Student route: applying outside of the UK

• The level of the course.
• Whether you are studying at an independent school, as other types of institution cannot sponsor a Child student application.
• The type of sponsor licence the institution holds: there are separate licenses for the Student and Child student routes. The sponsor's listing on the register of licensed sponsors: students says which route(s) they can sponsor.

For a short course, including an English language course which lasts no more than 11 months, you may be eligible to apply to enter the UK as a Short-term student (or as a 'Short-term student (Child)' if you are under 16 years old).  

You should apply in the country where you are living. In this context, ‘living’ somewhere means that you are there lawfully for a reason other than for a short-term visit. You can also apply in any other country whose passport you hold. 

It is important to consider that if you are applying in a country that you do not hold nationality for, you may be asked to prove your immigration status for that country. 

If there is no suitable visa application centre (VAC) in the country you are currently living, you should make your application to the appropriate VAC as designated on the Home Office website. 

You should apply: 

• Before you have travelled to the UK. 
• No more than six months before the start date of your course. 
• Normally no later than six months after your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) was issued.  

If you don't already know, ask your institution when you need to enrol on your course and start attending classes. Your institution may also be organising inductions and welcome events to help you settle in the UK. 

1. 1. Choose an institution and course, apply for admission to the course, receive an unconditional offer. 
   2. Apply for an ATAS clearance to submit alongside your application (if applicable). This can take 8-10 weeks. 
   3. Request a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your institution (check all the details are correct when you receive it, it can only be used once). 
   4. Check the visa process for your country of application along with the visa processing times.
   5. Book and take a tuberculosis test (if applicable).
   6. Check you meet all of the requirements for the Student visa.
   7. Prepare and upload your supporting documents to the application system: 
      • Valid passport. 
      • Evidence you meet the financial requirements (if applicable).
      • Evidence of your qualifications listed on your CAS (if applicable). 
      • Evidence that you meet the English language requirement, or your exemption (if applicable).  
      • Valid tuberculosis test certificate (if applicable). 
      • Parent or legal guardian’s consent to your study and living arrangements (if you are under 18 when you are applying).  
      • Proof of relationship with your parent/legal guardian (if you are under 18 when you are applying).  
      • Receipts for accommodation or tuition fees (if these payments are not listed on your CAS).  
      • Translations of any documents not in English or Welsh.  
   8. Complete the online application form, pay the immigration health surcharge, pay your application fee, and book your biometrics appointment. 

   Download the full checklist

    

   After you have followed these steps, you must make sure you provide copies of any requested documents as part of your Student route application. These are usually provided at a visa application centre at the same time as providing your biometrics.  

   When your documentation and biometrics have been collected, you must wait for the outcome of your application. The Home Office do not provide a service to track your application, but applications normally take between 3-6 weeks. You may be required to attend an interview in connection to your application.   

The application fee is £490 (note the Home Office have indicated this fee will rise on 9 April 2025 to £524), paid as an equivalent in your local or alternative currency.   

Some visa application centres (VACs) charge an additional 'user pays fee' of £76.50 and this is to allow smaller VACs to remain open. If you do not wish to pay this additional fee, then you will need to attend a different VAC. 

Some VACs also offer priority services to have your application processed quicker, courier services and VIP lounges for an additional cost: 

• Priority service is £500.  
• Super priority service is £1,000.  

To check whether your local VAC is a 'user pays' centre and/or which services are available, select your home country from the list of visa application centres. 

For further information on fees for applications made outside of the UK, you can read the ECB06: entry clearance fees guidance on the UKVI website. 

If your studies will be funded by a Chevening scholarship, you will not have to pay the standard application fee. You may still need to pay any optional additional fees. You will be asked to provide evidence that you are receiving one of these scholarships. If you are not able to do so, then the application fee will not be waived. 

If you are coming to the UK for more than six months and you have been in one of the countries listed in paragraph TB6 of Appendix Tuberculosis (TB) of the Immigration Rules for more than six months before your Student application, then you will need to provide a medical certificate from an approved clinic confirming that you are clear of tuberculosis (TB). 

If you will be returning to your home country to make your visa application shortly after having been in an Appendix Tuberculosis (TB) country for more than six months, then it is advisable to obtain a medical certificate from an approved clinic before you leave that country as it can be difficult to find an approved clinic outside of countries listed in Appendix Tuberculosis (TB). 

You may need to factor in additional time in order to make your application, especially if you cannot currently travel to your nearest tuberculosis (TB) clinic or visa application centre, or if they are closed. There is no provision for applying for a TB test if you are in a country that does not have any approved TB clinics, or for deferring your TB test, or for applying in the UK. You will need to travel to one or wait until travel is possible. 

You can find the list of approved clinics and how to book a TB test on the Home Office website. 

Most applicants must give their biometrics (a facial photograph and fingerprints) as part of their Student route application. Once you have completed your application form, the form will instruct you to make an appointment where you will be required to provide your biometrics. 

