Visas and authorised travel to the UK

*new* How will the ETA work?

Nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council countries already need an ETA to travel to or transit through the UK. All remaining nationalities will be able to apply for an ETA from later this year using the UK ETA app.

ETA is extending in two phases:

• Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 8 January 2025
• Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2 April 2025

Visitors can find out when they will need an ETA on this webpage.

An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. Further information and how to apply: www.gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation

How do I apply for a visa?

You will need to complete the UKVI’s online visa application.

Download: How to apply for your UK Student Visa

Download: UKVI FAQs for Student Visas

You can only apply for your visa after receiving an unconditional offer and up to three months before the start of your course but not any earlier.

Mistakes with funds and supporting documents are the most common reasons for visa refusal. If you have any questions please contact the admissions staff who issued your offer letter before visa application submission.

As there are regular changes in immigration and visa rules, we strongly recommend that you follow the guidance provided on the UKVI website, as it will provide you with the best and most up-to-date advice on how and where to apply for your visa:

• Short-Term Study Visa Guidance
• Student Route Visa Guidance

How do I receive my CAS number to apply for my visa?

In order to apply for your visa, the University admissions team will provide you with a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number once you have met the conditions of your offer.

Please note that your CAS is not the same as your UCAS number

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) financial requirements

UKVI expect you to have enough money to cover your financial requirements (living costs) when you are studying in the UK.

You will need to provide original financial documents to show that you have funds in excess of £1,023 for each month of your course up to a maximum of 9 months (at least £9,207 per year) when you submit a Student Route Visa application.

You need to prove that you have held the full amount continuously for a 28-day period prior to making your online visa application and that this financial document was issued within 31 days of you making your visa application.

The funds can be in your own bank account or, if you are using your parents/legal guardians’ funds or have an official financial sponsor, you will need to provide additional documentation. Please note that not all banks and financial institutions are recognised by UKVI.

Information on the exact financial requirements for a Student Route Visa application, and the acceptable documentary evidence, are given in UKVI’s Student route Policy Guidance for students.

The most common reason for a visa application being refused is failure to meet UKVI’s financial requirements. You must read their guidance document carefully to ensure you fully understand these obligations.

Enrolling your biometric information

Please note that when you make your online Student Route Visa application you will need to select your preferred application method (standard, priority, super priority, or VIP).

Once you have submitted your application, and have paid your IHS, you will be directed to book an appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) centre to enrol your biometric information (your photograph and fingerprints) and have your supporting documentation checked.

You will be able to choose an appointment within five working days of making your application and you will receive confirmation of this by e-mail. The e-mail contains a barcode, and you must take this to your appointment.

There are only three UKVCAS Service Points, operated by Sopra Steria, in Scotland who operate a mix of free and chargeable appointments: Aberdeen, Glasgow (who also provide an outside normal office hour’s service); or Edinburgh.

You can scan and upload your documentation prior to your UKVCAS appointment, or this can be done during your meeting. You must still take your original documents with you to the appointment even if you have pre-scanned them in case there were any technical problems.

Your supporting evidence (including your passport) should be returned to you at the end of the appointment. It may be possible for UKVI to reuse your biometric data if you have had a previous successful visa and you will be invited by email to use an Identification Verification (IDV) app to scan your passport, take a photograph of yourself and upload your supporting documents.  If you are eligible to use the IDV app, you will not be required to attend a UKVCAS centre.

It is, however, essential that you do not travel outside the UK before the Home Office approves your visa, as this would effectively cancel your visa application.

Supporting evidence – differentiation arrangements

Some nationalities/passport holders are not required to submit the same supporting evidence of their qualifications or finances with their visa application. UKVI calls this their ‘differentiation arrangements’ and the list of countries permitted is given in paragraph 22.1 of the Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules.

If you do qualify to apply under the differentiation arrangements, you must still confirm in your visa application that you have prepared all the necessary evidence.

The Entry Clearance Officer who assesses your visa application has the right to request your actual financial evidence, so it is very important that you have this in place before you submit your visa application.

If UKVI do request to see your supporting evidence and you cannot then provide this, your visa application will be refused, and you could be barred from making future visa applications to the UK.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Please note that most Student Route Visa applicants who are applying for a visa of longer than six months are subject to an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1,035 per year as part of their online visa application.

This entitles students to access the UK’s National Health Service free-of-charge. In Scotland this also includes prescriptions, dental examinations, and eye examinations.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

An ATAS clearance certificate is required for selected courses, this should be submitted to UKVI with your visa application:

• Course 1
• Course 2
• Course 3

Keeping your visa

Remember that under the new points-based system, the university will be obliged to tell the UK Border Agency about any students who:

• Fail to arrive and enrol at the agreed time for the start of their course
• Defer their studies
• Take temporary withdrawal/suspend their studies
• Withdraw from their studies
• Fail to attend their course for significant periods of time
• Make changes to their studies which shortens their completion time
• Do not register with the police within seven days if required to do so
• Work more than 20 hours per week during term-time
• Use public funds (claim government benefits)

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. You will need to create a UKVI account to be able to access your eVisa.

Updating your physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.

