Dear colleagues,

 

DHR’s Staff Development and Learning (SDL) Unit invites eligible staff members (i.e., those with Regular, Fixed-term and Junior Professional Officer contracts) to apply for the 2026 United Nations Language Proficiency Examination (LPE), which will take place in October 2026. Registration is now open from 1 to 19 June 2026.

 

The LPE allows eligible General Service staff members to qualify for the language allowance in accordance with IOM HR policies (Language Allowance | HR Handbook). Please note that the allowance applies only to IOM official languages: English, French and Spanish.

 

Staff may apply to take multiple language proficiency exams for multiple languages.

 

IOM staff are responsible for covering the exam fee, which is US$326 per language exam for 2026.

 

For more information and to register, please visit:

Language Proficiency Examination (LPE) Information & Registration

 

2026 LPE Dates

Wednesday, 7 October 2026

  • English (Between 6:00 a.m. and 15:00 p.m. NY time)

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

  • French (Between 6:00 a.m. and 14:00 p.m. NY time)

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

  • Spanish (Between 6:00 a.m. and 15:00 p.m. NY time)

 

GUIDELINES

Prior to applying for the LPE, staff members must:

  • Verify contract type. The LPE is open only to staff members with Regular, Fixed-term and JPO (Junior Professional Officer) contracts. 
  • Review the Language Allowance | HR Handbook to determine eligibility for the language allowance benefit.
  • Contact your country HR focal point to determine the amount of the language allowance benefit.
  • Ensure completion of all IOM mandatory courses, which are required before approval of LPE application. Course details can be found here.
  • Note that the cost of the exam is US$326 per language exam (paid directly by IOM and reimbursed to IOM through the staff member’s payroll/salary), plus additional administrative fees, which vary from country to country. Details on the administrative fees are provided by the UN LPE local focal point in the respective LPE test sites.
  • 6 August 2026 is the last date that staff can cancel their LPE registration without being charged for the exam. All staff enrolled in the exam on this “drop date” will be charged for the exam. (LPE Timeline)

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

  1. Register between 1 and 19 June 2026 at Language Proficiency Examination (LPE) Information & Registration. When you register, use your IOM email address.
  2. Follow the application steps outlined here: Registering For United Nations Language Proficiency Examinations.
  3. Reference and utilize these documents as needed:
    1. Eligibility Criteria
    2. LPE Process and Timeline
    3. Certification of “Use of Language on a Regular Basis for Work”
    4. Letter for extension of contract template
  4. When your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation email.
  5. If additional information is required for your application process, you will be notified.
  6. Once your application is approved, you will receive an approval notification.
  7. The exam fee (US$326 per exam) will be deducted from your salary after the 6 August 2026 “drop date” cancelation deadline. SDL will coordinate with your duty station regarding payroll deduction.
  8. If you withdraw after the 6 August deadline, the exam fee will still be deducted from your salary. Fees are non-refundable once processed.
  9. After you take the exam, your exam results will be sent directly to you by email.

 

NOTES

The UN Language Proficiency Exam (LPE) is organized by the UN Department of Operational Support in New York once a year in more than 60 locations around the world. For more information, please refer to Language Proficiency Examination (LPE) Information & Registration.

 

Effective 1 January 2017, the Accelerated Step Increase for demonstrated language proficiency in a second official language of the Organization for the staff members in the Professional and higher categories has been discontinued, as per the Compensation Review Staff Advisory, dated 11 February 2016.

 

If you have further questions, please open a ticket here.