B1 or B2: which English level do you need?
For British citizenship you need B1 speaking and listening. For settlement (ILR), B1 is enough if you apply before 26 March 2027; from that date most routes need B2, apart from Hong Kong BN(O), Domestic Workers in a Private Household and HM Armed Forces families, which stay at B1. The date you submit your application decides it, not the date of your test.
The quick answer
| What you're applying for | Applying before 26 March 2027 | Applying on or after 26 March 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| British citizenship (naturalisation) | B1 | B1 |
| Settlement on most routes (for example Appendix FM partner or parent, Skilled Worker, Global Talent, UK Ancestry, Long Residence) | B1 where English is required | B2 |
| Settlement: Hong Kong BN(O), Domestic Workers, HM Armed Forces partners and children | B1 | B1 |
In every case the requirement is speaking and listening, and exemptions still apply. Check whether you're exempt.
Why citizenship stays at B1
The citizenship requirement comes from the British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003, regulation 5A, which asks for a test "at a level equivalent to level B1 or above". The 2027 change was made to the Immigration Rules, which don't set the citizenship level. If you've already been granted ILR on an English test at B1 or above, that also meets the citizenship requirement, so someone who settles with B2 after March 2027 won't need another test to naturalise. More on citizenship.
Why settlement moves to B2
The Home Office's Statement of Changes HC 1691 (March 2026) raised the settlement English level from B1 to B2 on routes that previously required B1, for applications made on or after 26 March 2027. It applies to people already on a route to settlement. Appendix KoLL, which covers partners and parents, now reads B1 "where the date of application is before 26 March 2027" and B2 "where the date of application is on or after 26 March 2027".
So timing matters. If your qualifying period ends before 26 March 2027 and you can apply before then, a B1 test still works on those routes. Using B1 for ILR before the deadline.
The three routes that stay at B1 have their own rules (HK 60.1, DW 11.1 and DW 30.1, AF 29.1), and none of them has a date switch. Routes that stay at B1.
Which tests reach B2 today
All four B1 tests on this site stop at B1: the Home Office's approved list has no speaking-and-listening-only test at B2 yet. The B2 tests on the list are four-skill tests that also include reading and writing. Trinity says its B2 Speaking & Listening test (GESE Grade 7) "will be available later this year", but it isn't on the approved list as we write this. Our sister site B2English covers the B2 options in detail.
If you're still not sure
Look up the settlement rule for your own route on GOV.UK: it will say "B1" or "B2" and, where relevant, the date. Trinity also points unsure candidates to UK Visas and Immigration. If your situation is complicated, for example you're switching routes or close to the deadline, a regulated immigration adviser can confirm what applies to you.
Common questions
My visa was granted on B1. Can I use that for ILR after March 2027?
Not on routes that move to B2. For applications from 26 March 2027, the rules only let you rely on an earlier grant if it was made on the basis of B2.
If I pass B2, do I still meet B1 for citizenship?
Yes. Regulation 5A asks for B1 "or above".
Is the B2 change also coming for citizenship?
We found no change to regulation 5A on legislation.gov.uk. Citizenship stays at B1 unless that law is changed.
General information, not immigration advice. We're independent of the Home Office and the test providers. Sources: British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003, reg 5A; HC 1691 and its Explanatory Memorandum; Appendix KoLL; Appendix Hong Kong BN(O); Appendix Domestic Workers; Appendix HM Armed Forces; GOV.UK: approved SELT list; Trinity B1 page. Checked 20 October 2026.