Visa, CAS and immigration support

In order to study in the UK you'll need to meet the various visa and immigration conditions outlined by the Home Office. Our team of specialist and experienced international student advisers can help you with guidance on all of these matters.

In this section you will find information on what to do before you start your visa application, how to apply for a visa, what to do when you arrive in the UK and a list of useful links.

Please note: You must ensure that you fully understand and comply with the condition set out in your visa, for example if you are planning to work while you study in the UKBreaching the visa rules could have serious consequences for your immigration status and could affect your right to study in the UK.

Please get in touch if you have any queries or need further support – we are here to help.

Create a UKVI account for your eVisa

The Home Office is digitalising the UK border and immigration system in 2025, physical immigration document such as Biometrics Residence Permits (BRPs) and visa vignettes are being phased out and will be replaced by an eVisa.

For more information, please visit GOV.UK/eVisa

Important update about eVisas

The UK Government has announced significant changes to the eVisa rollout timetable.

The validity of expiring BRPs will now be extended until at least 31 March 2025, with this date subject to ongoing review. It means that BRPs that expire on or after 31 December 2024 will be accepted as valid evidence of permission to travel.

We would still encourage you to create an account and access your eVisa before the end of this year.

For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website 

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status, you can access your eVisa by creating a UKVI account.

Using an eVisa is completely free and it does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your stay in the UK.

Create a UKVI account for your eVisa

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) expiring on 31 December 2024

BRPs are issued with an end date of 31 December 2024 even though your immigration permission goes beyond this date. You will not be issued with a new BRP afterwards and you do not need to contact Home Office to correct this date.

Before your BRP expires, you must create a UKVI account and link your current passport or travel document to your account.

Watch this video guide for more information about how to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and access your eVisa.

How to access your eVisa

If you do not already have a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, you will be asked to:

This information will be used to link your eVisa to your UKVI account. You'll get an email to let you know when you can access your eVisa in your account.

Create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

To create your UKVI account you will need:

  • access to a smartphone
  • a mobile phone number *
  • an email address *
  • your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card **

Create your UKVI account

* Please make sure you provide a phone number and email address which you can access anytime. You will need them each time you use your eVisa to prove your immigration status.

** If your BRP card has been lost or stolen, you can use your travel document, such as a passport, and your visa application reference number to create your UKVI account. Your visa application number is the global web form (GWF) or unique application number (UAN) from your visa application. You can no longer request a replacement BRP card.

 

Confirm your identity

After creating your UKVI account, you will be directed to download the ‘UK Immigration ID Check' app to scan your BRP.

Once the scanning is complete, you will be directed back to confirm the following:

  • your BRP or application number
  • your location
  • contact preferences
  • account security questions

Link your BRP to your UKVI account

When your UKVI account is created, you can log in to link your BRP and current passport to your account.

The linking is not instant, it may take a few days to complete. When your eVisa is ready to view, you will receive an email from Home Office, you can then log in to your UKVI account to access your eVisa.

You can prove your immigration status to others such as landlords or employers by logging in to your UKVI account and generating a share code.

Watch this video on how to prove your immigration status using your eVisa.

Keep your details updated

You should keep your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account updated.

If you have created your UKVI account with your passport, please add your BRP details to your account, and vice versa.

If you have renewed your passport, please make sure you add the new passport details to your account.

Travel to the UK

You should continue to carry your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with you when you travel internationally until it expires.

Keep your expired BRP card as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK. You may also want it for your personal records.

In future, you will be able to use your eVisa to travel to the UK with your valid passport. Before you travel, please login to your UKVI account and check that your passport details are up to date and visa details are correct.

As it may take some time for any updates to be reflected, please leave yourself sufficient time to check these details.

Watch this video to understand how to travel with your eVisa.

Assistance available

If you have a question about creating your UKVI account and getting access to your eVisa, please contact the Home Office about getting access to your eVisa. (Click on the green "Start now" button at the bottom of the page, to access the Home Office chat service.)

Before you apply for a visa

Please read the information on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website before making your visa application.

Check if you need a visa

You may need a visa to study in the UK if you are an international or EU/EEA student coming to Kingston University.

