IELTS for Spouse & Dependent Visa 2026: UK, Australia, NZ Guide

IELTS for spouse visa UK is the most common English test requirement that Indian families encounter when joining a partner settled abroad. Whether your spouse is in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, each country has specific English language requirements for partner, dependent, and family visas. The IELTS for spouse visa UK route requires IELTS Life Skills (not the regular IELTS test), while Australia requires "Functional English" (IELTS 4.5 overall), and Canada — surprisingly — requires no English test at all for sponsored spouses. In this comprehensive multi-country guide, EEC explains the exact English requirements for spouse and dependent visas in every major destination, the differences between IELTS Life Skills and regular IELTS, fee comparisons, and how EEC's specialist coaching at ₹7,500 prepares you for whichever test your visa route requires.

Why Spouses & Dependents Need English Tests

Countries that require English tests for spouse and family visas do so to ensure that incoming family members can integrate into society, access essential services, communicate in emergencies, and participate in their community. The English requirements for family visas are generally much lower than those for skilled work or professional registration — typically A1 to B1 level (basic to lower-intermediate) rather than B2 or C1. The goal is functional communication, not academic proficiency.

For Indian families, the spouse visa English requirement is often the first English test experience for the joining partner. Many spouses have not taken a formal English exam before and may feel anxious about the process. The good news is that spouse visa requirements are very achievable — IELTS Life Skills A1 tests only Speaking and Listening at a basic conversational level, and Australia's "Functional English" at IELTS 4.5 is considered an elementary threshold. With 4–8 weeks of focused preparation, most Indian spouses pass on their first attempt.

UK Spouse/Partner Visa — Life Skills A1, A2, B1

The UK spouse/partner visa (Family Visa) has a staged English requirement: Life Skills A1 for initial entry clearance, Life Skills A2 for extension (2.5 years), and Life Skills B1 for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years. These are not the regular IELTS test — IELTS Life Skills is a separate product that tests Speaking and Listening only, with a Pass/Fail result.

Life Skills A1 — Entry Clearance

Life Skills A1 is required for the initial UK spouse/partner visa application. The test is 16–22 minutes long and tests only Speaking and Listening. It is conducted at a SELT-approved centre with two candidates and one examiner. Phase 1: the examiner asks you questions (name, family, daily routine). Phase 2: you listen to audio recordings and answer questions. Phase 3: you discuss a topic with the other candidate. Phase 4: you plan an activity together. The result is Pass or Fail — there is no band score. Fee: approximately ₹15,350.

Life Skills A2 — Extension

Life Skills A2 is required when extending your UK spouse visa (typically at the 2.5-year mark). The format is similar to A1 but slightly more complex in the discussion and planning phases. Same fee structure and SELT centre requirement.

Life Skills B1 — ILR/Settlement

Life Skills B1 is required for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and citizenship. At B1, the test requires slightly longer and more complex spoken interactions. You also need to pass the Life in the UK Test (LITUK) alongside Life Skills B1 for ILR. For more details on settlement requirements, see our IELTS for Settlement & Citizenship guide.

Australia Partner Visa (309/100, 820/801) — Functional English or VAC2

Australia's partner visa (Subclass 309/100 for offshore, 820/801 for onshore) has a different approach to English. The main applicant's English requirement is Functional English, which is IELTS 4.5 overall (a very low bar). However, if you cannot demonstrate Functional English, you are not rejected — instead, you must pay the Visa Application Charge 2 (VAC2) of approximately AUD $5,890 (₹3.27 Lakhs), which covers English tuition in Australia through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

What Is "Functional English"?

Functional English for Australian partner visas can be demonstrated through: (1) IELTS overall 4.5 (any variant — Academic, GT, or UKVI), (2) completion of at least 2 years of full-time study in English, (3) completion of 1 year of full-time study at the Certificate IV level or above in an English-medium institution, or (4) a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Ireland. For most Indian spouses, taking IELTS and scoring 4.5 overall (approximately A2–B1 level) is the simplest and cheapest option.