You’ll be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK – you will not need to carry a physical document, except for your current passport, which must be registered to your UKVI account. Until the end of 2024 you will need to continue to carry your physical document when you travel, if you have one.

What do I have to do if I have a Biometric Residence Permit?

If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) that expires on 31 December 2024, you can now create a UKVI account and access your eVisa. You should do this before the expiry date of your BRP.

If you plan on travelling outside the UK for the Christmas break, prior to travelling we recommend creating a UKVI account and ensure that your current passport is linked into your UKVI account, as you may have issues getting back into the UK after the end of December 2024 if this has not been completed before you go.

Also, you should add your passport to your UKVI account at least a week prior to travelling as there can be delays in adding documents due to additional checks UKVI may need to undertake.

If you have permission to stay in the UK, once you’ve created your UKVI account you will be able to sign in to the view and prove service to access your eVisa.

Creating a UKVI account

Please follow the instructions in the email UKVI sent you regarding the creation of an eVisa or following the instructions on the government website.

Please also see these useful videos:

• What is an eVisa?
• How to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa

If you have lost your BRP card, you can use your travel document, such as a passport, or visa application reference number to create your UKVI account.

You should only request a replacement BRP if it has been lost or stolen and you have no other form of identity document to create a UKVI account.

If you cannot see your eVisa details as soon as you create your UKVI account, there is nothing you need to do. UKVI will contact you directly by email once your eVisa is available to view. You can use your BRP to prove your immigration status until your eVisa details are available. Please retain your BRP card even after it has expired until further notice – do not put in bin or destroy as it may be required for reference later.

If you are a dual national, you should be able to add a second passport to your UKVI account. If you leave/enter the UK it is better to have both passports linked to your UKVI account and both passports will be recognised and either can be used.

If you are on a Student Route Visa, you will be asked ‘When does your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) start?’, and, ‘When does your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) end?’, rather than course start and course end dates. The correct information to enter would be the course start date and end date, not the CAS assigned/expiry date.

You can use a phone / laptop / tablet to create your account. Things to have to hand when you are creating your UKVI account:

• Visa Application / BRP Card Number
• ID Documents such as passport(s)
• Date of Birth 
• Phone Number 
• Immigration ID Check App (this app will need to be downloaded onto your phone/device before creating your account). Please see: guidance on Using the UK Immigration: ID Check app

If you are under 18

Your parent / carer is able to create your UKVI account if you are under 18, this can be for any visa type including dependent visa, student route visa, etc. Once / if you are over 18 you will be required to create your own account and it will be transferred from your parent to you.

For those on a Student Route Visa whose courses finish this year

You will not need to create a UKVI account unless you are planning on applying for another visa such as the graduate visa. If you are intending on moving to the graduate visa, your UKVI e-visa account will update automatically from the student route visa to the graduate visa.

How will I use my UKVI account?

Once you have created your UKVI account you will be able to view the details of your eVisa online, for example your type of permission, when it expires and your conditions of stay in the UK.  

If you change passport, name, or any other changes you will need to keep your UKVI e-visa account updated. Any updates will be free and quick using the update my details service that is part of your UKVI account.

If you have another physical document

If you have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain (also known as settlement) and you currently prove your rights through a different type of physical document, such as a wet-ink stamp in your passport or a vignette sticker, then you should make a ‘no time limit’ (NTL) application.

If your NTL application is successful, you’ll get a BRP to prove your rights. You should carry your BRP, along with your passport, when travelling internationally. Once you have a BRP, you’ll be able to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa later this year.

Those who have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you have a biometric residence card (BRC) and you have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, then you already have an eVisa and you do not need to take any action to obtain one. You can find details of how to access and use your eVisa (your digital status) in your grant letter or email. You should continue to carry your BRC with you when you travel internationally.  

If you have a BRC and you have not been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, obtained another form of immigration leave, or become a British citizen, then your BRC is no longer valid, even if it appears to still be in date. This is because the UK has left the EU, and the EU free movement law no longer applies.

To continue living in the UK you should get an immigration status as soon as possible. You may be able to make a late application to the EU Settlement Scheme as a family member of a relevant EU, other EEA or Swiss citizen. Do not travel internationally until you have obtained a proof of your immigration status.

If you are a British or Irish citizen with a passport, or you have the right of abode

If you are a British or Irish citizen, and you hold a British or Irish passport, you do not need an eVisa or a UKVI account and do not need to do anything. You should continue to use your passport to prove your status in the UK.

If you are a British citizen and are also a national of another country (other than Ireland), or you have the right of abode in the UK and you do not have a British passport, then you may need to take action in the future. 

If you have the right of abode in the UK and you still have your BRP, check what you need to do with your BRP after being granted citizenship. You can prove you have right of abode if you have a UK passport describing you as a British citizen or British subject with right of abode.

If you need to make a new application

If you need to make a new application for permission to stay in the UK, you should follow the usual application process. There will be information and guidance provided during your application process if you need to create a UKVI account. BRPs will still be issued until Autumn 2024. The exact date is still to be confirmed by the Home Office.

If your BRP is lost or stolen

You should still report that your biometric residence permit (BRP) has been lost or stolen from inside or outside the UK. You can only apply for a replacement from inside the UK. The Home Office will contact you within one working day of reporting it.