SHORT-TERM STUDY VISA
11 Month Visa
You can apply for a Short-term study visa to study English language in the UK.
This visa is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months.
If your course is different to this, check which visa you need.
You can stay in the UK for the length of your course plus an extra 30 days as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months.
It costs £200 for a Short-term study visa.
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online application. It usually costs £470.
This is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
Check how much you’ll need to pay before you apply.
You cannot:
You must be 16 or older to apply.
You must prove that:
If you’re under 18 you must also:
Your English language course must be with an ‘accredited institution’.
This can be either:
An accredited institution must either have a student sponsor licence or have a valid accreditation and be listed by one of the following:
You can also apply for a Short-term study visa if you’re studying at an overseas higher education institution and part of your English language course is in the UK.
Your institution must:
When you apply you must provide:
You also need to provide:
You must provide written proof of the course you’re studying. For example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:
If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:
You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or older).
You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or your legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to:
They also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, including:
Your parent, guardian or school must tell the relevant local authority about your visit if either of the following are true:
You should provide a reply from the local authority if you have one.
If you travel to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or older), you need to identify them in your visa application.
Their name will appear on your visa, and you’ll be refused entry to the UK if you arrive in the UK without them.
You can identify up to 2 adults in your visa application, and your visa will only be valid if you travel with at least one of them.
The adult can apply for a visa at the same time, but you must each complete separate applications.
This route is only for students who apply for entry clearance to do an English language course between six and 11 months long. For study of up to six months, you may instead be able to undertake this under the visitor route.
Am I eligible to apply for immigration permission as a short-term student?
You must have immigration permission in this category before you come to the UK (entry clearance). You can apply for entry clearance from any country outside the UK, but you must have permission to be in the country from which you apply.
Page 11 of the short-term students caseworker guidance also outlines the criteria for accredited institutions.
If the course is up to six months, you cannot use this route and should instead check to see if you are eligible to study the course as a visitor.
This information is for you if you are currently outside the UK and you want to come to study in the UK as a 'short-term student' because either:
This information explains what you need to do to get immigration permission in order to come to study in the UK as a 'short-term student', what you must do if you have it and what to do if you are refused permission.
If you are granted immigration permission
If you are successful, you will get immigration permission for 11 months.
You will get a vignette (stamp in your passport) for 90 days, and then when you arrive in the UK you will need to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) from a post office or from your institution (if they have arranged with the Home Office for the BRPs to be sent to them. You will be given entry clearance showing a 90-day window in which to enter the UK. You will need to follow the instructions on the accompanying letter about how to collect your Biometric Residence Permit. This usually needs to be collected before the date on your vignette expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later.
Requirements you must meet while you are in the UK
See 'Applying for entry clearance' for information about the requirements you need to meet when making your immigration application.
While in the UK, you must only study on the course for which you were granted permission.
You must intend to leave the UK within 30 days of the end of your study (if it is before the date your immigration permission ends). If you do not leave the UK within this time, it could affect any future immigration applications to the UK (such applications could be refused and a time-bar applied if the Home Office believes you exercised deception about your intention in your short-term student immigration application). If your study (as stated in the letter you presented to the Home Office as part of your short-term student immigration application) continues until the date that your immigration permission ends, you must leave the UK no later than the date your immigration permission ends.
The condition to register with the police (known as 'police registration') was given to people of certain nationalities who come to the UK for more than six months. On 5 August 2022, the Home Office announced to UKCISA and other education sector stakeholders that it was abolishing the requirement to register with police with immediate effect. The Immigration Rules were updated to reflect this on 9 November 2022. Any police registration condition imposed before 9 November 2022 ceases to have effect on that date. This includes registration, reporting changes of address and any other related matters.
As a short-term student, you cannot do any kind of work, work placement or work experience during your studies in the UK. In addition, you cannot engage in any business or professional activities in the UK. If you want to be allowed to work in the UK during your studies, you will need to apply to enter the UK as a Student or in another appropriate immigration category instead.
Short-term students are not allowed to apply to switch into any other immigration category while still in the UK, or extend their permission as a short-term student. If you wish to continue studying in the UK after your entitlement to remain in the UK as a short-term student has ended, you will need to return home and apply for entry clearance as a Student, or in another appropriate immigration category. However, there is a requirement that you should not intend to make the UK your main home. Frequent and successive use of this route may suggest that you are.
You have no recourse to 'public funds'. 'Public funds' are defined in paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules as a list of specific benefits available. When applying for immigration permission to enter the UK, you must provide evidence that there is sufficient money available for your maintenance and accommodation, without having to claim any of these benefits - see applying for entry clearance.
What to do if your application is refused
There is a right to a apply for an administrative review of a refused application under the short-term student route. If you are refused, you will need to decide between one of the following two options:
If this is successful, you will no longer have refusal on your immigration record, but should declare it on future immigration applications if asked about refusals, explaining it was overturned. The problem with this process is that it could take some time, which could mean you miss the start date of your course.
STANDARD VISITOR VISA
6 Month Visa
You can come to the UK as a Standard Visitor:
You may not have to apply for a visa. What you need to do depends on your nationality and what you plan to do in the UK.
Check if you need to apply for a UK visa.
Your application will not be accepted and you will not get a refund if you have the right of abode in the UK (for example you’re a British citizen). You need to apply for a certificate of entitlement instead.
