Do you take the Life in the UK test before or after applying for citizenship or ILR?
You take and pass the Life in the UK test before you apply for British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain (ILR). It is not a step you do during or after the application. When you pass, you get a unique reference number, and you enter that number into your citizenship or settlement application so the Home Office can confirm you have met the requirement.
Getting the order right matters. If you start an application without a valid pass, you cannot complete the knowledge-of-life-in-the-UK requirement, and the application can be delayed or refused.
- The Life in the UK test must be passed before you apply for citizenship or settlement.
- You take the test as part of qualifying for the application, not after submitting it.
- Passing gives you a unique reference number you enter on your application.
- The pass mark is 75% (18 out of 24 questions).
- One pass can usually cover both ILR and, later, citizenship.
The correct order of steps
For most people the sequence looks like this:
- Check you are eligible for ILR or citizenship and that you meet the residence and other requirements.
- Book and sit the Life in the UK test at an approved test centre. See our guide on how to book the Life in the UK test.
- Pass the test (75% or more) and keep the unique reference number you are given.
- Submit your ILR or citizenship application, entering that reference number so the Home Office can verify your pass.
The test is the gateway to the application, not part of it. You should treat passing as a prerequisite to tick off first. GOV.UK is clear: “You need to take the test as part of your application for British citizenship or settlement in the UK,” and on passing “you’ll need this number to complete your citizenship or settlement application.”
Why you need the pass (and the reference number) first
When you fill in your application, there is a field for your Life in the UK test result. The Home Office uses your unique reference number to check, on its own systems, that you genuinely passed. You usually do not need to post the certificate itself — the reference number is what proves the pass.
That is why you cannot apply “now and test later.” Without a recorded pass, you cannot satisfy the knowledge requirement at the point of application.
If you took the test before 17 December 2019, you would have received a letter with a test reference ID rather than the current unique reference number. If you have lost it, GOV.UK advises including an explanatory letter with your application.
Do you sit it twice — once for ILR and once for citizenship?
Usually no. The same Life in the UK pass counts for both stages. If you passed the test when you applied for settlement (ILR), you do not need to retake it later when you naturalise as a citizen. So the natural order for many people is: pass the test once, use it for ILR, then reuse the same pass for citizenship down the line.
Keep your unique reference number safe somewhere you can find it again — you may need it years apart for two different applications.
What if you have not passed yet?
If you have not sat the test, that is your first job before applying. The good news is you can prepare and retake as needed — there is no limit on attempts, and you book a fresh sitting if you do not pass. See what happens if you fail the Life in the UK test and can you fail the Life in the UK test and retake it.
To build readiness before booking, work through the free Life in the UK practice and our how to pass the Life in the UK test guide.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For your specific eligibility and timing — especially if your immigration history is complex — consult a regulated OISC adviser or an immigration solicitor.