SET(O) dependant over 18: do they still need the Life in the UK test?
If you're applying for ILR on form SET(O) and adding an adult dependant aged 18 to 64, that dependant must usually meet the Knowledge of Language and Life (KoLL) requirement — which means passing the Life in the UK Test and meeting the English language (B1) requirement. The online form not asking for her certificates is normal, and it doesn't remove the requirement. The fix is simple: upload her Life in the UK pass and English evidence under her own documents anyway.
- Adult dependants aged 18 to 64 settling on SET(O) generally must meet KoLL: Life in the UK Test pass plus English language evidence.
- The online application may only request a passport for a dependant and not prompt for test certificates — this is a known quirk, not a sign you're exempt.
- Exemptions apply if the applicant is under 18, aged 65 or over, or has a qualifying long-term physical or mental condition.
- A valid Life in the UK Test pass does not expire, so an earlier pass still counts.
Why the form doesn't ask but the rule still applies
The SET(O) online journey tailors which documents it requests, and for dependants it often shows only basic items such as a passport. That does not mean the Home Office has decided your daughter is exempt. The legal requirement comes from the Immigration Rules, not the upload screen.
GOV.UK's guidance for Skilled Worker family members is explicit: a child aged 18 and over included on the application must "pass the Life in the UK Test" and "meet the English language requirements" (GOV.UK — family members). So the absence of a prompt is a gap in the form, not a change to the rules.
Upload your daughter's Life in the UK Test pass notification and her English language evidence under the dependant's documents section, even though the form didn't ask for them. A caseworker can refuse or delay a settlement application where required KoLL evidence is missing. It is far safer to include it than to assume it isn't needed.
Who must meet KoLL for ILR
The caseworker guidance confirms that everyone applying for indefinite leave to remain under a route requiring KoLL must meet it unless they're exempt. KoLL has two parts: the Life in the UK Test, and an approved English qualification at B1 or above (or another accepted route, such as a degree taught in English) (GOV.UK — KoLL guidance).
For an adult child settling as a dependant on a work route, neither part is automatically waived. The narrow dependant exemptions that exist — for example for certain adult dependent relatives under Appendix FM or paragraph 317 — do not cover children settling alongside a parent on SET(O). If your daughter is between 18 and 64, plan on her meeting both parts.
When an exemption does apply
Appendix KOL UK sets out the age exemptions clearly: an applicant is exempt from the Life in the UK requirement if, at the date of application, they are aged 65 or over, or aged under 18 (GOV.UK — Appendix KOL UK). The English language exemptions broadly mirror this: there's an age exemption at 65 or over, nationality exemptions for majority English-speaking countries, and a long-term condition exemption (GOV.UK — English exemptions).
This is why a younger child included on the same application often isn't asked for a test — a child under 18 on the date of application doesn't need it. If your daughter has only recently turned 18, it's worth checking her age on the actual date the application was submitted, as that is the date the rules test against.
There is also a discretionary KoLL waiver for a physical or mental condition that prevents someone from meeting the requirement, supported by a doctor's completed exemption form (GOV.UK — condition exemption). If you think this might apply, read how the health-condition KoLL exemption works before relying on it.
What to do now
Since your daughter has already passed the Life in the UK Test and her English test, you're in a good position. Locate her Life in the UK pass notification letter and her acceptable English evidence, then upload both under her documents in the dependant section. A Life in the UK pass doesn't expire, so a pass she sat before turning 18 still counts. If you're unsure about timing across the whole family, see whether you take the Life in the UK test before or after applying.
This is general information rather than legal advice, and individual cases can turn on specific facts — if anything about your daughter's age or status is borderline, consider a regulated adviser.
If a family member still needs to sit the test, the best preparation is realistic practice. You can run free, exam-style questions on the Life in the UK Test at britpass.app to build confidence before booking the real thing.