Visado y Llegada - Estudiar en el Reino Unido (es)

UK Student Visa and Arrival: Everything You Need to Know

The UK Student visa (formally known as the Student route, replacing the old Tier 4 visa) is your gateway to studying in the Reino Unido. El proceso de solicitud is structured and predictable, but it requires careful preparation of documents, finances, and timing.

Esta guia te acompana en every stage: from understanding eligibility to collecting your Biometric Residence Permit and settling in during your first weeks.

Student Visa Eligibility

To apply for a UK Student visa, debes:

1. Have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed Student sponsor (your university)
2. Have sufficient funds to cover tuition and costes de vida
3. Meet the English language requirement (normalmente demonstrated through your CAS, which records your English qualification)
4. Be al menos 16 years old (for a Student visa; under-16s need a Child Student visa)
5. Have a valid passport for the duration of your stay

Your university must hold a Student sponsor licence from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). All universidades britanicas that recruit estudiantes internacionales hold this licence.

Step-by-Step Visa Application Process

Step 1: Accept your offer and receive your CAS

After receiving an unconditional offer (or meeting the conditions of a conditional offer), accept the offer and pay any required deposit. Your university will then issue your CAS -- an electronic reference number containing your details, course information, and confirmation of qualifications.

Your CAS includes:

• CAS reference number (needed for the visa application)
• Your personal details and passport number
• Course title, level, start and end dates
• Tuition fee amount and any fees already paid
• Evidence of your qualifications used for admission
• Confirmation of English language ability

Consejo: Check every detail on your CAS carefully. Errors in your name, date of birth, or passport number can cause visa delays. Contact your university immediately if anything is incorrect.

Step 2: Gather your documents

Necesitaras the following documents for your visa application:

Essential documents:

Financial evidence must show:

• Funds held for al menos 28 consecutive days ending no mas de 31 days before the visa application date
• The account must be in your name (or your parent/legal guardian's name, with proof of relationship)
• Extractos bancarios or an official bank letter showing the required amount

Step 3: Calculate your financial requirements

The financial requirement has two components:

1. Outstanding tasas de matricula

Your CAS states the total course fee and any amount already paid. Debes show funds to cover the remaining balance (hasta a maximum of one year's fees for multi-year courses).

2. Costes de vida (maintenance)

Example calculation for a Master's student studying in London:

Example for a Bachelor's student outside London (first year):

Accepted forms of financial evidence:

• Personal extractos bancarios (or parent's, with proof of relationship)
• Bank letter on headed paper showing account holder, account number, date, and available funds
• Official financial sponsorship letter from a government or international organization
• Student loan letter from a government or recognized loan provider

Currencies: If funds are in a foreign currency, UKVI uses the OANDA exchange rate on the date of your application to convert to GBP. Ensure you hold slightly more than required to account for exchange rate fluctuations.

Step 4: Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Before submitting your visa application, debes pay the Immigration Health Surcharge:

• Cost: GBP 776 al ano for students
• Duration: Paid for the full length of your visa (e.g., 3 years for a Bachelor's = aproximadamente GBP 2,328)
• Payment: Online at gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
• What it covers: Full access to NHS healthcare (GP, hospital, A&E, salud mental)
• Refund: If your visa is refused, the IHS is automatically refunded

You receive an IHS reference number after payment, which you enter in your visa application form.

Find the right student seguro medico for the UK →

Step 5: Complete the online application

Apply online at gov.uk/student-visa:

1. Create an account on the UK government visa website
2. Complete the application form with personal details, travel history, and course information
3. Enter your CAS reference number
4. Enter your IHS reference number
5. Pay the visa tasa de solicitud: GBP 490 (standard rate from outside the UK)
6. Upload supporting documents
7. Book a biometric appointment

Step 6: Attend your biometric appointment

After submitting your online application, debes attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your country to provide:

• Fingerprints (10 fingers)
• Photograph
• Original documents for verification (passport, qualification certificates, etc.)

Some countries now use the UKVI smartphone app for biometric enrollment, allowing you to scan your passport and take a selfie without visiting a VAC. Check if this esta disponible in your country.

Processing times:

Consejo: Apply for your visa al menos 6 weeks before your course start date. While standard processing takes 3 weeks, delays can occur during peak periods (June-August). Priority processing is worth considering if your timeline is tight.

Step 7: Receive your visa decision

If approved, you receive:

• A vignette (sticker) in your passport valid for 90 days, allowing you to enter the UK
• A decision letter with instructions for collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

If refused, you receive a refusal letter explaining the reasons. Common refusal reasons include insufficient funds, document errors, or discrepancies between your application and CAS.

TB Test Requirements

Debes have a tuberculosis (TB) test before applying if you are from a country on the UK government's TB testing list. This includes most countries in:

• Africa
• Asia (including India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines)
• Parts of South America and Eastern Europe

The test must be conducted at an approved clinic and involves a chest X-ray. Results estan disponibles within a few days, and the certificate is valid for 6 months.

