IELTS for UKVI
- Where
- Zagreb, Ljubljana
- Fee
- €311 (Zagreb), €331 (Ljubljana)
- Next date
- 15 October 2026, Zagreb
Who needs IELTS for UKVI
Since 1 January 2021, citizens of Croatia, Slovenia and other European Union countries have had to meet the requirements of the UK immigration system to work and study in the United Kingdom. For some visas, those requirements include a SELT.
| What is tested | Visas (according to gov.uk) |
|---|---|
| Reading, writing, listening and speaking | Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, High Potential Individual, Innovator Founder, Scale-up Worker, Minister of Religion and others |
| Speaking and listening only | partner or parent visa, settlement, citizenship and others |
- Skilled Worker visa: English at level B2 or above. Level B1 is enough only for those who held this visa before 8 January 2026 and are now extending or changing it.
- Student visa: level B2 for study at degree level or above, and B1 below that level. For study at degree level or above, universities can also assess your English themselves, in which case a SELT is not needed: ask the university.
- Courses of up to six months: citizens of Croatia and Slovenia do not need a visa for these, but they do need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). The course must be at an accredited institution.
Which test and which level your visa requires is stated on that visa’s page on gov.uk. The rules change, so check them just before you book your test.
Which score corresponds to which level
| Level the visa requires | IELTS for UKVI, in each of the four parts |
|---|---|
| B1 | at least 4.0 |
| B2 | at least 5.5 |
| C1 | at least 7.0 |
How it differs from standard IELTS
The content, format and level of difficulty are the same as in IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. The difference is that IELTS for UKVI is taken at a location approved by the UK government, with additional security checks, and the Test Report Form carries additional details for UKVI. When you book, you choose the Academic or General Training version, depending on what the organisation or the visa requires.
Where it is taken and what it costs
Our centres Jantar Zagreb (Zaharova ulica 7) and Jantar Ljubljana (Tehnološki park 19) are on the UK government’s list of approved locations. IELTS for UKVI cannot be taken in Split. The fee is €311 in Zagreb and €331 in Ljubljana.
Zagreb · IELTS for UKVI (General Training only)
Start: 9:00
Speaking: same daylast seats€311
Ljubljana · IELTS for UKVI
Start: 10:00
Speaking: same daylast seats€331
Zagreb · IELTS for UKVI
Start: 9:00
Speaking: same daylast seats€311
As listed on 13 October 2026 The list is copied from the British Council’s booking page. Free places change from day to day: what you see when you book is what counts.
IELTS Life Skills
For visas that require only speaking and listening there is a shorter test, IELTS Life Skills, at levels A1, A2 and B1 (A2 is taken only in the United Kingdom). It is taken as a conversation with an examiner and one other candidate, and the result is “Pass” or “Fail”. On the day we last checked the booking page, there were no Life Skills dates in Zagreb or Ljubljana. If you need this test, write to us.
Questions and answers
Is standard IELTS valid for a UK visa?
When a visa requires a SELT, the UK government accepts only a test taken at an approved location, that is, IELTS for UKVI. Standard IELTS Academic or General Training is then not enough.
Do I need the UKVI version to register with a UK regulator?
Regulators decide for themselves which test they accept. The General Medical Council, for example, accepts IELTS Academic in both the standard and the UKVI version. Requirements by regulator are on the Professional registration page.
How long is a result valid for a visa?
According to gov.uk, a SELT result is valid for two years from the date it was issued.