Booking at a glance
- Test fee: £50 per attempt, paid by card when you book
- Booking: exclusively through the official GOV.UK booking service, at least 3 days in advance; over 30 centres to choose from
- Test format: 24 questions in 45 minutes; 75% (18 correct answers) to pass
- Cancellation: a refund only if you cancel or reschedule at least 3 days (72 hours) before your appointment
- ID: an eVisa share code (preferred), a valid passport, valid photo travel document, biometric residence permit or card, or an EU, EEA or Swiss ID card. Bring the original, in exactly the name on the booking
How much does the Life in the UK test cost? (Avoiding retake fees)
The test price is £50 per attempt, paid by card when you book on the official GOV.UK portal. There is no separate booking fee, no VAT added, and nothing extra to pay at the centre on the day, £50 is the whole cost, once.
Because the fee applies to every attempt, the real cost is £50 multiplied by however many times you sit it, so it climbs with every retake. The most effective way to protect that £50 is to prepare thoroughly first and delay booking until your mock exam scores consistently sit comfortably above the 75% pass mark.
Finding a Life in the UK test centre near you
There are over 30 test centres across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The booking service shows you the centres and dates available, so you pick the one that is easiest to reach rather than the nearest by name. Popular centres fill up in the weeks before a settlement or citizenship deadline, so look at availability before you settle on a study plan.
You need to book at least 3 days in advance. In practice, give yourself more than that: if you want to cancel or move the appointment and get your £50 back, you also need to do it at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test. Inside that window the fee is gone.
Required ID for booking: eVisas, passports and BRPs
- An email address
- A debit or credit card for the £50 fee
- One of the accepted forms of ID: an eVisa share code (GOV.UK's preferred option), a valid passport, a valid EU/EEA or Swiss ID card, a valid photo travel document (not an emergency one), or a biometric residence permit or card. A BRP or BRC can only be used up to 24 months after the expiry date printed on it, or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first
The name on your booking must match the name on your ID exactly. If there are any discrepancies between your documents, resolve them with the issuing authority before you pay, so you are not turned away on test day.
Booking with an eVisa: getting your share code
GOV.UK now lists an eVisa as the preferred form of ID for booking: if you have one, use a share code instead of a physical document. Get it by signing in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, you will need your passport, national identity card, biometric residence card, or UKVI customer number, plus the phone number or email you use to sign in.
A share code lasts 90 days and can be used as many times as you need in that window, so it is safe to generate one before you book. If yours is about to expire, sign back in and get a fresh one, there is no limit on how many you can request.
If you do not have an eVisa or cannot access it, you can still book with a valid passport, an EU/EEA/Swiss ID card, a valid photo travel document, or a biometric residence permit or card, subject to the 24-month/2026 cutoff above.
What happens on the day
Bring the original ID you booked with, not a photocopy and not a photo on your phone. The centre takes your photograph to confirm who you are. If you turn up without the right ID, or refuse the photo, you will not sit the test and you will not be refunded. You cannot bring children or other family members into the centre with you.
The test itself is 24 questions in 45 minutes, on a computer, drawn from the official handbook Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. You need 75% to pass. Pass, and you receive a unique reference number, which is what you quote on your citizenship or settlement application. There is no certificate to lose.
Who does not need to book
You are exempt if you are under 18, aged 65 or over, have passed the test before, or have a long-term physical or mental condition that stops you taking it. Please note that medical exemptions require an official exemption form or a formal letter from a medical professional. Everyone else applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship needs a pass. The test is one of the ILR requirements as well as a citizenship one.
When should you book?
We recommend starting your revision today and taking several full mock exams. To avoid paying for multiple attempts, wait to book your official test until your practice scores consistently sit comfortably above the 75% pass mark.