The qualification – assessing reading, listening, speaking and writing – allows students to demonstrate to immigration officials that they are capable of routine communication in English.

It offers two routes, Academic and General Training, and is recognised by universities and employers in several countries, such as the UK, Malta and Spain.

The testing provider is the latest to gain recognition by the authority to operate language testing for immigration purposes. Other providers include Cambridge English, IELTS and Pearson, among others.

“We are delighted to have received approval from the Irish Immigration Authority,” said LRN CEO Muhammad Tariq.

The test – recognised by UK universities such as Universities of Bradford, East London, Greenwich, Plymouth, Bangor and Brunel, as well as the Italian ministry of education – is available in 58 countries worldwide.

“LRN is looking forward to working alongside it wide stakeholder network in providing opportunities to international students to study and work in an English-speaking environment.”

In 2022, LRN signed an agreement in Pakistan that could see its qualifications reach more than 5,000 individuals in 2023.

Skills for English tests were approved for Irish visa applications in May 2022, as were Duolingo’s language exams in 2021.