Onterra Tutor🇬🇧 UK Spouse and Partner visa
The Spouse and Partner route does not ask for a scored IELTS band at all. It asks for a pass at a CEFR level that rises with each stage: A1 for the first visa, A2 when you extend after 2.5 years, and B1 when you apply to settle (ILR). The usual test is IELTS Life Skills, a short pass-or-fail exam covering only speaking and listening, booked at the level your stage needs.
The requirement at a glance
| Test accepted | IELTS Life Skills (or another UKVI-approved SELT) |
|---|---|
| First visa | CEFR A1, speaking and listening only |
| Extension (after 2.5 years) | CEFR A2 |
| Settlement (ILR) | CEFR B1 |
What people miss
- IELTS Life Skills is pass or fail at the level you book. There is no band score to interpret, and it only tests speaking and listening.
- You normally sit a fresh test at each stage unless you already hold a pass at a higher level or qualify for an exemption (a degree taught in English, or a passport from a majority-English-speaking country).
- The settlement-stage test must be taken at an approved centre in the UK; overseas centres are not accepted for ILR.
- The government has announced the settlement requirement rises from B1 to B2 from March 2027, so a B1 pass stops being enough for ILR applications made after that change takes effect.
Are you already there?
Find out before you pay the exam fee. Check a real essay or record a speaking answer and get examiner-style bands in about a minute, free.
Questions people ask
Do I need a band score like 6.0 for a spouse visa?
No. The Spouse and Partner route uses pass-or-fail Life Skills tests at A1, A2 or B1, not the scored IELTS. A scored IELTS for UKVI pass at the right CEFR level also works, but Life Skills is shorter and cheaper.
What happens if English is my first language?
Nationals of majority-English-speaking countries listed by the Home Office are exempt. Nigeria is not on that list, so Nigerian applicants take the test regardless of speaking English natively.
Figures reflect commonly published requirements and can change. Confirm against the official government or regulator source before booking.