People searching for IELTS ID requirements are usually worried about one thing: being turned away on the day. For IELTS for UKVI, the rules come from the Home Office guidance on secure English language tests, which GOV.UK publishes. The IELTS page on UK visa tests sends readers to GOV.UK for the test-day ID rules rather than repeating them. This page summarises the GOV.UK guidance in plain words. It is general information, not personal advice, so read the current GOV.UK guidance before you book.
The basic rule
GOV.UK says your identity document must be current and valid, and an original rather than a photocopy. It must include a photo of you, and it must match the information you gave when you booked the test. The guidance and your test provider say what happens if you cannot show suitable ID, so read both before booking.
- Current and valid: not expired, except for the BRP concession below.
- Original: not a photocopy.
- Photo: the document must show your photo.
- Matching: the details must match what you entered at booking.
Which documents GOV.UK lists
| Document | Where it can be used | What to note |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | In the UK and outside it | The usual choice; book in the name shown on it |
| Convention travel document | In the UK and outside it | Listed with passports by GOV.UK |
| Stateless persons travel document | In the UK and outside it | Listed with passports by GOV.UK |
| eVisa | Tests taken in the UK only | You sign in to your UKVI account and get a share code |
| Expired BRP or BRC | Only where GOV.UK allows it (see below) | Original card; time limit applies |
GOV.UK also says emergency travel documents will not be accepted as proof of identity.
Using an eVisa and a share code
GOV.UK says that to use an eVisa for the test you sign in to your UKVI account and get a share code. On the page about viewing and proving your immigration status, GOV.UK states that a share code is valid for 90 days and that the person you share it with needs your date of birth. The guidance says an eVisa works for tests taken in the UK only, so it is not an ID option if you sit the test abroad. Check your test provider's instructions on when to get the code.
An expired BRP or BRC
GOV.UK gives a concession for candidates who cannot access their eVisa and hold an expired biometric residence permit (BRP) or card (BRC). It says you must take your test no later than 24 months after the expiry date shown on the card, or until the end of 2026, whichever is sooner. You must bring the original card. Because this rule has an end date, it may change. Look at the date on the card, work out which limit comes first, and check the GOV.UK page again close to your test.
Matching the name
Name mismatches are the most avoidable problem. GOV.UK says the details used to book must be the same as on your passport or other identity document. If your surname has changed, book in the name on your passport or ID.
- Take your ID out before you start the booking form.
- Copy your full name and date of birth exactly as printed.
- Check spelling, order of names and any middle names.
- After booking, compare the confirmation with the document again.
Sensitive bookings
If you have a previous gender, including a different name, that you do not want shown to test staff or on your result, GOV.UK asks you to email the Home Office sensitive bookings address given in the guidance before you book.
Reasonable adjustments
GOV.UK says you can make special requests when you book, for example for equipment or help getting to the test location. Ask at booking rather than on the day.
Booking and the test centre
GOV.UK says you should usually be able to test within 28 days of booking, but the location may not be the nearest to you. It also says to use the provider's website for availability and not to contact the test centre directly. It notes that some third-party booking services may claim an official affiliation they do not have, and it refers readers to a list of approved test centres. Check the guidance page for that list.
Check before you go: rules, concessions and approved lists change. The GOV.UK page and your booking confirmation are the authority, not this page.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Mike cannot register you, check your documents or tell you whether your ID will be accepted; that is for the provider and GOV.UK. What he can do is prepare you for the four IELTS papers once your booking is sorted. Lessons are one-to-one, live on Google Meet, in English. He marks Writing Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors, runs Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format with feedback in the moment, and leaves written progress notes in your account. Mike is CELTA-certified, based in Hanoi, and scored 8.5 in Speaking in his own IELTS. You can read more about Mike or book a lesson; the booking calendar shows each slot in your own time zone.
