption form again.
Countries exempt from the English test
The UK government’s list includes:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
British Overseas Territories
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Ireland — for citizenship applications only
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Some work visa holders also qualify
Certain applicants applying for settlement through eligible work visa routes may also be exempt because they already demonstrated their English proficiency when obtaining their visa.
The qualifying routes include the Skilled Worker, Tier 2, Scale-up Worker, Innovator Founder, Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Representative of an Overseas Business and certain Temporary Work visas.
Applicants who do not qualify through either the nationality or work-visa exemptions must provide evidence that they meet the required English-language standard before their settlement or citizenship application can proceed.
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