EU/EEA students

On the 1 July 2021, the immigration rules changed for most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens studying in the UK. 

Request your CAS

Before you apply for a visa, you must request a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and upload your documents to OSIS. 

Apply for ATAS

If you study a science and engineering course, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

Bringing dependants to the UK

What about students who apply before 17 July 2023 to bring dependants on courses starting after 1 January 2024?

Their application will be dealt with under the rules in force at the time they submitted their application.

What do you mean by postgraduate research?

A research-based higher degree means a postgraduate programme comprising a research component (including a requirement to produce original work) that is larger than any accompanying taught component when measured by student effort. Please refer to the list of research degrees offered at Kingston University.

Will students on professional doctorates be able to bring dependants?

Students who hold permission for a course of study which the provider has confirmed is a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree will be able to bring dependants.

What about two-year integrated programmes with an integrated pre-master and research master programme?

These students will still be able to bring dependants. The course level on the CAS must reflect the exit qualification.

Can dependants of students who have started their course in autumn 2023, come into the UK after January 2024?

The changes will affect students who are starting their courses from 1 January 2024 onwards.

These changes will not affect dependants of overseas students where the student is already in the UK on their course of study.

Those starting a taught postgraduate course in the autumn will still be able to have dependants join them after January 2024 (where the other requirements of the rules are met).

Can dependants extend their permission to stay in the UK if the student needs more time to complete their course, but the course is no longer eligible for dependants?

Dependants that are already in the UK can extend their permission if the main applicant is granted further leave to remain under the Student Route.

Can dependants still work?

The rules around dependant work rights have remained the same.

Family members of a student can work (in line with UK employment law) in the UK except when:

  • they are being granted leave as a dependant after previously being the student's dependant when the student had permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer and the student is now applying for permission to study a new full-time course that is less than 9 months in length (unless the student is continuing a course of study on which they had previously been granted at least 9 months permission for)
  • they are being granted leave as a dependant after previously being the student's dependant when the student had permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer and the student is now applying for permission to study a new full-time course below degree level

A person with leave as the dependant partner of a student cannot take employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach).

Is the Graduate Route impacted by these changes?

There is no change to the Graduate Route. Dependants already in the UK as a student dependant may apply as a dependant of a graduate at the same time as the applicant.

When you arrive in the UK

Biometric Residence Permit

Important information about your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Comply with visa requirements

It is essential that you comply with the conditions of your visa. If you have any visa or immigration queries please get in touch.

Working in the UK

Work while you study

There are strict rules in place for students who wish to work while they study. You must follow the conditions set out in your visa.

Work on a course placement

You can choose an optional work placement with some of our postgraduate courses. Find out how the visa rules affect your placement.

Work when you graduate

Some international students are able to apply for a work based visa when they graduate from their course. 

Switching to work visas

Why has UKVI stopped students switching to the Skilled Worker Route part way through their course?

The main purpose of the Student Route is to enable applicants to undertake a course of study within the UK. We want to ensure that applicants are coming to the UK to study rather than to work. There are other routes available for those whose primary focus is to work.

What if I have applied to switch before the rules change?

Applications made before the changes will be assessed under the rules in force at the date of application.

When can a student on a student visa switch into the Skilled Work Route?

Students must come to the end of their course before they are permitted to switch to the Skilled Worker Route. The start date on their Certificate of Sponsorship for the work route must be no earlier than their course completion date. They can, as now, apply to switch up to three months before their Certificate of Sponsorship start date.

PhD students will be permitted to switch into the Skilled Worker Route after they have completed 24 months towards their PhD.

We are here to help

You can speak to our team of friendly and experienced specialist immigration advisers if you have questions about visa requirements and immigration for students – we are here to help.

You can, for example, get advice on how to apply for a visa and find out if you are allowed to work in the UK or travel abroad while you study at Kingston University. 

We offer

  • email and telephone advice;
  • one-to-one appointments;
  • drop-ins;
  • visa workshops for enrolled students.
We are here to help

Contact us

If you have any queries or need further support, please get in touch with the Visa and Immigration Team – we are here to help.