UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) updated its Secure English Language Test (SELT) guidance on 12 October 2026 to allow applicants to use their electronic visa (eVisa) as proof of identity when sitting an approved test. Previously, test providers required a physical passport or biometric residence permit. Candidates can now sign in to their UKVI account on site, generate a share code and present it to invigilators. The move is a further step toward a fully digital immigration system: BRP cards stopped being issued in November 2024, and from January 2025 most non-visa nationals have required an Electronic Travel Authorisation. By permitting eVisas for SELT, the Home Office eliminates one of the last scenarios in which applicants needed to retrieve physical documents from the department, reducing administration for both migrants and employers sponsoring them. Testing organisations including IELTS and Pearson PTE have welcomed the change, noting that increasing numbers of candidates now arrive without a physical residence document. For HR departments the practical impact is a smoother timeline when onboarding overseas hires who must pass an English test before a Skilled Worker visa can be issued. UKVI stresses that identity details used to book the test must still match the eVisa record exactly, or the candidate will be turned away. Applicants who cannot access their eVisa on the day may use an expired BRP until 31 December 2026, but only if the card’s expiry is within 24 months. Global-mobility managers should update pre-arrival checklists and ensure that staff know how to download share codes in advance; failure to do so could still lead to missed test appointments and delays in Certificate of Sponsorship issuance.
Source: UK Government – SELT Guidance
