The test day
Who does not need the Life in the UK Test
Four situations remove the need for a test. Several others that people often assume would count do not. Check yours with the tool above.
Do I have to sit the Life in the UK Test?
Test needed?
Yes, you need a pass
| Ages exempt | under 18, or 65 and over |
| Fee if you sit it | £50 |
| Book at least | 3 days ahead |
gov.uk lists four cases where you do not need to take the Life in the UK Test: you are under 18; you are 65 or over; you have passed it before, for example for settlement before applying for citizenship; or you have a long-term physical or mental condition, shown by an exemption form or a doctor's letter. The Home Office's Guide AN, which covers naturalisation, adds the limits. A condition must prevent you from meeting the requirement; illness that responds to treatment does not exempt you, and temporary conditions such as depression or stress would not normally be grounds. The waiver request form must be completed by a registered medical practitioner who has met you. Illiteracy and long residence are expressly not grounds for exemption. Holders of EU settled status are not exempt either: they usually did not take the test for settlement and must pass it before naturalising. Anyone exempted from it at the settlement stage for another reason must meet it now, unless the exemption was for age or a condition. Being exempt saves the £50 fee, not the citizenship fees.
How do I meet the English requirement?
Your way to meet it
Pass a B1 speaking and listening test
| Level | B1 |
| Skills tested | speaking and listening |
| Life in the UK Test | still needed (separate) |
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
The four exemptions on gov.uk
| Situation | Exempt? | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | yes | nothing; adults are the ones who naturalise |
| 65 or over | yes | nothing beyond proof of age in the application |
| Passed the test before | yes, no need to retake | the reference number or letter from that pass |
| Long-term physical or mental condition | possibly | an exemption form or a doctor’s letter; for naturalisation, the waiver form by a registered medical practitioner |
The checker at the top of this page applies the same list. For a 40-year-old with no previous pass and no condition, it answers that the test is needed; for a 66-year-old, that it is not.
Situations that do not exempt you
| You may assume this counts | What Guide AN says |
|---|---|
| Living in the UK for many years | long residence is not a reason for exemption |
| Not being able to read or write well | you will not be exempted on grounds of illiteracy |
| A temporary illness, such as stress or depression | would not normally be grounds for exemption |
| An illness that responds to treatment | you are expected to prepare and meet the requirement |
| EU settled status | not exempt: take the test and show English before naturalising |
| An exemption granted when you got indefinite leave | you must meet the requirement now, unless it was for age or a condition |
| A degree taught in English or a passport from an English-speaking country | covers English only; the Life in the UK Test is still needed |
The EU settled status point is easy to miss. Guide AN explains that people granted indefinite leave under the EU Settlement Scheme did not have to meet the knowledge of language and life in the UK requirements for settlement, so these must be met before applying to naturalise, with evidence sent with the application.
Medical exemptions in detail
The bar is high. Guide AN states that physical or mental illness does not automatically exempt you. Only a condition that prevents you permanently from meeting the requirements will be considered, and the evidence must come from your doctor or a medical professional. The waiver request form, published on gov.uk, must be completed by a registered medical practitioner who has met you as part of the assessment. You can indicate in your application that you think you should be exempt and give the details there.
If the condition makes the test harder rather than impossible, the booking route offers another option: gov.uk says you can make special requests when you book, for example extra equipment or help accessing the centre if you have a disability.
The English requirement follows similar rules
Guide AN treats knowledge of English and knowledge of life in the UK as two separate requirements but gives them the same exemptions for age (65 or over) and long-term condition. Unlike the test, English can also be met by a degree taught in English or by nationality of a majority English-speaking country. The tool under this section checks which route applies to you; the English exemptions page has the detail.
What it means for your application
Guide AN warns that if you apply without meeting both requirements, and you are not exempt, the application may be refused and the fee kept. That is £1,709 at stake. If you are unsure whether you qualify for an exemption, passing the test removes the doubt for £50. Sources: the gov.uk Life in the UK Test page and Guide AN, section 9.3. To prepare instead, start with our citizenship test page.