BNO Holders Are Exempt from the B2 English Requirement for Settlement
05 May 2026
If you are on the BNO route and planning to apply for settlement, your English language requirement will stay at B1. The UK government has confirmed that the upcoming increase to B2 English for settlement does not apply to BNO holders.
The B2 increase was announced in the Statement of Changes HC 1691 on 5 March 2026. From 26 March 2027, most settlement routes will require applicants to prove English at B2 level, up from B1. The routes affected include Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Scale-up, Innovator Founder, UK Ancestry, and the Family partner route. But the BNO route is not on that list. Minister Mike Tapp confirmed in a written parliamentary reply on 17 March 2026 that "the increase in the English language requirement does not apply to those on the BN(O) route."
For BNO holders, the settlement English language requirement will remain at B1 (intermediate level) even after March 2027. You still need to show English at that level, for example through an approved speaking and listening test, or through a degree taught in English. The requirement has not been removed, it has simply not been raised. B1 is the level you have always needed, and that does not change.
B2 is a higher standard, sometimes called upper intermediate. The IELTS equivalent is roughly 5.5 to 6.0 in each component. If you are on a Skilled Worker or Family visa, that is the bar you will need to clear for settlement applications from 26 March 2027 onwards. If you are on the BNO route, B1 continues to apply regardless of when you apply. If you are unsure which English requirement applies to your visa type, check the specific settlement guidance for your route on GOV.UK.
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