ILR Do I need to upgrade to B2 in English? How to underline the application time in March 2027?

Home Office"HC 1691 Explanatory Memorandum" Paragraph 5.62: "These changes will come into force on 26 March 2027."

As of September 13, 2026, the requirement for permanent residency in English to reach B2 has been incorporated into some immigration rules, with the effective date being March 26, 2027. Keeping it in the "pending consultation" section would delay preparations; stating that "everyone has already changed to take the B2 test" is also inaccurate. Below, we will go through the process step by step: check the route, determine the date, verify the evidence, and select the exam.

My judgment is: those who are definitely applying under the new category, who only have B1 and no other eligible certification methods, should start preparing for B2 now.

Check your permanent residency English language requirements

Open the current Immigration Rules and find the route you are preparing to apply for. For the Skilled Worker visa main applicant, look at Appendix Skilled Worker SW 22A.1; for dependants, look at SW 44.1; for ten years of lawful residence, look at Appendix Long Residence LR 13.1; the spouse's five-year route has been moved from Appendix FM E-ILRP.1.6 to Appendix KoLL. The relevant provisions have already specified the B2 arrangements, but the corresponding proof rules need to be checked further down. Just looking at the brief description next to the visa name can easily mix up the entry, extension, and settlement stages.

Each person in the same family also needs to be verified individually; the English materials of the main applicant cannot replace the requirements for the spouse; the family member provisions have their own applicable conditions.

"Starting from March 2027, all permanent residents will be unified to B2." This needs to be corrected. When proofreading, the current "Immigration Rules" Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) HK 60.1 still states that speaking and listening are at least B1, and does not include the above-mentioned B2 transition clause. Applicants BN(O) should prepare according to this route, and check for any subsequent revisions before submission. The English certificate appendix applies to a specific route, but does not mean that the minimum level of that route is automatically changed; the level should be checked back in the route text itself.

Put the submission date in the calendar

Taking ten years of legal residence as an example, LR 13.1 clearly distinguishes: applications submitted before March 26, 2027, are subject to Category B1, and applications submitted on or after that date are subject to Category B2, with exemptions determined separately.

When the application is submitted online normally, without a fee reduction request, and does not involve changes to an existing application, the date of application is set as the day of online submission according to paragraph 34G(3) of the Immigration Rules. In practice, the submission confirmation and payment receipt should be kept, and subsequent identity verification should be completed as required. The existence of the form in the account draft and the fact that the English test has been registered cannot be used to determine that the application has been submitted. For the long-term residency provisions, an effective application that meets the conditions is submitted before the cut-off date, and then biometric information is entered or a decision is received after that. It will not automatically switch to a lower English level merely because the processing crosses the cut-off date. Those preparing to apply at the cut-off date must separately confirm whether the required residence period and other qualifications have been met. It is not advisable to submit an application that does not yet meet the qualifications just to retain a lower English level.

The passing date of the exam cannot lock the B1 level; if B1 is completed before the boundary and the application is made after the boundary, it still needs to be verified according to the new applicable requirements.

The explanatory memorandum paragraph 5.62 also explicitly covers those who have already obtained a visa in the UK and are on the path to settlement. Therefore, having a permit initially approved under B1 cannot by itself be used to argue that the B1 category should continue to apply during the settlement phase. After writing down the expected submission date, it is time to work backwards to prepare evidence and plan your study schedule. If the date may still cross the line, I will include preparing for B2 in the plan, rather than relying on a single submission just barely making the cut.

Rearrange the old materials to decide on the application

Put together the old grades, the English proof submitted at that time, and the approval records, and verify what level and method were actually used to meet the requirements that year.

Appendix English Language EL 3.1 of the "Immigration Rules" allows applicants to rely on records where they have already demonstrated meeting the required level for a previous successful application for entry clearance or leave to remain. The key is the "current required level": having proven B1 previously does not directly meet the new B2 requirement; if they have already demonstrated meeting the current requirement, it should be verified whether this provision can be applied. When organizing documents, mark the corresponding application number and the evidence of English language proficiency together, to avoid leaving only a score report but being unable to clarify which successful application it relates to.

Those who meet the qualifications for a certificate of education or exemption should still prepare the corresponding documents according to the relevant provisions. The adjustment of levels itself does not make all applicants required to retake the examination.

A detail that is easy to overlook is in Appendix KoLL 2.2(ba): after the boundary, the English qualification from previous licenses can meet the requirements, and the relevant license must be based on at least a B2 level; if relying on an earlier license, the subsequent period of the license must be continuous, and the test provider must also remain recognized at the time of application. This regulation indicates that whether "old results can be used" cannot be judged solely by the level. Those taking this proof route should also verify the continuity of the license and the provider's qualifications.

Check the exam name and subject before payment

Indeed, an exam is required, please check the UKVI-approved SELT, which is the Secure English Language Test. The registration page only mentions "B2 course" or "English assessment," which is not sufficient to indicate that the result can be used for application.

There is a document difference that must be explained here: The current skilled worker visa rules SW 22A.1 state that listening and speaking reach B2, but Home Office "Skilled Worker caseworker guidance" section 22.2 states all four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These two parts are inconsistent. Skilled worker visa applicants should have the corresponding clauses and guidance reviewed by a licensed lawyer before paying for the exam, and check for subsequent updates. The ten-year lawful permanent residence LR 13.1 clearly states listening and speaking, and the four-skills description in the work visa guidance cannot be directly applied to other routes.

When checking the list of recognized examinations, it should be matched to specific exams, levels, and test centers; other courses or examinations provided by the same institution will not automatically be recognized.

When taking the new test certificate for English, Appendix English Language EL 6.1 requires that the recognized test be passed within two years prior to the application and that all required levels for the relevant route are met. The UKVI's SELT guidance also requires verification of the results using the unique reference number of the test. After receiving the results, check the name, level, subject taken, and the number, and keep a complete record. If you plan to use a previous successful application's evidence branch, you should assess its conditions separately to avoid mechanically applying the new test's time requirements to all old materials.

[Data source] Home Office "HC 1691 Explanatory Memorandum"; the provisions listed in the current "Immigration Rules" and "Skilled Worker Caseworker Guidance"; UKVI "SELT Test Guidance".

This article is for reference only. For specific issues, please consult a licensed attorney.

Complete these three checks before submission

1. Write down the application routes for yourself and your family members, the English terms, and the expected submission dates, indicating whether the 26 March 2027 transition requirements apply.
2. Select the English proof method. Use old materials to verify the level and previous application basis; if a new exam is required, arrange study according to the target level, confirm the recognized exams and subjects, and leave time to obtain results and handle material issues.
3. Double-check the articles and examination list before formal submission, verify each score code and personal information, and save the application submission confirmation.

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