Study visas

UKVI are replacing physical documents, such as BRPs and vignettes in passports, with an online record of your immigration status.

You will be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK. You will not need to carry a physical document, except for your passport, which must be registered to your UKVI account. You must keep your passport details up to date in your UKVI account.

Until the 31 December 2024 you will need to continue to carry your BRP when you travel, if you have one.

The benefits of eVisas include: 

• They are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, unlike a physical document.
• You will not need to wait for, or collect, a physical document after your application is decided. You might still need to provide biometric information in person, UKVI will tell you if you need to do this.
• It will be quicker and easier to prove your status at the UK border, and share your status with third parties like your University and landlords.

You can watch a video on what an eVisa is. 

Why do I need a UKVI Account? 

You will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa and share information about your immigration status and conditions, such as your right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service. You do not have to pay to create a UKVI account.

How do I get an eVisa and a UKVI account? 

If you are a student with a BRP expiring on 31 December 2024, you can now create a UKVI account and access your eVisa – you no longer need an invitation from UKVI. You should create your account as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns that an email you receive may not be genuine, please email the International advice team on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk.

Please email the International advice team on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk.

Sign up for updates on this page to keep up to date on when you will be able to access your eVisa.

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

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.

You can update your personal information in your UKVI account, such as your contact details.

Your eVisa will be linked to your passport in your UKVI account. You must keep your passport or ID card details up to date in your UKVI account. You must tell UKVI about any changes, so that your immigration status can be easily identified at the UK border.

You will still need to carry your current passport with you.

If you have any questions about this please email the International Advice Team on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk.

When you apply for the Student visa you must obtain a Valid Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) and meet other requirements.

If you are a continuing student, you can request your CAS via the My LJMU Portal myservices.ljmu.ac.uk ‘CAS Request for Continuing Student’.

New students will have their CAS issued by our International Admissions Team.

Can I apply inside the UK?

Your new course must start within 28 days of your current visa expiring. Check your CAS confirmation of your new course start date.

You must also meet Academic Progression rules you can read more in Appendix Student Section 14 on the Gov.uk website.

You can apply inside the UK as a student, unless you hold immigration status in one of the following categories:

• Visitor
• Short Term Student
• Parent of a child student
• Seasonal worker
• Domestic worker in a private household
• Permission outside the Immigration rules

When should I apply for my Visa?

If you are applying for a new course, you should apply no more than 3 months before the start date of the course. You should apply only once you have completed your previous course.

If you are extending your visa for a course you have already started, you should apply as soon as you meet the requirements for this visa. We would recommend starting to prepare for your visa application at least two months before your visa expiry date and longer if you need to apply for ATAS clearance.

The last date in which you can make an in-time visa application is the date your visa expires. The International Student Advice Team would not advise waiting so late, just in case of any issues with validity of your application (please see next section ‘Making a Valid Application’)

Do not worry if your visa expiry date passes and you have not received a decision. If you have submitted a valid visa in time (so by your visa expiry date) you can lawfully remain in the UK while you are awaiting your decision.

Where to apply for your Student Visa

You make your online application via the government website.

To complete the application you will need to pay:

• The Immigration Health Surcharge. This is £776 a year (and per dependant if applicable). If you are applying for a period of extension of 6 months or less you will be charged £338

• Your application fee which is £490 per applicant (and per dependant if applicable)

How much does the application cost?

The visa application costs £490 for the Standard application. You may be able to pay more to get a faster decision.

Please note:
Although the Standard Services take 8 weeks as long as you pay and submit your visa application prior to your current visa expires, you can continue to stay lawfully in the UK for your decision regardless of how long it may take.

Enrolling your biometrics

Most applicants will be required to provide their biometrics as part of the application process. If you have previously submitted your biometrics to UKVI, you may be directed to use the UK Immigration: ID Check App to complete your application.

If you are not eligible to use the app, you should be directed to the UKVCAS website.

All UKVCAS Service points offer free appointments now (apart from the Premium lounges) although these get booked up very quickly. Currently, free appointments are released at 9am every day. You can read more on the

• You will then either need to upload your documents, or you can take them along to the Centre, however you will be charged a fee if you upload your documents at the Centre
• You DO NOT need to post anything so your passport remains with you.
• There is also an option to purchase ‘add on’ services from UKVCAS but most students will not need these.

Supporting document checklist

Please note this is a general guidance list. Please check your UKVI account for a list of documents you will need to submit to support your application.

• Your completed Student Route online form
• Your passport (and previous passports if applicable)
• Your Biometrics Residence Permit (if applicable)
• Your CAS letter
• Documents of previous qualifications if they are listed on your CAS
• Acceptable translations (if any documents are not in English or Welsh)*
• Your ATAS Certificate (if applicable)

Please note:
If either a Government or Scholarship agency was sponsoring you within last 12 months but this has now ended, you will need their written consent to extend your visa.

What is an acceptable translation?

If any of your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must also provide translations.