An EEA national whose passport has a biometric chip is not required to make an appointment to give their biometrics. Instead, you use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan and upload your passport and a photo. The Student route visa application form provides further details. 

The Home Office intends to interview Student route applicants before granting them immigration permission to come to the UK. You may therefore be sent an email asking you to attend an interview as part of the application process. You should check your email (including the junk folder) regularly, as your application is likely to be refused if you are asked to attend an interview and you do not do so without providing a reasonable explanation. 

During your interview, a staff member from the Home Office will ask you about your course, where you want to study and your reasons for studying in the UK. The report of the interview will be sent to the caseworker who makes the decision on your Student application. They must be satisfied that you are a genuine student, and that your English language ability is at the correct level, otherwise you might be called for a further interview and/or your entry clearance application may be refused. 

If you are asked to attend an interview, you may wish to contact your institution beforehand in case they are able to help you prepare for your interview. 

Most Student route applicants will receive a 90-day vignette (sticker) in their passport. You use this to travel to the UK. You will also receive evidence of your full permission for the UK in a digital status format called an eVisa. You will be able to access this through your UKVI account.

EEA nationals who have used the UK Immigration: ID Check app receive their permission in the form of an eVisa and will not receive a vignette. This digital status can be shared with anyone who needs to check your permission. 

If your visa application is for six months or less, your vignette may be valid for your whole stay in the UK. Otherwise, the vignette in your passport will be valid for 90 days. 

Whether you receive your visa as a physical vignette in your passport or as an eVisa, you should receive a decision letter with it. This may be in the form of a physical letter or an email. It is important that you keep this somewhere safe as it is proof of your grant of permission, and carries details of the conditions of your permission.

Your Student permission will start from a maximum of one month before the start date of your course, or seven days before your intended date of travel as specified in your application, whichever is later.  

It's important to note that if the intended date of travel you stated on your application form was less than one month before the course start date listed on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), then you will not be granted the maximum period of immigration permission possible before the start of your course. Instead, your immigration permission will start seven days before the intended travel date on your Student route application. You would not be able to travel to the UK before the date that you stated in the application. 

If your course is not a pre-sessional English programme, and it is less than six months long, your permission will start seven days before your course start date. 

The end date of your Student permission will depend on the length of the course. It always includes some extra time after the end of the course, sometimes called the ‘wrap-up period’.  

It is important to confirm you have been given the correct amount of leave as per the table below (taken from ST 25.3 of Appendix Student): 

It is important that you check all the details are correct on your eVisa and decision letter as soon as you receive it.

Make sure all these details are accurate: 

• Your name, date and place of birth. 
• Your picture.
• That you have immigration permission under the Student or Child Student route. 
• That the start and end dates are correct. 
• The conditions (i.e., work conditions).

The Home Office requires you to have any errors amended and requires your Student sponsor to notify them if a student has been given the incorrect conditions. It is important to note that your eVisa is a digital representation of your immigration status. If your eVisa has an error, it is important to understand whether how your status is being displayed is incorrect, or whether a caseworking error was made on your application and your actual permission is incorrect. 

You should make sure you are familiar with how much leave you should be receiving, what your work conditions should be, and what route you have applied under to be able to make this distinction. If you received an email outlining your successful application, you should have also received a decision letter. This may be an attachment in this email. This should outline the length of the permission and its conditions. 

If any of the details are incorrect, you should submit an eVisa correction. Our eVisa page provides more details on this.

You can also seek advice from the international student advice team at your Student sponsor.   

Applicants will receive their full immigration permission for the UK in the form of an eVisa. We have an eVisa webpage that outlines commonly asked questions about digital status and what to do in case there are any errors.

eVisas require you to register for a UKVI account before being able to access them. You should be invited to complete this process upon your immigration application being successful. Once you have registered for a UKVI account, you will be able to login and view your permission at any time. You must keep your passport details up-to-date in your account so that your eVisa remains accurate. 

You will be able to use the View and Prove service to demonstrate your permission to third parties in the UK (i.e., educational institutions, landlords, or employers). The service generates share codes that you can give to third parties to securely share proof of your immigration status in the UK. 

• Your application was refused on grounds of deception, breach of conditions, or overstaying your previous leave.
• Your application was refused on the grounds that it was submitted outside of the permitted time limits.
• The Home Office made an incorrect decision to not request additional evidence under paragraph 245AA of the Immigration Rules. This paragraph states that the Home Office can request missing documents if you submitted necessary documents but a document did not contain all the specified information or a document was in the wrong format (for example, if a letter was not on letterhead paper as specified) or evidence was missing.

You cannot submit a new entry clearance application at the same time as requesting an administrative review of an earlier entry clearance application. If you make a new visa application while you have an administrative review pending, then your administrative review will automatically be withdrawn.

If you make a further application for immigration permission, you are likely to be asked whether you have ever been refused immigration permission in the past. It is very important that you do declare any refusals, as requested.

If your visa is refused, your application fee will not be refunded. However, if you have paid the immigration health surcharge then this will be refunded.