Life in the UK Test Booking: ID Rules, Fees and Refunds

Book on the official GOV.UK service

GOV.UK describes itself as the only official government service for booking the Life in the UK Test. Its ‘Start now’ button hands you over to the booking system run by PSI Services (UK) Limited on behalf of the Home Office. Start there and nowhere else — unofficial sites charge a mark-up for a booking you can make yourself for £50.

Book the test on GOV.UK

You will leave LifeUKPractice for the official government service. 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.

You also need the B1 English test

For citizenship or settlement the Life in the UK Test satisfies only half of the ‘knowledge of language and life’ requirement. The other half is your English, usually proved by passing an approved Secure English Language Test at CEFR level B1 in speaking and listening — a different exam, run by four commercial providers, at their own centres, with their own booking systems and fees. Booking here does not book that, and some applicants are exempt from one or both.

What the B1 English test involves · B1 test centres by city

How far ahead you must book
Booking step by step
The ID rules (where the £50 goes)
Changing your test date
Cancelling and refunds
If you are late or bring the wrong ID
On the day at the centre
Optional paid services
Special arrangements and access
Results and retakes
Who to contact
Frequently asked questions
Sources

How far ahead you must book

GOV.UK: "You must book your Life in the UK Test online at least 3 days in advance." PSI's own terms add that you cannot book a test less than 24 hours from the booking date (clause 10.4), and PSI sells optional paid services that open up sooner slots — a Super Priority test (a slot within 24 hours, £30 extra) and a Short Notice test (a slot within the next 24 to 72 hours, £25 extra). Treat 3 clear days as the standard rule and the sooner slots as chargeable extras.

In practice. If you need a test in a hurry, the two things that actually move the date are the paid priority options below and your willingness to travel — you may book any centre in the UK, not just your nearest one. See how to find a test centre for how availability is shown.

Booking step by step

Every step below is drawn from GOV.UK or from the booking operator’s own published guidance. Two of them are worth slowing down on: entering your details exactly as they appear on your ID, and picking the centre and date.

Check you actually need the test

Check that you actually need the test, and that none of the exemptions apply to you.
Get your email address, card and ID ready

Get the three things GOV.UK says you need before you start: an email address, a debit or credit card, and an accepted form of ID.
If you have an eVisa, generate a share code

If you have an eVisa, sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account first and generate a share code — GOV.UK says eVisa holders should use a share code to book. PSI adds that the code must begin with 'S'; codes beginning with 'R' or 'W' will not work and your fee will not be refunded.
Create your Life in the UK account

Create a Life in the UK account on the booking service. Enter your name, date of birth, nationality and document details exactly as they appear on the ID you will bring. PSI will not refund your fee if the details do not match on the day.
Choose a test centre

Choose a test centre. GOV.UK says there are over 30 test centres in the UK and that you can choose where to take your test when you book — you are not tied to your local area.
Choose a date and time

Choose a date and time. PSI says it aims to have appointments available at each of its operating centres within three months of the booking date, and that you can typically get a slot within a month.
Request any special arrangements

Request any special arrangements at this point. The first page of the booking asks whether you have specific requirements — for example 'Easy Access' for a height-adjustable desk and step-free movement around the centre.
Add any optional services and pay the £50 fee

Add any optional services you want (Super Priority, Short Notice, Out of Hours or Sunday), then pay the £50 fee by card. Optional services cost extra on top of the £50.
Read the confirmation email carefully

Read the confirmation email carefully. It tells you your arrival time and the centre address — PSI says you will be at the centre for up to 2 hours in total.

The ID rules — where the £50 usually goes

These are the accepted identity documents. You book with one of them and you bring that same one, as an original, on the day.

An eVisa share code, obtained by signing in to your UKVI account. GOV.UK says this is what you should use if you have an eVisa. PSI adds that if you registered with an eVisa you do not need to bring any other ID to the centre.
A valid passport.
A valid ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
A valid travel document with a photo. Emergency travel documents are not accepted.
A biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC). GOV.UK: your test must be no later than 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.

Read this before you pay

The ID rules are the single most common reason people are turned away, and there is no refund when it happens. GOV.UK requires that the name you give on your booking is an exact match with the name on the ID you book with, and that the photo looks like you. At the centre you must bring the same ID you booked with, as an original document — the Home Office's published identification requirements and PSI's terms both say photocopies, printouts, photographs and other electronic versions are not accepted. PSI's supervisors check three things: that the photo is a true likeness, that the document is in date and still valid (expired BRPs are accepted, within the GOV.UK window above), and that your registration details are correct. A signature check is also carried out; PSI says eVisa registrants can use an alternative ID or a bank card with a clear signature for this, and that a marriage certificate or a UK spouse visa cannot be used to verify identity. Once booked you cannot change your first name or date of birth — PSI says you would have to cancel, create a new account and rebook. Other details can be changed up to one day before the test, and PSI says no changes at all can be made less than 24 hours before the appointment time. If you have changed gender, including a different name, GOV.UK asks you to email sensitivebookings@homeoffice.gov.uk before booking. If you hold none of the accepted documents, GOV.UK and PSI both point you to nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Changing your test date

You can move your test. PSI's published FAQ: "You can change the time and date of your test up to 3 days (72 hours) before your test free of charge." Its terms say the same thing (clause 10.6). Inside that 72-hour window you cannot amend the booking at all — you would have to cancel, lose the fee, and pay again for a new test. GOV.UK frames it the same way: if you are unable to attend you can rearrange or cancel, but you will not get a refund if you cancel or rearrange within 3 days of your test.

