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Highly skilled workers

A highly skilled migrant reviewing their application

English language

This page explains what proof of your English language skills you must send to support your application to the highly skilled worker category (Tier 1 General) under the points-based system to work in the United Kingdom.

Full details of these requirements are in the immigration rules at paragraph 245A-F of part 6, which you can find on the right side of this page. You must read the policy guidance before you apply under this category. You can download the guidance and application form from the Applying section.

Proof you are a national of a majority English speaking country

You must send your current original passport or travel document.

If you are inside the United Kingdom, where you are unable to send your current original passport or travel document at the time of your application, you must give full reasons under the passport information section of the application form. The only valid exceptional circumstances in which alternative specified documents may be sent are where your current passport or travel document has:

  • been lost;
  • been stolen;
  • expired - returned to national authorities; or
  • submitted to another part of the UK Border Agency.

The alternative specified documents you must send in the exceptional circumstances above (as detailed in Appendix B of the immigration rules) are:

  • your current national identity document; or
  • an original letter from your home government or embassy.

This document must be original, on the headed paper of the government or embassy and must bear the official stamp of that institution. It must have been issued by an authorised official of that institution and must confirm:

  • your full name;
  • your date of birth; and
  • your nationality.

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Proof you have passed an English language test

The original test result certificate must clearly show:

  • your name;
  • the qualification obtained; and
  • the date of the award.


We have a list of approved English language tests (PDF 44K opens in a new window) that have been assessed as meeting our requirements.

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Proof your degree was taught in English

If you have been awarded a qualification

If you have been awarded a qualification, you must send the original certificate of award.

The original certificate of award must be on the institution's official paper clearly showing:

  • your name; 
  • the title of the award; 
  • the date of the award; and 
  • the name of the awarding institution.

We will not accept original provisional certificates. The original certificate of award must always be sent unless you are awaiting graduation or you no longer have the certificate and the institution that issued the certificate is unable to issue a replacement.

If you are awaiting graduation

If you are awaiting graduation, you must provide the original academic reference and original transcript.

If you are awaiting graduation but have successfully completed your degree, or you no longer have the certificate and the awarding institiution is unable to issue a replacement, you should send an original academic reference from the institution that is awarding the degree together with an orginal academic transcript.

The original academic reference from the institution awarding the degree must be on official headed paper of the institution and clearly show:

  • your name; 
  • the title of award; 
  • the date of award, confirming that it will be awarded; and
  • the date that the certificate will be issued.


The original academic reference cannot be considered as suitable evidence if the letter does not state what qualification has been awarded.

The academic transcript must be on the institution's official paper clearly showing:

  • your name; 
  • the name of the academic institution; 
  • the course title; and 
  • confirmation of the award.


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