Each translation must contain:

• confirmation from the translator/translation company that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the full name and original signature of the translator, or of an authorised official of the translation company
• the contact details of the translator or translation company; and
• (if you are already in the UK and applying for further leave) certificate by a qualified translator and details of
• the translator or translation company’s credentials

ATAS

• For some courses, you are required to get ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance. You should make sure you do this in plenty of time.
• Your LJMU Offer Letter will state if you need to apply for ATAS. If you are, you will need to do this before LJMU will issue you with a CAS.
• ATAS applications can be made using the governments academic technology approval scheme

Exemption from Maintenance Requirements

Please note:
If you have had a UK visa for 12 months prior to the date of your application, you do not need to prove that you have money to support yourself. You also do not need to prove your finances if you are applying a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.

If you are not exempt from meeting the maintenance requirements, you will need to show:

• Evidence of your bank statements (or other financial document) covering 28 days and no more than 31 days old at the time of application
• If you are a sponsored student you will need an official financial sponsorship letter

Financial requirements for Self Sponsored Students

If you are a self-sponsored student and you haven’t had a valid UK visa for 12 months at the time of application, you will need to be able to demonstrate you have enough money in your (or your parents) bank account. You can also use financial evidence in the name of your dependant partner but only if your dependant is applying at the same time as you.

The maintenance fees for living costs for the main applicant are £1023 per month which is capped at 9 months. For example, if you are coming to study for a course of 9 months or more you will need to demonstrate you have £9207 (£1023 x 9 months) along with the full first year’s tuition fee.

If you have paid any of the tuition fee to LJMU and this is written on the CAS or is demonstrated on an official receipt, you can deduct this from the amount you need to show in your bank account.

The money needs to in your account for a minimum of 28 days. The financial evidence you use should be no more than 31 days old at the time you apply.

You can use your parents bank statements also, if you do, you must also show your original birth certificate (officially translated if not in English) along with a letter of support from your parents to say they are happy for you to use their funds.

Evidence you can use to demonstrate your finances:

• Personal Bank Statements
• Letter from your Bank
• Certificate of Deposit
• Loan Letter

Please note:
The monthly figure will increase to £1,136 per month for applications on or after 2 January 2025.

Personal Bank Statements

Your financial evidence should:

• Have your name or your parent’s/legal guardian’s name and the account number
• Be on official stationary or an electronic record
• Be printed or electronic (not handwritten)
• Include the date of the statement
• Include information about the bank, such as contact details or a branch code
• Show transactions and amount held over time

Bank Letter

A bank letter should contain information as above in Bank Statements, although rather than transactions the letter can state the balance and the length of time held (it must be written in the letter you have held the required funds for a minimum of 28 days).

The bank letter should be on headed paper and provide contact details for the bank and be signed by an official from the financial institution.

Certificate of deposit

This is a certificate issued by a bank to confirm that the named person has deposited or invested a specific amount of money. Certificates of deposit are accepted if they meet the following requirements:

• the certificate of deposit must have been issued within 31 days of the date of application
• the certificate of deposit shows that you have held the funds for at least 28 days
• you must be able to access the funds held at any time

Loans

If you are applying for your visa from overseas the loan must be available to you before you travel to the UK. This is unless it is an academic or student loan from your country's national government and will be released to you when you arrive in the UK, or it is a loan for your living costs that is paid to your Higher Education Provider for passing to you.

Any other type of loan will not meet the Student route requirements. If you wish to use money from any other type of loan, you need to transfer the funds to a bank or building society account in your name (or a parent's name) and use one of the other forms of evidence listed above.

Please read Appendix Finance on the government website for information on finance and maintenance requirements:

Evidence from more than one bank account

Where evidence from 2 or more accounts is used, the caseworker should make a decision based on:

• the closing balance of the account that most favours the applicant (providing it falls within the required 31 day period up until the date of application)
• any additional evidence of funds available on the date of that closing balance and at any point during the 28 day period linked to the closing balance used

If you are a Sponsored Student

An official financial sponsor is defined in the guidance as:

• The UK government
• Your home government
• The British Council
• Any international organization
• An international company (the Home Office has not defined ‘international company but it seems to mean a company with a trading presence (an office) in more than one country
• A University
• A UK Independent School

If LJMU is sponsoring you and has included details of this on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) no other documents are needed to show official financial sponsorship

The sponsor letter needs to contain the following information:

• Your name
• The name and contact details of the official financial sponsor
• The date of the letter
• The length of sponsorship
• The amount of money the sponsor is giving you, or a statement that all course fees and living costs will be covered

Please note:
If you official financial sponsor is not covering all of your courses fees and maintenance, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the additional amount.

Differential Agreement (Low Risk Nationals)

If you are a national of a country listed in Paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules there is no need to submit evidence of finances OR qualifications, however the Home Office may ask you at any time to provide them, so you should have all documents ready.

Once you receive your Decision

It can take 8 weeks to receive a decision if you have opted to apply via the Standard Service. Please note the International Advice Team will not be able to request updates from UKVI on your application until the 8 week timeframe has elapsed.

