Passport and visa requirements

Legal documents you will need

Student portrait

If you want to study on a course that lasts longer than six months

Everyone who wants to come to the UK to study on a course that lasts longer than six months must apply for a visa under Tier 4 of the Points-Based System (PBS). You will need a valid passport to do so. If you do not have one you should apply for one as soon as possible.

To obtain a visa, the educational institution where you want to study must be on the UKBA Register of Sponsors.

There have been several changes to the Student Category and you should visit the Visa Services guidance page for students for up-to-date information.

If you want to study on a course that lasts six months or less

Non-visa nationals do not need a visa to study in the UK if the duration of the course that you want to study is six months or less. But in some cases you may need an entry clearance certificate.

You can check if you require a visa to study in the UK by using the "Do I need a UK visa?" questionnaire on the UK Border Agency - Visa Services website. This website will also tell you how you should apply for a visa in your country if you need one.

Arrival in the UK

When you arrive in the UK you will speak with an immigration officer who will ask you further questions to confirm the purpose of your visit. They will make sure that you have the correct entry clearance for your visit. You must show certain documents and declare your intentions to the immigration officer. We suggest that you carry with you:

  • your valid passport
  • the correct student visa (if you are a visa national)
  • evidence from the education institution to confirm that you have been unconditionally accepted for a full-time course
  • evidence that you have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself while you are in the UK
  • any other document that you think will be useful.
 

It may take you some time to get these documents so you should start as early as possible.

Guidance information for international students is available from UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs).

You can make further enquiries as to whether you will be able to come to the UK as a student by contacting the Visa Application Centre (VAC), or where there is no VAC, the British Embassy or High Commission, in the country where you live.

BIOMETRICS - All visa applicants are required to submit their biometric details. Click here for more information about biometrics.

Biometric residence permits for foreign nationals

The following information has been provided by the UK Border Agency:

Since 25 November 2008, UKBA has been issuing biometric residence permits (formerly known as 'identity cards for foreign nationals') to non-EEA foreign nationals, and their dependants, who are granted further leave to remain in the UK within certain categories.

The permit is currently issued to a wide range of migrants and their dependants when they apply to extend their stay in the UK. Under current roll-out plans, by April 2011 any migrant extending their stay in the UK or coming here for more than six months will need to apply for a biometric residence permit as part of their immigration application.

As well as showing the holder's photo, name, date of birth, nationality and immigration status, the credit-card sized permit has a secure electronic chip containing their biometric details. Using fingerprint technology and digital facial images, we can lock an individual to a single identity, helping to strengthen border control, prevent identity fraud and illegal working or immigration.

The permit helps to confirm a person's immigration status and eligibility to entitlements in the UK. It will also help employers, educational establishments and other public service providers to understand a migrant's immigration status via a single document.

For further information about biometric residence permits, visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/while-in-uk/do-i-need-id-card/.