CitizenReadyLife in the UK Test in Portsmouth
The Life in the UK test is taken at official test centres run for the Home Office — there are 38 on the official published list, including in Portsmouth. You do not book with the centre directly: you book on GOV.UK, and when you book you choose your centre yourself — any centre, not just the nearest one.
Booking facts for Portsmouth candidates
- Fee: £50, paid online when you book. Book at least 3 days (72 hours) ahead.
- Bring the original ID you booked with — the name must match exactly.
- Arrive in good time; allow up to about 2 hours including checks and your result.
- Phones, books and watches stay in the lockers provided; you get your result the same day.
Exact centre addresses and available dates are shown during booking on GOV.UK — beware unofficial sites that charge extra to "book for you".
Published centre venue
PSI Portsmouth
102 Clarendon Road, Southsea · PO4 0SY
Finding the Portsmouth centre
The published venue is PSI Portsmouth, 102 Clarendon Road, Southsea · PO4 0SY. Plan to arrive early — your ID is checked and your photograph taken before the test, and latecomers are not admitted and are not refunded. Get directions to PO4 0SY →
If Portsmouth is fully booked
You can sit the test at any centre — your booking is not tied to where you live. The nearest alternatives to Portsmouth are (distances as the crow flies):
- Brighton — MTS at Vantage Point, New Road · BN1 4GW (≈41 miles) · Brighton city guide
- Reading — PSI Reading, Highline, 30 Greyfriars Road · RG1 1PE (≈47 miles) · Reading city guide
- Hounslow (London) — Computer Learning Centre, 65 Kingsley Road · TW3 1QB (≈57 miles) · Hounslow (London) city guide