The test at a glance
- Questions
- 24 multiple-choice questions
- Time allowed
- 45 minutes
- Pass mark
- 75% (18/24)
- Fee
- £50 per attempt
- Where
- In person at an approved test centre — over 30 across the UK
- Result
- Same day, at the test centre
GOV.UK states you must score 75% or more to pass. With 24 questions this means at least 18 correct answers; 17 or fewer is a fail.
On this page
Who needs to take the test
The Life in the UK Test is a requirement for two of the biggest immigration milestones. You normally only need to sit it once — if you passed it for settlement, you do not take it again for citizenship.
British citizenship (naturalisation)
You must have passed the Life in the UK Test to apply for British citizenship, alongside proving your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic.
Settlement (indefinite leave to remain / ILR)
You must pass the Life in the UK Test as part of most applications to settle in the UK. If you passed it for your settlement application you do not need to take it again when you later apply for citizenship.
Who is exempt
You do not need to take the test if any of the following apply to you:
- Age — under 18. You do not need to take the test if you are under 18.
- Age — 65 or over. You do not need to take the test if you are 65 or over.
- Medical / long-term condition. You do not need to take the test if you have a long-term physical or mental condition. You must provide either a completed exemption form or a letter from a doctor confirming your condition.
- Already passed it. You do not need to retake the test if you have passed it before — for example, if you passed it for your settlement application and are now applying for citizenship.
How to book on GOV.UK
Book online through the official GOV.UK Life in the UK Test service (operated by PSI on behalf of the Home Office) at least 3 days in advance. You create an account, choose a test centre and date, and pay the £50 fee online.
Check you need to take it (and are not exempt)
Most people applying for British citizenship (naturalisation) or settlement (indefinite leave to remain) must pass the test. You do not need to take it if you are under 18, are 65 or over, have a long-term physical or mental condition (with a doctor’s letter or exemption form), or have already passed it.
Create an account on the official GOV.UK service
Book only through the official GOV.UK Life in the UK Test service, which is run by PSI on behalf of the Home Office. Create an account with your name spelled exactly as it appears on the ID you will bring to the test.
Choose a test centre and date at least 3 days ahead
Pick from the available test centres (there are over 30 across the UK) and select a date and time. You must book at least 3 days in advance; available centres and dates are shown in the booking service and can change.
Pay the £50 fee online
Pay the £50 fee by card to confirm your booking. If you later fail and need to retake the test, you pay £50 again for each attempt.
Bring the exact original ID and take the test
On the day, bring the original ID you booked with — not a copy or screenshot — with the name matching your booking exactly. You answer 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes and get your result at the centre the same day.
You will leave LifeUKPractice for the official government service. Only book through GOV.UK — unofficial sites may charge more or are not the real booking system.
ID you must bring
You must bring the original ID you used when booking — not a copy or screenshot — and the name on your booking must be an exact match with the name on your ID.
- A valid passport
- A valid national ID card from an EU country, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
- A valid travel document with a photo (not an emergency travel document)
- A biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC) — the test must be no later than 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first
- An eVisa (share your immigration status using a share code when booking)
Get the name and document exactly right
If you cannot prove your identity at the test centre you will not be able to take the test and will not get a refund.
Cancelling, rebooking and refunds
- Refund rule. You will get a refund if you cancel your test at least 3 days (72 hours) before you are due to take it. You will not get a refund if you cancel within 3 days of the test.
- How to cancel. Sign in to your Life in the UK account, select 'Confirmed tests', then select 'Cancel tests'. Any refund is paid back to the card you used to book.
- Changing the date. There is no direct 'change date' option — the process is to cancel (following the refund rule) and rebook a new date.
- If the centre cancels. If the test centre cancels your test you can ask for a refund. You must request it within 3 months of the test date.
- No refund if. You will not get a refund if you do not attend, arrive late, bring the wrong ID, or cannot prove your identity.
Results and retakes
You get your result at the test centre on the day you take the test.
If you pass, you receive a 'unique reference number' (URN) which you need for your citizenship or settlement application. The Home Office uses this number to confirm you passed — there is no paper certificate. (People who took the test before 17 December 2019 were given a letter with a test reference ID instead.)
If you do not pass
If you fail, you can rebook and retake the test as many times as you need. You have to pay the £50 fee each time.
There is no limit on the number of attempts; each attempt costs £50. A recommended minimum wait before rebooking is widely reported but is not stated on GOV.UK, so it is not asserted as an official rule here.
After you pass: citizenship vs settlement
Passing is one requirement among several. Which path you are on decides what else you need, but both use the same unique reference number to prove your result.
British citizenship (naturalisation)
Passing the Life in the UK Test is one requirement for naturalisation as a British citizen. You must also prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic, meet residence requirements, and be of good character. You apply online via GOV.UK, providing your unique reference number so the Home Office can verify your test result.
