The British Nationality (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

“5A.

(1)

A person has sufficient knowledge of the English language for the purpose of an application for naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6 of the Act if that person—

(a)

possesses a qualification or has passed a test specified in Schedule 2A; or

(b)

possesses an academic qualification deemed by UK NARIC4 to meet the recognised standard of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD in the United Kingdom and—

(i)

UK NARIC has confirmed that the qualification was taught or, as the case may be, researched in English; or

(ii)

the qualification was taught or, as the case may be, researched in an English speaking country specified in Schedule 2A other than Canada; or

(c)

is ordinarily resident outside the United Kingdom and a person designated by the Secretary of State certifies in writing that the person has sufficient knowledge of the English language for the purpose of an application for naturalisation; or

(d)

satisfied the Secretary of State when making a successful application for indefinite leave to remain within the meaning of section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 19715 that he or she possessed a qualification or had passed a test in English at a level equivalent to Level B1 or above on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment6; or

(e)

is a national of an English speaking country specified in Schedule 2A.

(2)

A person has sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom for the purpose of an application for naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6 of the Act if that person—

(a)

has passed the test known as the “Life in the UK Test” administered by an educational institution or other person approved for this purpose by the Secretary of State or the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man; or

(b)

has passed the test known as the “Citizenship Test” administered by an educational institution or other person approved for this purpose by the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey or Jersey; or

(c)

is ordinarily resident outside the United Kingdom and a person designated by the Secretary of State certifies in writing that the person has sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom for the purpose of an application for naturalisation.”

“SCHEDULE 2ASPECIFIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS AND QUALIFICATIONS AND ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Regulation 5A

Specified English Language Tests and Qualifications

1.

The following tests and qualifications are specified for the purposes of regulation 5A(1)(a)—

(a)

a qualification included on the register maintained by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation under section 148 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 20097 (“the Register of Regulated Qualifications”) which—

(i)

is classified on the Register of Regulated Qualifications as a qualification in English for speakers of other languages;

(ii)

was obtained in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; and

(iii)

is at a level equivalent to level B1 or above on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment;

(b)

a National Qualification in English awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority8 which—

(i)

was obtained in Scotland; and

(ii)

is at level 4, 5 or 6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework9;

(c)

a qualification or test specified in the following table which is at a level equivalent to level B1 or above on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment.

Recognised English Language Tests and Qualifications

Awarding body	Specified English language test or qualification
Cambridge English (previously known as Cambridge ESOL)	Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) Online Test (Certificated version)
	Cambridge English: Key (also known as Key English Test)
	Cambridge English: Preliminary (also known as Preliminary English Test)
	Cambridge English: First (also known as First Certificate in English)
	Cambridge English: Advanced (also known as Certificate in Advanced English)
	Cambridge English: Proficiency (also known as Certificate of Proficiency in English)
	Cambridge English: Business Preliminary (also known as Business English Certificate Preliminary)
	Cambridge English: Business Vantage (also known as Business English Certificate Vantage)
	Cambridge English: Business Higher (also known as Business English Certificate Higher)
	Cambridge English: Legal (also known as International Legal English Certificate)
	Cambridge English: Financial (also known as International Certificate in Financial English)
	ESOL Skills for Life at Entry level 3, level 1 or level 2
	IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Cambridge International Examinations	Cambridge IGCSE: English as a First Language
	Cambridge IGCSE: English as a Second Language
City and Guilds	City and Guilds International ESOL (IESOL) Diploma
Educational Testing Service	Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
	Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
Pearson	Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
Trinity College London	ESOL Skills for Life at Entry level 3, level 1 or level 2
	Integrated Skills in English

Specified English Speaking Countries

2.

The following countries are specified English speaking countries for the purposes of regulation 5A(1)(b)(ii) and (e)—

(a)

Antigua and Barbuda;

(b)

Australia;

(c)

the Bahamas;

(d)

Barbados;

(e)

Belize;

(f)

Canada;

(g)

Dominica;

(h)

Grenada;

(i)

Guyana;

(j)

Jamaica;

(k)

New Zealand;

(l)

the Republic of Ireland;

(m)

Saint Christopher and Nevis;

(n)

Saint Lucia;

(o)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;

(p)

Trinidad and Tobago; or

(q)

the United States of America.”