Migrating to the UK soon may require taking an English test from anywhere in the world-but major exam providers say that shift invites fraud.
The Home Office plans to launch fully digital English tests by December 2026 under an £816 million contract. Applicants would take exams remotely, choosing their own location if secure conditions are met.
But the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-which includes the British Council, Cambridge University Press and Assessments, and Australia’s IDP-warned Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood the move risks national security.
In a letter seen by the BBC, the consortium said remote testing is “incompatible” with secure immigration controls and opens “new and significant security vulnerabilities.”
They cited heightened cheating risks: impersonators, screen-sharing with accomplices, earpieces, and AI chatbots aiding test-takers.
Two-thirds of current visa-related English exams are administered in person at over 1,300 global centers. Since January, standards were raised-requiring A-level equivalent English for skilled work visas.
Australia banned remote language tests for migrants last August. The UK Home Office says it’s still vetting providers capable of meeting top-tier fraud prevention standards.