Entry Clearance / Visas

If your course is less than 6 months (see below).

• You must have a visa (for nationals of the countries on the UK Border Agency webpages: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals or the EU Uniform Format Residence Permit (which does NOT entitle the bearer to permanent residence). You must have these before entry into the UK.
• Without entry clearance you may not be allowed entry into the UK. In recent years a student from USA was turned back by UK immigration because he did not have entry clearance.
• You cannot use your visa/permit more than 1 month before your course starts. Check validity before booking travel tickets.

Visa National student applicants - list of visa nationals:

www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals

You must have a visa, even if you will be coming for 6 months or less.

Six months or less in the UK

Visa nationals must have a visa, even if coming to the UK for 6 months or less. You must apply for a student visa/entry clearance before you leave home.

Student Visitor

1. If you are not a visa national and you are coming to the UK for a maximum of 6 months, you can get a category of visa called ‘student visitor’. We strongly advice that you apply for this before you leave home. It is possible to get this from immigration officials at the airport/port of entry but there are often problems if you request this visa on arrival. If you already have the visa, there should be no hold up on entry.
2. If you are a visa national, you must apply for a student visitor visa before travelling to the UK.
   
   The student Visitor Visa is suitable for some short-stay students but there are restrictions (see below)

If you have a student visitor visa, you cannot:

• work part-time
• apply to extend your stay in the UK