About the exam
Which countries hold the LanguageCert exam? Test centres near Iran
How many countries hold LanguageCert, the nearest cities to Iran, who the online test suits, and what residents of Iran should ask before they pay.
By Certyar5 November 20265 min read
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Try Certyar freeLanguageCert says LanguageCert Academic runs at over 150 centres worldwide and online. The nearest cities to Iran are in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iraq. We found no centre in Iran, and no official answer on whether residents of Iran can register.
We read this list on 5 November 2026 from LanguageCert's centre finder and GOV.UK's approved centres list (30 October 2026). A city on the list doesn't mean a test date is free.
Two lists, two uses
- LanguageCert Academic centres: for university admission, Australian visas and most uses. The cities are in the official finder.
- SELT centres: for UK visas. GOV.UK's list has 213 LanguageCert centres in 117 countries outside the UK. Only these count for a UK visa.
Cities near Iran
| Country | Academic cities | UK SELT cities |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Ankara, Erzurum, Istanbul, Izmir, Gaziantep, Nevsehir | Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Nevsehir |
| Armenia | Yerevan | Yerevan |
| Azerbaijan | Baku | Baku |
| Georgia | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
| Iraq | Erbil, Sulaymaniyah | Sulaymaniyah |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah | Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah |
| Oman | Muscat | Muscat |
| Qatar | Doha | Doha |
| Kuwait | Kuwait, Salmiya | Kuwait City, Salmiya |
| Bahrain | Manama | Manama |
| Saudi Arabia | Al Khobar, Riyadh | Riyadh |
| Pakistan | Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and others | Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and others |
We saw no city for Afghanistan or Turkmenistan. Each country's price is in the fee article.
Is LanguageCert held in Iran?
We found no centre. GOV.UK's list has no LanguageCert centre in Iran, we didn't see Iran in the Academic finder, and choosing Iran on the official site showed no price. Check carefully before paying any site that says there's a centre in Iran or that it takes registrations: LanguageCert says to buy SELT only through its verified partners.
Who does the online test suit?
Academic has an online version with live proctoring, and it needs a valid passport. But:
| Use | Is online accepted? |
|---|---|
| Australian visa | No, test centre only |
| UK visa | No, SELT centre only |
| Universities in the Netherlands | No, test centre only |
| Other universities | It depends on the university; ask them |
The payment methods the official site names for online exams are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and PayPal.
If you live in Iran, know this before you pay
In the terms and pages we read, LanguageCert says nothing about residents of Iran or Iranian passport holders. So we can't say it's possible, or that it's forbidden. Why does the question matter? Because other test providers have set limits on exactly where you live:
- ETS, as quoted by TOEFL Resources, says it can't process registrations or payments for people resident in Iran, even for a test outside Iran, and that travelling doesn't by itself solve this.
- Pearson VUE, as quoted by the same source, hasn't delivered exams to residents of Iran since 8 September 2026, unless they prove primary residency elsewhere.
- British Council Turkey, as quoted by the same source, has required Iranian candidates to show proof of residency in Turkey since 14 October 2026.
None of these concern LanguageCert, but they show why you shouldn't pay for a ticket or a test before an official answer. Alternatives to IELTS reviews these changes together.
What to ask in writing
Ask LanguageCert's support and the test centre these in writing. Give your country of residence truthfully; false details can lead to a cancelled result and more trouble.
- Can someone living in Iran sit the test at this centre?
- Can I register with an Iranian passport? Do I need proof of residence in another country?
- Can someone living in Iran take the online test?
- How can I pay? If the centre cancels, do I get my money back?
- Will the centre confirm the exact dates for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking?
How to choose a city
| What to weigh | Note |
|---|---|
| Type of test | For a UK visa, only the SELT column's cities |
| Test date | See what's free in that city, then buy a ticket |
| Visa | According to an unofficial source, Turkey and Armenia need no visa for a short trip, Azerbaijan needs an e-visa and the UAE a visit visa; check an official source |
| Cost | The test's price varies by country: lower in Turkey than in Armenia or the UAE |
| Length of stay | If Speaking falls on another day, you stay longer; you needn't stay for the result |
Before spending this, see the preparation guide and check your practice score with the score calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries hold the LanguageCert exam?
LanguageCert speaks of over 150 centres for Academic, and GOV.UK's list shows its SELT centres in 117 countries. Its pages give other figures too, since they depend on the type of test.
What's the nearest centre to Iran?
It depends on your city: Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Sulaymaniyah and Erbil, Erzurum and Istanbul, or the cities around the Persian Gulf.
Can I take the test online from inside Iran?
That's unconfirmed. Ask in writing before you buy. The online test isn't accepted for some uses anyway, such as Australian and UK visas.
What do I need on the test day?
At a centre, valid photo ID and arriving 30 minutes early; online, a valid passport. For UK SELT, see the accepted documents on GOV.UK.
Certyar is an independent preparation site, not affiliated with LanguageCert; it doesn't run the test or take registrations. For the official details, see LanguageCert Academic's page.