For the past four years, all non-native English speakers seeking to obtain a visa to live, work, or study in the United Kingdom have been required to pass an English language proficiency test.

This spring the U.K. Border Agency, which controls visa processing, completed a review and update of its list of accepted tests. Tests from only five testing agencies were reapproved, with over a dozen tests eliminated from the list. However, the TOEIC Listening & Reading test was among the few re-approved, and the new TOEIC Speaking & Writing test was also approved for the list.

Candidates for U.K. visas can now prove all four required skills using TOEIC tests. TOEIC tests are a particularly good choice for those planning to come to the United Kingdom for reasons other than earning a degree because of their focus on English for everyday, practical communication rather than for academic settings (though students can qualify with TOEIC tests).

Different minimum TOEIC scores are required for different types of visas. These are based on Common European Framework Reference (CEFR) "tier levels."  Current requirements are detailed in "U.K. Visa English Requirements: Part 2."