You can visit the UK to do certain activities, for example visiting friends and family or attending a conference.
You cannot:
Read the guidance for more information about what you can and cannot do with a Standard Visitor visa.
You’ll need to prove that you meet the eligibility requirements, for example that you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit.
You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months (£95 fee).
You might be able to stay for longer if:
If you’re staying in the UK for longer than 6 months, you must collect your biometric residence permit when you arrive. You may also have to take a tuberculosis test as part of your application depending on where you come from.
You can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years if you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit.
If you’re under 18 years old when you apply, your long-term Standard Visitor visa will only be valid for up to 6 months after you turn 18. You cannot get a refund on the fee.
If you need a visa, you must apply online before you come to the UK.
As part of your application, you’ll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity and provide your documents.
Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.
The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application.
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.
A Standard Visitor visa costs £95.
The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:
You cannot switch from a Standard Visitor visa to another type of visa.
You can only extend your stay for specific reasons, for example needing further private medical treatment.
If you want a visa to do something other than visiting, for example work or longer-term study, you’ll need to leave the UK and make a new application.
You can visit the UK to do different activities. You must meet the eligibility requirements for the things you want to do.
You can visit the UK to:
You can visit the UK for many different business reasons, including attending meetings, conferences, trade fairs or negotiating contracts.
You can do certain business activities with UK employees of the company you work for overseas, for example provide training or share knowledge on internal projects.
Check the Visitor Rules for the full list of business activities you can do as a Standard Visitor and any additional eligibility requirements.
If you’re being paid by a UK organisation to visit as an expert in your profession, you should apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa.
You can visit the UK to study for up to 6 months at an accredited institution, this includes English language courses.
You can also do:
If you want to study longer you’ll need to apply for a:
If you’re from an academic institution overseas, you can:
If you’re a senior doctor or dentist you can also:
You can visit the UK if you want to have private medical treatment at a hospital or other medical facility.
You can also visit to donate an organ to a family member or close friend. This includes being assessed for suitability as a donor match.
You can pass through the UK to another country as a Standard Visitor.
If transiting is your only reason for coming to the UK, then you may apply for a Transit visa instead.
You must show that:
You must prove one of the following:
You must already be enrolled on a course that is the equivalent of a UK degree, before applying to do research or a placement in the UK.
To study or research certain subjects, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. You need to apply for the ATAS certificate before starting your course.
You can stay in the UK for up to 12 months if you’re applying as an academic. You must prove you’re:
You must prove that you:
You can only visit the UK to donate organs to:
You must prove that the person you’re donating an organ to is legally allowed to be in the UK.
You must prove that you’ll only ever be coming to the UK to visit and that you plan to leave at the end of each visit.
You may be given a visa for a shorter period than requested if you do not do this. You will not get a refund of the application fee if you get a shorter visa or your application is refused.
Your visa may be cancelled if your travel history shows you are repeatedly living in the UK for extended periods.
You must provide a passport or travel document. Your passport should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and contain a blank page for your visa.
You’ll be told what other documents and information to provide when you apply online.
You must provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
You’ll need to provide the following information:
You might also need to provide:
You must provide specific documents if you’re applying to visit the UK to:
Read the full list of supporting documents for more information.
You may visit the UK if you’re under 18 and:
You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone over the age of 18).
Your parent or guardian will need to provide their:
They’ll also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, including:
Your parent, guardian or school must tell the relevant local authority about your visit if you’re both of the following:
You should provide a reply from the local authority if you have one.
The same rules apply to education exchange visits that last for more than 28 days, unless:
There are different rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read the guidance for more information.
When travelling to the UK with an adult (someone over the age of 18), you’ll need to identify them in your visa application.
If the person you’re travelling with is not your parent, you’ll need to provide specific information about them in your application.
You can identify up to 2 adults in your visa application. Their names will appear on your visa.
The adult can apply for a visa at the same time, but you must each complete separate applications.
If you arrive in the UK without the person named in your visa, you’ll need to show that your parent or guardian consents to your travel and accommodation arrangements.
If you need a visa, you must apply online before you travel to the UK.
Check what documents you’ll need to apply.
As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre. You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment.
Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.
The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application.
Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.
You may be able to extend your stay as long as the total time you spend in the UK as a visitor is no more than 6 months.
For example if you have been in the UK as a visitor for 3 months, you can apply to extend your stay for 3 more months.
Read the guidance to find out if you can extend your visit.
You must apply while you’re still in the UK and before your current visa expires.
You can only apply to extend your stay as a visitor for over 6 months if you’re:
If you did not need a visa for the first 6 months of your visit, you’ll need to apply for permission to stay longer and pay the fee.
You can apply to extend your stay for a further 6 months if you:
You must also get a medical practitioner or NHS consultant who’s registered in the UK to provide:
If you want to extend your stay as an academic visiting the UK, you must prove you:
You can stay in the UK for up to 12 months in total.
You can extend your stay in the UK to retake the PLAB test.
You must provide written confirmation from the General Medical Council that you are sitting the test.
You can stay up to 6 months to retake the test.
If you’re successful in the PLAB test, you can apply to extend your stay to do an unpaid clinical attachment. You must not treat patients.
You must provide written confirmation of your clinical attachment offer and confirm you’ve not done one in the UK before.
You can stay in the UK for up to 18 months in total.
You must apply online before your current visa expires.
Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.
