This page explains how IELTS for UKVI works for a reader in Romania. It is general information taken from official pages, not advice on your own case. Visa rules change, so open the GOV.UK page for your route before you book anything.
What IELTS for UKVI is
GOV.UK calls the approved English tests secure English language tests (SELTs). It says the IELTS SELT Consortium's approved tests are IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills, that the test must be sat at an approved location, and that results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded.
The British Council Romania page is where to check which UKVI tests are offered in Romania, how they are delivered and what they cost. Fees can change, so this page gives none.
Where it is listed in Romania
The ielts.org record for the British Council Telecom Academy centre gives the address as Cotroceni Business Center, Iuliu Maniu 7, corp A, scara 2, etaj 2, Bucharest. It lists Academic, UKVI General Training and General Training on computer, and Life Skills A1.
Test lists and delivery methods can differ between the provider's own page and the ielts.org record, and they can change. Confirm with the British Council which module and which Life Skills level it offers, and how the test is delivered, before you pay. For other cities and providers, see IELTS test centres in Romania and IELTS in Bucharest.
Which levels UK routes ask for
UK routes state their English requirement as a CEFR level. Which IELTS for UKVI scores count as that level is set out on the British Council Romania page, and the requirement applies to the test as the government sets it. Check both that page and the GOV.UK page for your route for the current rule.
Examples of routes
- Skilled Worker: GOV.UK asks for at least B2 in reading, writing, speaking and understanding. It says B1 applies if you held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending it. You can prove English with a UK school qualification, a degree (a UK degree, or a non-UK degree that is assessed as taught in English), or a SELT.
- Health and Care Worker: the GOV.UK page has the same B2 wording. Doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives do not need to prove English if they already passed an assessment accepted by their regulated professional body. For regulator scores, see the NMC page and the GMC page.
- Student: GOV.UK asks for B2 at degree level or above and B1 below degree level. A higher education provider may assess English itself, still at B2 equivalent. Study scores are on the study-abroad scores page.
- Partner, parent, citizenship, settlement: GOV.UK says these routes need speaking and listening only, which is where Life Skills comes in.
Some applicants are exempt from proving English. Read the exemption list on the GOV.UK page for your route; this page does not say whether anyone from Romania is exempt.
Life Skills in short
On ielts.org, Life Skills is taken with an examiner and one other test taker and lasts around 20 minutes. A1 is for the family of a settled person, and B1 for citizenship or indefinite leave to remain. The page says A2 is only offered in the UK.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Mike teaches one to one, live on Google Meet, in English. His lessons cover IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. They do not cover Life Skills or any visa procedure, and he does not run, register or price the test. If your route asks for a four-skill score in IELTS for UKVI, lessons can help with the skills behind it: Writing Task 1 and Task 2 marked against the public band descriptors, and Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format with feedback in the moment. He also leaves written progress notes in your account. The booking calendar shows each slot in your own time zone, and you can reschedule at no charge up to 12 hours before. You can start with a paid 30-minute trial lesson on your first booking. See the booking page, or read about Mike.