Cost: aproximadamente GBP 50-100 dependiendo de the country and clinic.

Check the full list of countries at gov.uk/tb-test-visa.

ATAS Certificate

Some postgraduate courses in sensitive subjects (como por ejemplo certain engineering, science, and technology programs) require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. Your university will tell you if this applies.

• Apply online at gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme
• Processing takes aproximadamente 30 working days (sometimes longer)
• Apply as soon as you accept your offer -- do not wait until your visa application stage
• The ATAS certificate es gratuito

Arriving en el Reino Unido

When can I arrive?

• Puedes arrive hasta 1 month before your course start date (for courses longer than 6 months)
• For courses of 6 months or less, puedes arrive hasta 1 week before
• Arriving early se recomienda to settle in, attend orientation, and complete administrative tasks

At the UK border

When you arrive at a UK airport or port, you pass through UK Border Force. Have the following ready:

• Valid passport with visa vignette
• CAS confirmation or printout
• Proof of accommodation (residencias universitarias letter or tenancy agreement)
• Financial evidence (in case asked)
• University contact details

Border officers may ask about your studies, course, and plans. Answer honestly and directly. Entry is normalmente straightforward with a valid Student visa.

Collecting your BRP

Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is your physical proof of your right to study and live en el Reino Unido. Debes collect it within 10 days of arriving:

1. Your decision letter specifies a Post Office for collection (normalmente near your university)
2. Bring your passport and the decision letter
3. The Post Office staff will verify your identity and hand over the BRP
4. Check all details on the BRP are correct

Important note: The UK government is transitioning from physical BRPs to eVisas (digital immigration status). BRPs issued after 2024 may have expiry dates of 31 December 2024, but your permiso de inmigracion remains valid. Check your eVisa status online at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.

First Week Checklist

Use this checklist for your first 7-10 days en el Reino Unido:

Day 1-3: Immediate priorities

• Collect BRP from designated Post Office
• Move into accommodation and set up your room
• Buy a UK SIM card (Giffgaff, Three, Voxi, and Lebara are popular student choices)
• Note emergency numbers: 999 (emergency), 111 (NHS non-emergency), your university security number

Day 3-7: Essential admin

• Register with a GP surgery near your accommodation
• Open a UK cuenta bancaria (or set up a digital cuenta bancaria like Monzo)
• Attend university enrollment and orientation events
• Get your student ID card
• Register for your course and access online learning platforms
• Explore campus, locate key buildings (library, student union, department)

Day 7-14: Getting settled

• Register with the police (if required -- your visa/BRP will state this)
• Buy a 16-25 Railcard for train discounts
• Get a student Oyster card (London) or local transport pass
• Attend freshers' fair and join societies
• Set up council tax exemption (your university provides a letter)
• Familiarize yourself with local supermarkets and amenities

Police registration

Nationals of certain countries must register with the police within 7 days of arriving. Your visa or BRP will clearly state if this requirement applies to you. Registration costs GBP 34 and is done at a local police station or designated registration office.

Countries whose nationals normalmente need to register include Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

Consejo: Your university estudiante internacional office normalmente organizes group police registration sessions in the first week, making the process easier.

Visa Conditions and Responsibilities

While studying en el Reino Unido on a Student visa, debes:

• Attend your course and maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Not work mas de 20 horas/semana during periodo lectivo (see Trabajo y Carrera guide)
• Not access public funds (welfare benefits)
• Report changes to your university (address changes, passport renewal, course changes)
• Not switch to some visa categories from within the UK without leaving first

If you withdraw from your course or are suspended, your university must report this to UKVI, and your visa may be curtailed (shortened).

Extending Your Visa

If your course takes longer than expected (e.g., necesitas resit exams or your thesis is delayed), puedes apply to extend your Student visa from within the UK. Necesitaras:

• A new CAS from your university
• Financial evidence (same requirements as the initial application)
• Payment of a new IHS surcharge
• Visa tasa de solicitud (GBP 490)

Apply before your current visa expires. Puedes continue studying while your extension application is being processed.

After Your Course: Graduate Route

Upon completing your degree, you are eligible for the Graduate Route visa, which allows you to stay and work en el Reino Unido for:

• 2 years for Bachelor's and Master's graduates
• 3 years for PhD graduates

The Graduate Route does not require a oferta de trabajo, patrocinio del empleador, or a minimum salary. For full details, see our Trabajo y Carrera guide.

Proximos Pasos

With your visa knowledge in place, continue preparing for your UK journey:

• Living en el Reino Unido -- Arrange accommodation and understand daily life
• Costes y Financiacion -- Finalize your budget and funding arrangements
• Trabajo y Carrera -- Understand derechos laborales and post-study options
• Planifica tus Estudios -- Review your overall timeline
• Admision y Solicitud -- Ensure your CAS and offer are in order
• Why Study en el Reino Unido -- Revisit the key advantages of UK study