Welsh learner shares frustration after attempting to take UK citizenship test in Welsh
Gosia Buzzanca
Israel Lai, a popular YouTube creator specialising in language-learning content, has taken to social media to share his frustration after trying to take the UK citizenship test in Welsh — a right that is legally guaranteed.
Israel, who lives in England, has been learning Welsh for two years, often documenting his progress through live streams watched by thousands of followers.
He has already obtained the Welsh Certificate at B2 level, signifying upper-intermediate proficiency. Languages are his passion, and he regularly shares his learning journey with his audience.
He is planning to attend The Polyglot Gathering in Brno, the world’s largest international event for polyglots and language enthusiasts, held annually at the end of May.
However, Mr Lai’s visa expires in April. To extend it, he must apply for settlement status, and to do so he is required to pass the Life in the UK test.
The Life in the UK Test is a mandatory exam for those applying for British citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain.
It tests a person’s knowledge of British life, including history, culture, values, laws and institutions, based on the official Guide for New Residents. The test must be booked online, and candidates must answer at least 18 out of 24 multiple-choice questions correctly within 45 minutes to pass.
Outsourced
Mr Lai explains that the UK Government has outsourced the citizenship test to private companies, which are still legally required to provide the service in Welsh.
Despite requesting to sit the test in Welsh months in advance, PSI — the company responsible — has repeatedly delayed his booking, offered contradictory explanations, and failed to provide clear answers.
“I’d do such a great job advertising Wales and its culture at the polyglot conference, Mr Lai said in his video, “but it feels like this country doesn’t let me do it.
“I believe the company is playing a stalling game because they know that eventually I’ll have to do the test — whether in Welsh or in English — because my visa will expire, he added.
Infringing rights
“I feel like this is indirectly infringing on my right to become a citizen through the medium of Welsh,” Mr Lai concluded.
Nation.Cymru has contacted PSI and invited them to respond.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Home Office should get a refund.
One for the Welsh Language Commissioner. The Home Office guidance document (version 31.0 !!!) states “People can take the test in Welsh if they go to a test centre in Wales…” . So it’s not limited to residents of Wales only, and Israel Lai should get his Welsh-language test
The WLC is so busy being “transparent” that she has no time for such things. You’d think she’d be aware of this already and have created holy hell about it.
I’m glad that’s made very clear. I’ve had worries that me being in England gives them an excuse to refuse that right. I don’t mind travelling.
It’ll be interesting to hear what PSI have to say for failing to provide the test in Welsh!
Probably that in 20 years nobody has ever asked for one so they are not sure what do
The first person to take the citizenship test in Welsh was Dr Rodolfo Piskorski in 2020. It made the news. So somehow they’ve gone backwards.
Which would be a devilishly difficult pub quiz question.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54355166
Mr. Lai, Rydych wedi llwyddo i gyrraedd safon barchus drwy gyflawni lefel B2 sy’n brawf o’ch ymroddiad i ddeall rhan bwysig iawn o ddiwylliant Cymru – yr iaith. Heb yr iaith nid oes modd deall hanes yr ynysoedd o safbwynt y Cymry a gyfranodd at siapio’r ynysoedd i’w sefyllfaoedd presennol. Fe fydde hi’n werth cysylltu a Eluned Morgan – Prif weinidog Cymru, S4C ac aelodau seneddol Plaid Cymru i dynnu sylw i’r trafferthion afresymol yr ydych yn gwynebu. Os ydyn nhw am gael eu cymryd o ddifri ynglŷn â hybu’r iaith fe fyddan nhw’n gwneud eu gorau i amddiffyn pobl… Read more »
Obviously, since this job was passed over to a private business, they have never got around to producing a Welsh language version because they lazily assumed that it would never be needed. Now that it is, they’ve wasted time finding out if they could just refuse him but discovered that he was within his legal rights so they told him they’d delayed his test. Then they went hunting for the pre-existing Welsh language test but found tha,t when the English language version one was updated and the old one deleted, they deleted the Welsh language test too but without bothering… Read more »