Cancelling and refunds

GOV.UK: "You'll get a refund if you cancel your test at least 3 days (72 hours) before you're due to take the test. You will not get a refund if you cancel or rearrange within 3 days of your test." To cancel, sign in to your Life in the UK account, select 'Confirmed tests', then select 'Cancel tests'. The £50 fee goes back to the card you paid with and you do not need to contact UK Visas and Immigration. You can then book another date. Separately, you can ask PSI for a refund if the test centre cancels your test — that request must be made within 3 months of the test date. Complaints also go to PSI (complaints@lituk.psionline.com or 0800 015 4245), must be made within 3 months of the test date, and get a response within 10 working days.

If you are late, or bring the wrong ID

There is no refund and no second chance on the day. PSI defines a 'Minimum Arrival Time' of at least 30 minutes before your appointment time, unless it tells you otherwise in writing, and its terms state that if you fail to attend, or fail to arrive at the correct test centre by that time, you will not receive a refund (clauses 1.1 and 10.7). Its guidance repeats it plainly: "If you do not arrive at the correct time, we may cancel your test and you will not get a refund." The same applies if you do not bring the required original ID, if you fail the identity or security verification for any reason, if you refuse the passport-style photograph, or in cases of misconduct (clause 10.8). GOV.UK confirms you cannot ask for a refund if you brought the wrong ID, were ill, were late, did not bring the right documents, or refused to have your photo taken. PSI's terms also warn that it may have to report a refusal or misconduct to the Home Office, which may cancel future bookings or fail a test you have taken — and that this may affect your citizenship or settlement application. One exception runs the other way: if a technical fault stops you finishing and staff cannot recover the test, PSI says you can retake it on another day free of charge.

On the day at the centre

Arrive at the time given in your confirmation email — PSI's terms define the minimum arrival time as at least 30 minutes before your appointment unless it tells you otherwise.
Allow up to 2 hours at the centre in total, though the test itself lasts 45 minutes.
Do not bring children or other family members. GOV.UK states you cannot bring them, and PSI says there are no childcare or waiting-room facilities for people who are not taking the test.
You will be searched before entering the test room. Copies of the handbook or any other written material, electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart glasses, and wrist watches are all banned from the test room. Lockers are available.
You will have your ID checked, undergo a security check and consent to a passport-style photograph. You can ask for a same-gender staff member for the security check, subject to availability.
You can take notes during the test on paper provided, but you must hand them to the supervisor before leaving. Bringing your own notes, or having writing on your body or clothing, counts as cheating.
A practice test is available at the centre on the day, and the test itself begins with some non-scored questions to let you get used to the format.
If you asked for special arrangements when booking, bring the supporting evidence — for example a doctor's letter. If it is missing or judged insufficient you will not be able to take the test and will not get a refund.

Optional paid services

These are extras on top of the £50 fee and are entirely optional — PSI states a test can be bought at the standard price with none of them. Prices as published by PSI on 13 August 2026.

Service	What you get	Extra fee
Super Priority test	A test slot within 24 hours.	£30.00
Short Notice test	A test slot within the next 24 to 72 hours.	£25.00
Out of Hours test	A test outside the core test centre hours of Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 16:00.	£25.00
Sunday test	A test on a Sunday. PSI says this may not be available at every test centre, and that if the Sunday test you book falls within 72 hours of booking you are charged only one additional fee rather than two.	£25.00

Private test centre. A closed test session where additional privacy is needed. PSI says pricing is on application via the helpline.

Special arrangements and access

GOV.UK says you can make special requests when you book, for example if you have a disability and need extra equipment or help getting into the centre. PSI says the test system itself lets you adjust font size and screen background colour, and that headphones are provided so you can listen to the audio of the questions. Requests are made on the first page of the booking flow, or by emailing specialarrangements@lituk.psionline.com.

Ask at the point of booking, not afterwards — and if your request needs supporting evidence such as a doctor’s letter, bring it with you. Turning up without it means you cannot sit the test and do not get a refund.

Results and retakes

You are told whether you passed at the centre, on the day, and what you receive is a unique reference number rather than a certificate. If you do not pass you can rebook as many times as you need, paying £50 again each time.

Life in the UK Test results covers the rest: where your reference number is stored and how to see it again, what GOV.UK does and does not say about a pass expiring, how soon you can retake the test, and what happens if a technical fault stops you finishing.