You will receive your Visa decision by email. If successful, you will receive proof of your immigration status either in the form of a physical BRP (Biometrics Residents Permit) or in digital status, as an eVisa. If you are an EU or EEA national or you used the UK Immigration: ID Check app to submit your application, you will receive an eVisa only.

If you have been advised your immigration status will be via online

If you get a new BRP please check that all the information is correct. If you see any errors on it, you will need to report this to UKVI. Please contact internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk for further information.

If everything is Ok with your BRP or eVisa, please email a scanned copy or photograph of your BRP to the My LJMU Portal International Student Documents Upload.

If your visa is refused please contact the International Advice Team on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk for further assistance.

The International Student Advice Team have put together a step by step guide to completing the online visa application inside the UK (PDF, 3.7MB). The guide explains how to answer every question that could appear on the online form.

The International  Student Advice Team have put together a step by step guide to completing the online visa application outside the UK. The guide explains how to answer every question that could appear on the online form. 

Guide to completing the Visa application form (PDF, 6.6MB)

A Standard Visit visa can be used for purposes such as studying a course of less than 6 months, coming to do re-sits, tourism or for your family and friends to come and visit you.

Do I need to apply for a visa before coming to the UK?

If you are a visa national, you will need to apply for a visa (Entry Clearance) prior to arriving in the UK.

If you are a non-visa national, you are not required to apply for a visa prior to arriving in the UK, and can request permission to enter as a visitor at the UK border.

Check online to see if you require a visa.

Where do I apply for my Visit Visa?

If you are a Visa National, you will need to apply for Entry Clearance (a visa) before you can travel to the UK. You should apply no more than 3 months before your intended date of travel. It usually takes around 15 working days to get a decision, although times may vary.

If you are a Non-Visa National, you can still choose to apply for your visa overseas if you wish, or you can enter the UK and apply for permission to enter at the border.

To apply for permission to enter at the UK border, you should carry all relevant evidence showing you meet the Visit visa requirements (see Supporting Document Checklist below) in your hand luggage.

Permission to enter as a visitor granted at the UK border to non-visa nationals is free of charge. An application for prior entry clearance (a visa) standard visit visa costs £115, but there may be additional priority services available for additional services.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

An ETA is advanced permission to travel to the UK. This can be applied for by nationals of certain countries. For information on who can apply, check GOV.UK's guidance about getting an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).

The ETA is applied for before you travel to the UK and once you arrive in the UK you will need to meet the Standard Visitor visa requirements for your visit.

Supporting Document Checklist
if you are coming to study for less than 6 months

• A Valid Passport.
• Letter from LJMU with details of your course.
• If you are undertaking a period of Research, you will need to show evidence you are enrolled on a course overseas that is equivalent to UK Degree Level.
• Evidence of your circumstances at home (for example a letter on headed paper from your home University or from your employer confirming your employment).
• Financial Documents such as bank or building society statements (please see Finances section below).

Supporting Document Checklist
if a family member or friend is coming to the UK to visit you

• A valid passport
• A Student Status letter confirming you are studying at LJMU. You can request this letter via ‘MyLJMU Portal’ in the ‘My Services’ section on the LJMU website.
• If your family member or friend is coming to visit you for Graduation, once you have booked your Graduation, you will receive a confirmation email, which you can print off and use in conjunction with your Status letter.
• If your visitor is financially supporting themselves, they should show evidence, such as bank statements, with enough funds to cover their intended visit (please see Finances section below).
• If you are financially supporting your visitor, your financial evidence.
• Hotel booking or letter from your landlord/accommodation provider.
• Letter from you explaining your relationship to your visitor, length of visit and how long they intend to stay.
• Letter from your visitor explaining why they are visiting and that they intend to return to their home country at the end of the visit.
• A letter from your visitor’s employer or school confirming their status.

Finances

Unlike the student visa which requires you to have a set amount of money in your bank account for a minimum time, there is no set amount of money you or your visitor needs to show to apply for the Standard visit visa.

You or your visitor need to be able to show that you have enough funds to support your visitor for the duration of the trip. This will vary depending on how long the visit it, where you intend to stay (for example with relatives, or in hotel, etcetera.) If you or your visitor are being supported by another person (for example parents), you can provide a letter from them confirming this and evidence that they have sufficient funds to support the visit (bank statements or proof of earnings).

All visitors must satisfy the Genuine Visitor requirements. 

Please see more information about the Standard Visit Visa on GOV.UK and the UKCSIA website.

You can also email internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk for further assistance.

Student and Tier 4 visas are sponsored visas and issued for you to study on the course as stated on your CAS. The visa conditions and length of validity are based on the information about your course of study as stated on your CAS.

In most circumstances, changes to your study circumstances may have an impact on your visa/ immigration status in the UK.

The International Student Team have produced an information sheet with advice and points to consider if you are thinking of making any changes to your studies at LJMU.

Changes to Study Circumstances and Visa Implications (PDF, 386KB)

Information recently shared by BUILA for international students travelling with dependents:

Study Sector Brief v4 Nov 2022 (PDF, 89KB)