This guide is for internationals who have recently moved to the United Kingdom and keep hearing about the Life in the UK Test as part of the route to settlement or British citizenship. After reading it, you will understand who has to take the test, who is exempt, how booking works, what it costs, what the questions cover and what the official guidance says about the result.
- Who needs to take the test
- Who does not need to take it
- What the test covers and how to prepare
- ID, booking and cost
- Extra support, help and the result
- FAQ
Who needs to take the test
The Life in the UK Test is a test about British traditions and customs. The official GOV.UK page on the Life in the UK Test says people may need to take it as part of an application for British citizenship or for settlement in the UK. The requirement is tied to those two types of application, not to arriving in the country.
GOV.UK does not publish a single list of who must sit it. Instead, it tells applicants to check the guidance and the application form for the application they are making, because that is where the requirement is set out. Anyone with a question about how the requirement applies to their own immigration situation can speak to a regulated immigration adviser registered with the OISC or a solicitor regulated by the SRA.
Who does not need to take it
The official page lists four groups who do not need to take the test. These are people who:
- are under 18
- are 65 or over
- have passed it before, for example someone applying for citizenship who already passed it as part of a settlement application
- have a long-term physical or mental condition
The last exemption comes with a document requirement. The applicant must provide either an exemption form or a letter from a doctor confirming the physical or mental condition. The page gives no further detail on what that letter must contain, so the guidance for the application concerned is the place to look.
What the test covers and how to prepare
The format is fixed: 24 questions in 45 minutes, all about British traditions and customs. Candidates are only tested on information from the official handbook, the Guide for New Residents, and GOV.UK says it should be studied to prepare.
The Guide for New Residents comes in several formats:
- a printed book
- an eBook
- audio formats
Two further study tools are available: a Life in the UK Test e-learning subscription and the official Life in the UK Test practice app. All of these are sold through the official Life in the UK Test shop. The GOV.UK page does not list prices for the study materials. They are separate from the test fee, and the shop shows its own prices.
ID, booking and cost
What is needed to book
GOV.UK describes its booking service as the only official government service for booking the test. To book, a candidate needs all three of the following:
- an email address
- a debit or credit card
- an accepted form of ID
The name given on the booking must be an exact match with the name on the ID used to book.
Accepted ID
People who have an eVisa, the digital record of identity and immigration status, use a share code to book. They get the share code by signing in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, where the eVisa can be viewed.
People without an eVisa, or who cannot access it, can use one of these instead:
- a valid passport
- a valid ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
- a valid travel document with a photo (an emergency travel document is not accepted)
- a biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC)
The BRP and BRC option has a time limit. The test must take place no later than 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
Whatever ID is used, it must carry a photo that looks like the candidate. Anyone without any of the listed documents is directed to contact UKVI for help.
Booking rules and cost
The test must be booked online at least 3 days in advance. It costs £50. There are over 30 test centres in the UK, and candidates choose their centre when they book.
Extra support, help and the result
Disability and access needs
Special requests can be made during booking. GOV.UK gives the example of a person with a disability who needs extra equipment or help accessing the test centre.
Gender change and privacy
Someone who has changed gender, including anyone who now uses a different name, can email the Home Office if they do not want test centre staff to see their previous gender or do not want it to show on the test result. This email must be sent before booking, to sensitivebookings@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Booking help
The Life in the UK Test Helpline handles booking questions. It can be reached by email at support@lituk.psionline.com or by phone on 0800 015 4245, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm. GOV.UK publishes information about call charges.
The result
The official page confirms that a pass can be reused: someone who passed the test for a settlement application does not need to take it again when applying for citizenship. The page does not give the pass mark, how or when results are issued, or the rules for retaking the test after a fail. For those details, the booking service or the helpline is the place to ask.
FAQ
How much does the Life in the UK Test cost?
The test fee is £50, paid by debit or credit card when booking online. Study materials such as the Guide for New Residents, the e-learning subscription and the practice app are sold separately through the official shop, and GOV.UK does not list their prices.
How far in advance must the test be booked?
The test must be booked online at least 3 days in advance. Candidates choose from over 30 test centres in the UK when they book.
Can a biometric residence permit still be used to book?
Yes, within limits. A BRP or BRC can be used if the test takes place no later than 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. People with an eVisa use a share code from their UKVI account instead.
Who is exempt from the test?
People under 18, people aged 65 or over, people who have passed the test before, and people with a long-term physical or mental condition do not need to take it. The last group must provide either an exemption form or a letter from a doctor confirming the condition.
Official sources: gov.uk
Last verified: 2 November 2026 against the official pages linked above. Rules and fees change; the official page always wins.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Immigration advice in the UK may only be given by advisers regulated by the OISC or by solicitors regulated by the SRA.
Sources
- gov.uk: Life in the UK Test, accessed 2 November 2026
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