Find out how to reschedule or cancel a standard IELTS test
IELTS for UKVI cancellation, transfer and refund policy
If your plans change or you face an unexpected situation, you may need to cancel or transfer your IELTS for UKVI test date. Read on for more information on our UKVI cancellation and transfer policy.
IELTS for UKVI test cancellations
You can cancel your IELTS for UKVI test registration at any time before taking your test by notifying your Test Centre. Refund terms depend on when you cancel and whether exceptional circumstances apply.
The information on this page is relevant to IELTS for UKVI testing, including IELTS for UKVI Life Skills. If you're taking a different IELTS test, please visit our general cancellations and transfers policy page.
IELTS for UKVI refund policy
The amount we can refund depends on the time to your booked test date:
Your test centre is responsible for issuing a refund.
Your local laws may give you better rights
If consumer protection law where you have registered to take your IELTS for UKVI test offers you more favourable cancellation and transfer rights, then local laws will apply.
Cancellation date | UKVI refund policy |
|---|---|
More than 14 days before the test | 75% refund of the total test fee |
Within 14 days, but more than two days before the test | 50% refund of the total test fee |
Within two days of the test | 25% refund of the total test fee |
On the test day or after the test | No refund will be provided |
Test taker exceptions
If you are ill or have a personal emergency on your test date, you may need to cancel your test. If this is the case, you can submit a case for ‘exceptional circumstances’ to your test centre.
You can make a case for exceptional circumstances before the test and up to five working days after the test date if you did not attend the test. Your test centre will respond within seven working days of receiving your case in writing. Your test centre will assess your case for exceptional circumstances.
What is an exceptional circumstance?
We define exceptional circumstances as:
- serious medical conditions which prevent you from attending or performing normally on test day. These conditions require supporting evidence of a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner
- death of a family member
- trauma or other forms of significant hardship
- military service.
All cases for exceptional circumstances, along with supporting evidence, must be received by your test centre no later than five working days after the scheduled test date.
What happens next?
The test centre is responsible for the decision and will reply within seven working days.
Case | UKVI refund policy |
|---|---|
Approved | You will receive a full refund minus an administration fee of no more than 25% of the test fee |
Not approved | The terms given in the IELTS for UKVI refund policy above apply |
Test Centre exceptions
Under certain circumstances outside your test centre’s control, we may have to cancel your test. These circumstances include, and are not limited to, extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, civil unrest and industrial action.
In such instances, your test centre will provide you with as much notice as possible and give you the choice of either:
- a full refund, or
- a transfer to a future test date convenient to you.
In cases where your test centre cancels a test under circumstances within its control, you can apply for compensation for travel and accommodation expenses incurred.
What happens next?
Once you’ve made a claim, your test centre will assess whether the cancellation was within its control, and any compensation will be awarded based on the following:
- directly incurred as a result of planning your attendance on test day
- evidence of payment receipt(s)
- evidence that cancelled travel and/or accommodation charges are non-recoverable from vendor
- benchmarked against lowest reasonable market rates for the expenses in question.
If you travelled to a test centre that is not the closest one to your home, you cannot claim compensation.
Your test centre is responsible for decisions related to compensation, including eligibility and any amounts awarded.
IELTS for UKVI test transfers
If you need to change your test date, you can transfer your booking to a new date as follows:
Your test centre is responsible for organising a transfer.
Transfer request date | UKVI transfer policy |
|---|---|
More than 14 days before the test | You may change your test date at any time more than 14 days before the test. Your new date must be within three months of your original test, where available. If your preferred test date is more than three months after your original test date, this will count as a cancellation. You can only transfer your booking once. Your test centre may charge an administration fee (up to 25% of the total test fee) |
Within 14 days of your test | No transfers allowed. |
Related pages
Find out more about IELTS for UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI)
Explore UK migration options with IELTS for UKVI Life Skills