Changes to British Citizsenship

[Thongkorn]

Does any one know what the changes to the British citizenship requirements are, I Have been told that they will not accept ESOL certificate's after a date in August 2013. would that be correct and what date does it start , if in fact it does, I would have thought that any ESOL that was gained before the start Date of change would be excepted.

[bobrussell]

See:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsfragments/84-nigeria-settlement1

It is October 2013!

[Thongkorn]

Thank you very much , bobrussel

I have been looking for that information Thai visa members comes through again

[7by7]

See also this post

Note that this will change in October 2013.

From then an ESOL with citizenship course will no longer be acceptable and KOL can only be satisfied by

• Passing the Life in the UK test. and
• Obtaining level B1 of the CEFR in speaking and listening, or better.

Remember, though, that if KOL has previously been satisfied to obtain ILR you do not have to do so again for citizenship.
The date has now been officially announced; 28th October 2013.

All applications made on or after 28th October will have to meet the new language requirement; even if the old one was met previously in order to obtain ILR.

See the statement of intent and this topic.

A migrant who fulfils the Life in the UK requirement for settlement as it applies on or after 28 October 2013 will not be required to retake any elements in a later application for naturalisation but will be deemed automatically to satisfy KoLL at that later stage.


The situation is different for those who applied or apply for settlement* before 28 October 2013. They will have satisfied the KoLL requirement by either passing the Life in the UK test or by taking an ESOL qualification (probably at a level below B1) and this by itself will not be sufficient should they later apply for naturalisation. They will need to satisfy the new KoLL requirement but if they have already passed the Life in the UK test will not need to retake it. For some people this will mean passing a relevant speaking and listening qualification for the first time. Others will need to pass a speaking and listening qualification at a higher level than they had to demonstrate to be granted leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK.

* By 'settlement' they mean ILR.

[Stanaris]

Is it not right that ESOL certificates are accepted provided they are Entry level 3 or above as an alternative to CEFR level B1?

This along with passing the Life in the UK test would be sufficient for citizenship and ILR after October.

• Qualifications in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Entry level 3, Level 1 or Level 2, that include speaking and listening and that have been regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). The qualification must be listed as an ESOL qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications and have been taken in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

[7by7]

If the an English qualification is at an equivalent level to B1 of the CEFR and includes speaking or listening and is from an approved provider then yes; it can be used in place of a B1 certificate.

See this list for approved providers and qualifications and the equivalent CEFR level.

BTW, when posting a quote it is good practice to provide a link to the source. Your quote comes from 'ESOL and citizenship course' on this page; which actually explains the current requirement, not the new one effective from 28th October.

Edited July 26, 2013 by 7by7

[Stanaris]

If the an English qualification is at an equivalent level to B1 of the CEFR and includes speaking or listening and is from an approved provider then yes; it can be used in place of a B1 certificate.

See this list for approved providers and qualifications and the equivalent CEFR level.

BTW, when posting a quote it is good practice to provide a link to the source. Your quote comes from 'ESOL and citizenship course' on this page; which actually explains the current requirement, not the new one effective from 28th October.

Unfortunately i do not know how to post a link on here but the quote is not from where you say.

I found that quote in the link you provided regarding the statement of intent which explains changes as of October 2013.

[7by7]

Apologies; but it is very similar to the information on the page I linked to.

But as said, an ESOL qualification which meets the requirements will be acceptable.

BTW, to post a link either simply copy and paste the url into your post thus https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/182545/statement-of-intent-koll.pdf or type the name of the page, highlight it and then click on the icon in the tool bar above the post box; 9th one from the left, and copy and paste the url into the box; thus statement of intent.

Edited July 27, 2013 by 7by7