How to register for IELTS?
Quick answer
Register online through the official IELTS site or a test centre partner: choose Academic or General Training and a test format, select your city, pick a date and time, complete the application with a copy of your passport, and pay the fee. The fee is set by each country and test centre. You then receive a booking confirmation.
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Registering for IELTS is an online application that takes a few decisions and a few documents. The order matters, because the first decision, the test type, limits everything after it.
Step 1: choose the test type and format
IELTS.org advises you to always check entry requirements before choosing your test, and lists IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and IELTS for UKVI. It then lists the ways to take it: IELTS on computer, IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper in selected countries, and IELTS Online. IELTS.org has announced that from mid-2026 it will no longer offer a paper-based test, with timelines varying by market. IELTS Online is available for the Academic test only, and receiving organisations decide whether they accept it. UKVI tests must be taken at an official test centre.
Step 2: choose a city, a date and a time
For a test centre format you select your country and city, and the booking system shows the sessions available. IDP’s step-by-step guide describes choosing the date and time that suit you best. IELTS Online can be taken from any location, so no city is needed. Our answer on where to take the IELTS test explains how to search.
Step 3: complete the application
IDP’s guide says to sign up or log in to your IELTS profile, fill in the application form and submit it, and to upload a clear copy of your passport. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your ID, because the name on the booking should match the document you bring on test day.
Step 4: pay the fee
The fee is set by each country and test centre, so this page does not give an amount. You see the amount for your location during booking. IDP says you can pay with a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card, and that the card must be valid and activated for online transactions.
Step 5: keep your confirmation
After payment, IDP says you receive an email or phone message confirming the booking. Keep it, together with the ID you used to register. If you want to retake later, see how many times you can retake IELTS.
What this means for your score
A candidate applying to a university checks the entry requirements first and finds that Academic is required. She then chooses her format, picks a date in a city near her, and enters her name exactly as it appears in her passport, so that the name on her booking matches the ID she brings on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Which documents do I need to register?
IDP's booking guide states that you upload a clear copy of your passport when completing the application. For IELTS Online, IELTS.org lists your passport as the ID you need on test day. Read your centre's own requirements before you book, because the booking page for your location is what applies to you.
How do I choose between Academic and General Training?
IELTS.org advises you to always check entry requirements before choosing your test. IELTS.org describes Academic as designed for undergraduate or postgraduate study and professional registration. The institution or government asking for the score should say which test it needs, and in what format.
How much does registration cost?
The fee is set by each country and test centre, so no single amount applies everywhere. You see the fee for your location during booking, before you pay. IDP states that you can pay with a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card.
What happens after I pay?
IDP states that you receive an email or phone message confirming your booking. Keep it, because it holds your test details. If you need a One Skill Retake later, the booking is separate, and it depends on your centre offering that service.
Sources
- Booking your IELTS test — IELTS.org
- Booking your IELTS test - a step-by-step guide — IDP IELTS
- IELTS Online: take IELTS Academic online — IELTS.org
- Ways to take IELTS: online, computer or paper — IELTS.org
- Updates to IELTS test delivery — IELTS.org
Last verified 30 Sep 2026
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