Who to contact

LifeUKPractice cannot see, change or cancel a booking — we are a free practice-test site, not the booking service. Everything about a live booking goes to the official helpline.

Life in the UK Test Helpline

Telephone: 0800 015 4245
Email: support@lituk.psionline.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm

Who runs the test

Runs the Life in the UK Test booking service and the test centres under contract to the Home Office.

PSI Services (UK) Limited, company number 03082717, registered at 5th Floor, One New Change, London, EC4M 9AF.

Worth being ready before you spend £50

There is no refund for a fail, and a retake costs the full fee again. Sit a free, exam-style mock first — 24 questions in 45 minutes, marked at the real pass mark.

Take a free practice test Find a test centre

Booking questions

How far in advance do I have to book?

GOV.UK says you must book at least 3 days in advance. PSI adds that you cannot book a test less than 24 hours from the booking date, and sells two paid options that open up sooner slots: a Super Priority test in a slot within 24 hours for £30 extra, and a Short Notice test in a slot within the next 24 to 72 hours for £25 extra. In practice PSI says you can usually get a standard slot within a month.

How much does the test cost, and are there extras?

The test fee is £50, paid by debit or credit card when you book, and you pay it again for every retake. PSI also sells optional extras on top: Super Priority (£30), Short Notice (£25), Out of Hours outside 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday (£25) and a Sunday test (£25). PSI states these are entirely optional and a test can be bought at the standard price.

What ID do I need to bring to the test centre?

The same ID you booked with, as an original document — the Home Office's published identification requirements say photocopies, printouts and electronic versions are not accepted. Accepted documents are an eVisa share code obtained from your UKVI account, a valid passport, a valid ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, a valid photo travel document (not an emergency travel document), or a BRP or BRC where your test is no later than 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. If you registered with an eVisa, PSI says you do not need to bring any other ID. The name on your booking must be an exact match with the name on your ID.

What time do I have to arrive?

PSI emails you an arrival time and defines a minimum arrival time of at least 30 minutes before your appointment, unless it tells you otherwise. Its guidance is blunt: if you do not arrive at the correct time it may cancel your test and you will not get a refund. Allow up to 2 hours at the centre in total, even though the test itself lasts 45 minutes.

What happens if I arrive late or bring the wrong ID?

You are not allowed to sit the test and you lose your £50. PSI's terms say there is no refund if you fail to attend, fail to arrive by the minimum arrival time, fail to bring the required original documents, fail the identity or security checks for any reason, or refuse the passport-style photograph. GOV.UK confirms you cannot ask for a refund if you were late, brought the wrong ID, did not bring the right documents, refused the photo, or were ill.

Can I change the date of my test?

Yes, if you act early enough. PSI says you can change the time and date free of charge up to 3 days (72 hours) before your test. Inside that 72-hour window you cannot amend the booking at all — you would have to cancel, forfeit the £50, and pay again for a new appointment.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

You get your £50 back if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test. Sign in to your Life in the UK account, select 'Confirmed tests', then 'Cancel tests'; the refund goes to the card you paid with and you do not need to contact UK Visas and Immigration. Cancel or rearrange within 3 days and there is no refund. If the test centre cancels your test you can ask PSI for a refund, but you must do so within 3 months of the test date.

Wondering whether you have to take the test at all? See who needs the test and who is exempt. Already sat it? See results, reference numbers and retakes.

Sources

Every fee, deadline and rule on this page was read directly from the official pages below. Last reviewed 13 August 2026. Rules and prices change — confirm the current position on GOV.UK before you book.

The following pages published by PSI Services (UK) Limited were also read in full. They are cited rather than linked: the operator’s terms of use ask that no one links to its site without written consent, so we send readers via GOV.UK instead.

Terms and Conditions — Life in the UK Test booking service, PSI Services (UK) Limited (Minimum Arrival Time of 30 minutes, clause 10.4 24-hour booking floor, clause 10.6 72-hour amendment rule, clause 10.7–10.8 no-refund grounds, clause 10.15 overseas centre, clause 10.24 URN, clause 10.28 technical failure) — accessed 13 August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions — Life in the UK Test booking service, PSI (24-hour earliest slot, free reschedule up to 72 hours, one overseas centre for the British Armed Forces, under-18 parental consent, eVisa share code rules, ID checks, results by email within 10 minutes, optional service prices) — accessed 13 August 2026.
Your Life in the UK test — what to expect on the day, PSI (arrival time, up to 2 hours at the centre, no children or family, banned items and lockers, security checks, notes, practice test, special-request evidence) — accessed 13 August 2026.
Optional services — Life in the UK Test booking service, PSI (Super Priority £30, Short Notice £25, Out of Hours £25, Sunday £25, private test centre on application) — accessed 13 August 2026.

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.

GOV.UK states: "There are over 30 test centres in the UK. You can choose where to take your test when you book." Centre availability and addresses are shown inside the official booking service — always take yours from your booking confirmation email.

Life in the UK Test booking