English exemption for permanent residence: a UK degree works—should we spend £252 on this ENIC case?

"I did my master's in the UK, do I need to take B1 for applying for permanent residency? Should I get a ENIC certification first?"

No need to take an exam or get certified. A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree awarded by a UK institution is inherently recognized as proof of English language proficiency according to EL 5.2(a) of Appendix English Language. Uploading a copy of your degree certificate suffices for this requirement. Those who have to pay £252 and wait for 20 working days are another group: those whose degrees were awarded by institutions outside the UK. Below is a walkthrough of the actual processing steps, with each step highlighting common problem areas.

The first step is to check who awarded the degree, not where the courses were taken.

EL 5.2 Divides the degree into three branches, and this is the boundary that determines whether to spend money later:

This category in Canada is worth a separate look. In EL 4.1, the list of countries where English is the main language includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Malta; however, in EL 5.2(b), Canada is specifically excluded in parentheses, which is easy to understand, as French-language instruction in Quebec takes up a considerable proportion. The result is: Canadian citizens can directly meet the English requirement through nationality, while an applicant with a Chinese passport who completed their undergraduate studies in Toronto does not have their degree listed in EL 5.2(b), and thus must go through EL 5.2(c), where Ecctis will assess on a case-by-case basis whether the program was taught in English. Ireland's approach is the opposite; it is not on the EL 4.1 list, but is specifically included in EL 5.2(b).

The proof of the degree itself, EL 5.3 provides three options: the certificate from the issuing institution, the transcript issued by the institution, or an official letter from the institution (which must state the name, type and level of the degree, the issuing institution, and the date of award). Home Office "Assessing the English Language requirement" version dated May 1, 2025 clearly does not accept temporary provisional certificates - for those who have just graduated and have not yet received their official certificate, the correct approach is to request an official letter from the institution containing all the above information, rather than submitting a temporary certificate first and then supplementing it later.

Where is this order placed, and how long will it take?

On May 1, 2025, Ecctis (the operator of ENIC) discontinued the original Visas and Nationality Service and replaced it with Qualification and Language Service, abbreviated as QLS. For those who need to confirm both the degree level and English proficiency, the product to order is called English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison.

The price and time have changed. This is something only those who have recently handled it would notice: old service level £147.50, 10 working days, with an additional 48-hour rush option available; QLS unified £210＋VAT (total £252), maximum 20 working days, rush channel has been canceled. Ecctis will contact the issuing institution directly to verify the authenticity of the degree. If the institution responds slowly, the entire application will be stuck. If Ecctis requests additional documents, the 20 working days will restart from the day the documents are submitted.

Don't confuse the program: the one without English assessment is only applicable to PhDs under the work visa and High Potential Individual route; while the Statement of Comparability for job hunting and further study does not assess English at all, and the guidance is very clear that caseworkers must not use it as evidence of English ability.

Here is my own judgment: If the only purpose of this overseas degree is to meet the B1 requirement for permanent residency, in most cases I would not recommend buying QLS. Taking an approved listening and speaking test in the UK (such as IELTS Life Skills B1), the cost within the UK is roughly between £150–£170, and the results are usually released within a day; waiting for £252 plus four weeks to get the same result. On the other hand, if this degree has a second use - family members also need it, it needs to prove the degree level during the work visa stage, and it is also planned to use it to meet the English requirement for naturalization - then this deal is worth doing.

Not sure which branch you are in, it's safer to spend £5 at justiscript.com to get a written response from a British practicing lawyer on this issue, rather than paying £252 upfront for a report that may not be needed.

Which option should be selected in the permanent residency application form?

Do a verification step before proceeding to the English section of the online application: retrieve your previous successful application and check what was used to meet the English requirement and to which level.

Appendix English Language provisions allow for the continued use of evidence that has already been proven and meets the level required for this application. There is no need to resubmit evidence. The key lies in the four characters "level meets". The guidance gives an example of the international athlete route: those who passed under A1 previously, and now need B1 for permanent residency, must re-prove this item. According to the same logic, after March 26, 2027, the English language level for permanent residency was raised to B2. Those who only took the speaking and listening test at B1 that year need to re-examine whether their current documents are sufficient. The degree route does not set different standards according to CEFR in EL 5. The current requirement of B2 also accepts degrees taught in English.

Then there are three specific matters. In the English column, select "Degree," and upload your degree certificate or an official letter from the institution; if it is issued overseas, you must also upload the QLS confirmation letter, both are required. Life in the UK Test is calculated separately, it falls under Appendix KOL UK, and the degree does not exempt from this exam. In terms of timing, if you are certain about applying for QLS, it is recommended to place the order date six to eight weeks before the planned submission date - 20 working days is close to four weeks, and you should also leave some buffer for slow responses from the institution and the time needed to resubmit documents.

Add a sentence that was not mentioned before: This QLS confirmation letter itself has no expiration date. GOV.UK Put the English proof on the same page for "naturalization and settlement", the degree route is also an accepted method during the naturalization stage. Therefore, for those who really only have overseas degrees, the above-mentioned £252 may not be a one-time expense - spread over the two stages of permanent residency and naturalization, the difference compared to taking a SELT once is smaller than it seems. First clarify which of the three groups you belong to, then decide where to spend the money. The order of this step is more important than the amount.

[Data Source] Immigration Rules Appendix English Language (EL 4.1, EL 5.2, EL 5.3, EL 5.4) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-english-language; Home Office "Assessing the English Language requirement" 1 May 2025 edition https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-language-requirements-for-immigration-applicants/assessing-the-english-language-requirement-accessible; Ecctis QLS Fee and Timetable Information https://qls.ecctis.com/english-qualification-comparison/price-and-timeframe

This document is for reference only; the fees and timeliness shall be subject to GOV.UK and Ecctis latest announcements; for specific issues, please consult a licensed lawyer.

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