How booking the Life in the UK test works
You book online on gov.uk. We do not book tests: this page sums up how it works, as gov.uk describes it.
Booking
- Book online at least 3 days before the test.
- The fee is £50.
- There are over 30 test centres in the UK; you choose one when you book.
- You need an email address, a debit or credit card and an accepted ID. The name on the booking must match the name on your ID exactly.
ID
With an eVisa, you book with a share code from your UK Visas and Immigration account. Without one, gov.uk lists a valid passport, a valid ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, a valid travel document with a photo (not an emergency one), or a biometric residence permit or card, which has its own date limits. On the day you bring the same ID, the original, and staff take your photo. Without the right ID you cannot sit the test and do not get the fee back.
Cancelling or moving the test
Cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test and the fee is refunded to your card. Cancel or move it later than that and it is not. If the test centre cancels, you can ask for a refund within 3 months.
Your result
The pass mark is 18 out of 24 (more on the pass mark). If you pass, you get a unique reference number that the Home Office uses to check your pass when you apply. If you fail, you can book again and pay again, as many times as you need.
Who does not need to take it
gov.uk lists people under 18, people aged 65 or over, people who have already passed, and people with a long-term physical or mental condition who send an exemption form or a doctor's letter. Whether your own application needs the test is set by the guidance for that application on gov.uk; for advice on your own case, ask a regulated immigration adviser.
Facts from gov.uk, checked on 21 October 2026. Fees and rules change: gov.uk has the current ones.
Before you book
The test costs £50 each time, so it is worth being ready first: take a mock exam or a free practice test.