From the 06 April 2011 all Skilled and Highly Skilled Migrants wanting to settle in the UK must pass a Life in the UK Test only, to demonstrate that they have met the knowledge of language and life (KOL) requirement.
This applies to the following categories;
- Tier 1 (Exceptional talent)
- Tier 1 (General)
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
- Tier 1 (Investor)
- Tier 2 (Intra company transfer)
- Tier 2 (General)
- Tier 2 (Minister of religion)
- Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
- Work Permit holder
- Highly Skilled Migrant (excluding those covered by the HSMP ILR Judicial Review policy document)
- Representative of an Overseas Newspaper, News Agency or Broadcasting Organisation
- Representative of an Overseas Business
- Overseas Government Employee
- Minister of Religion, Religious Missionary, or Member of a Religious Order
- Airport-Based Operational Ground Staff of Overseas-Owned Airlines
- Person intending to establish themselves in Business
- Innovator
- Person intending to establish themselves in Business under the Provisions of EC Association Agreements
- Investor
- Writer, Composer or Artist
All migrants in these categories will no longer meet the KOL requirement by passing the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification.
There are transitional arrangements for migrants that have enrolled on an ESOL course or gained an ESOL qualification before 23 November 2010. If this applies to you, the ESOL qualification is valid for any applications for settlement, regardless of the date of your application.
Any applicant that enrolled on an ESOL course on or after 23 November 2010 will need to pass the Life in the UK Test if they apply for settlement on or after 6 April 2011.