The VAC2 Option

If your English is too weak to score IELTS 4.5, you can still get the partner visa by paying the VAC2 fee. This entitles you to free English classes in Australia under the AMEP programme (up to 510 hours of classes). While this avoids the English test requirement, it costs AUD $5,890 — significantly more than taking IELTS (₹16,250) and a few weeks of coaching (₹7,500 at EEC). For most Indian spouses, preparing for and passing IELTS at 4.5 is financially smarter than paying VAC2.

New Zealand Partner Visa — English Requirements

New Zealand's partner visa requirements depend on the visa category. For the Partnership-Based Work Visa, there is generally no formal English test requirement — your partner's visa status and your relationship evidence are the primary criteria. For Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) residency that includes a partner, the main applicant needs IELTS 6.5, but the partner themselves may not need a separate English test if they are a secondary applicant on the same application.

However, for the Parent Retirement Category and some other family-stream visas, basic English may be required. New Zealand Immigration (INZ) may request evidence of English ability as part of the "good character" and "settlement" assessment. Having an IELTS score — even a modest one — strengthens any NZ family visa application. EEC's NZ team can advise on the specific English requirements for your visa category.

Canada Spouse — NO English Test Required

Here is the good news for spouses joining partners in Canada: Canada does NOT require any English test for sponsored spouses. Under the Spouse/Common-Law Partner Sponsorship programme (both inland and outland), the sponsored partner is exempt from English language requirements. This applies to both permanent residency sponsorship and the Open Work Permit for spouses.

However, while not required for the visa, having an English score can be strategically beneficial: (1) if you want to work in Canada, many employers prefer candidates with English certification, (2) if you plan to apply for Canadian citizenship later, you need CLB 4 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0 each band), (3) if you want to support your family's Express Entry application by demonstrating adaptability, and (4) basic English helps with integration, accessing services, and building a life in Canada. PTE Core, CELPIP, and IELTS GT are all accepted for Canadian citizenship and employment purposes.

Fee Comparison Across Countries — Spouse Visa English Tests

For UK spouse visas, LanguageCert A1 is a SELT-approved alternative that costs approximately ₹6,800 — significantly less than IELTS Life Skills at ₹15,350. LanguageCert can also be taken online from home, making it more convenient. EEC coaches LanguageCert at ₹7,500 and helps you choose between Life Skills and LanguageCert based on your comfort level, budget, and timeline.

“My wife needed Life Skills A1 for our UK spouse visa. She had never taken an English test and was very nervous. EEC's trainer spent 4 weeks building her Speaking and Listening confidence with everyday topics. She passed on the first attempt. The entire coaching cost us ₹7,500 and saved us so much stress. Now she's settled in Birmingham and attending free English classes at the local college.”

— Nikhil & Priya S., UK Spouse Visa granted, now in Birmingham

EEC Life Skills + Spouse Visa Coaching — ₹7,500

EEC provides specialist coaching for every spouse visa English requirement: IELTS Life Skills A1/A2/B1 (for UK), regular IELTS at 4.5+ (for Australia), LanguageCert A1/B1 (for UK SELT alternative), and CELPIP (for Canada citizenship preparation). All programmes cost ₹7,500 and are available in Classroom, Online Live, and Pre-recorded modes.

EEC's Life Skills coaching focuses specifically on the Speaking and Listening skills tested in the Life Skills exam: introducing yourself, talking about family and daily life, understanding audio messages and conversations, discussing everyday topics with another candidate, and planning activities. The coaching also includes mock test sessions in the exact Life Skills format so you feel confident on test day. Beyond coaching, EEC provides free spouse visa counselling and application support for UK, Australia, NZ, and Canada family visa routes.

Frequently Asked Questions: IELTS for Spouse & Dependent Visa

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