Settlement (indefinite leave to remain)
Passing the Life in the UK Test is required for most settlement (indefinite leave to remain) applications. You must also meet the English language requirement and the residence/eligibility rules for your visa route. You apply on GOV.UK and provide your unique reference number. If you later apply for citizenship, you do not need to retake the test.
The separate English language requirement
Separately from the test, most citizenship and settlement applicants must prove knowledge of English (or Welsh or Scottish Gaelic). This can be met with an approved English qualification at CEFR level B1, B2, C1 or C2, or a degree taught or researched in English. Nationals of certain majority English-speaking countries are exempt.
Pending 2026 changes to watch
The government's May 2025 immigration white paper, 'Restoring control over the immigration system', signalled reforms to the settlement and citizenship system, including a move toward an 'earned settlement' model and a proposal to increase the standard qualifying period for settlement from 5 years to 10 years for most routes (reducible for people who make demonstrable economic and societal contributions). The white paper also indicated the Life in the UK Test would be reviewed. In November 2025 the government opened a consultation on the earned settlement proposals.
Status: Proposed / under consultation as of mid-2026 — not yet in force. The 24-question, 45-minute, 75% pass-mark test based on the 3rd-edition handbook remains the current requirement.
- White paper published
- 12 May 2025
- Earned-settlement consultation opened
- 20 November 2025
- Consultation closed
- 12 February 2026
Because rules may change, always confirm the current requirements on GOV.UK before booking or applying.
Ready before you pay the £50?
Sit a free, exam-style mock test — 24 questions in 45 minutes, marked at the 75% (18/24) pass mark — so you walk into the test centre knowing you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Life in the UK Test and how long do I have?
There are 24 multiple-choice questions and you have 45 minutes to answer them.
What is the pass mark?
You need to score 75% or more. With 24 questions that means at least 18 correct answers; 17 or fewer is a fail.
How much does the test cost?
The fee is £50, paid online when you book. If you fail and need to retake it, you pay £50 again.
Who has to take the test?
Most people applying for British citizenship (naturalisation) or for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) must pass it.
Who is exempt from the test?
You do not need to take it if you are under 18, are 65 or over, have a long-term physical or mental condition (with a doctor's letter or exemption form), or have already passed it — for example when you settled and are now applying for citizenship.
How do I book the test?
You book online through the official GOV.UK service at least 3 days in advance. You create an account, choose a centre and date, and pay the £50 fee.
What ID do I need to take to the test?
Bring the original ID you booked with — a valid passport, an EU/EEA national ID card, a valid photo travel document, a biometric residence permit/card, or an eVisa via a share code. The name must exactly match your booking. Copies or screenshots are not accepted.
Can I cancel or rearrange my test and get a refund?
You get a refund if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) before your test. There is no direct reschedule button — you cancel and rebook. You will not get a refund if you cancel within 3 days, miss the test, or cannot prove your identity.
When do I get my result?
You get your result at the test centre on the same day you take the test.
What do I receive if I pass?
You get a unique reference number, which you use in your citizenship or settlement application so the Home Office can confirm you passed. There is no paper certificate.
What happens if I fail?
You can rebook and retake the test as many times as you need. Each attempt costs £50.
What should I study for the test?
All questions are based on the official handbook 'Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents' (3rd edition). It covers British values, history, traditions, government and everyday life. You can buy it from the TSO shop and major booksellers.
Are the rules about to change?
The government's May 2025 immigration white paper proposed reforms, including a move to an 'earned settlement' model and increasing the standard settlement qualifying period from 5 to 10 years, plus a review of the Life in the UK Test. These are proposals under consultation and not yet in force — always check GOV.UK for current rules before applying.
Sources
Verified against the following official pages. Last checked on 22 July 2026. Rules can change — always confirm the current requirements on GOV.UK before booking or applying.
- Life in the UK Test — GOV.UK (overview: 24 questions, 45 minutes, £50, who needs it, exemptions, over 30 centres) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- Who needs to take the test — GOV.UK (exemptions: under 18, 65 or over, medical, already passed) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- What to take to your test — GOV.UK (accepted ID, name-match rule) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- What happens at the test — GOV.UK (75% pass mark, unique reference number, retakes) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- Cancellations, refunds and complaints — GOV.UK (3-day/72-hour refund rule, test-centre cancellations, 3-month refund window) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain — GOV.UK (test + English language requirements) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling — GOV.UK (CEFR B1/B2/C1/C2 or degree taught in English) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper — GOV.UK (published 12 May 2025; earned settlement, 10-year qualifying period, test review) — accessed 2026-07-22.
- Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition (Paperback) — TSO Shop (official handbook, ~£12.99) — accessed 2026-07-22.
LifeUKPractice is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the UK Home Office, gov.uk, or any government body.