Making your Student Visa application inside the UK requires planning and preparation. We've put together guidance and information to help make your application go as smoothly as possible.
The information on this page guides you on the process of submitting your Student Visa application from within the UK. If you are submitting your Student Visa application from outside of the UK, the application form and process is different – see our guidance on applying from outside of the UK instead.
Are you eligible to apply inside the UK?
If you plan to make your Student Visa application in the UK, you should check that this is possible.
- If you are starting a new course and there is more than 28 days between your current Student Visa expiring and your new course starting, you will not be able to make an application inside the UK
- If you are starting a new course, but you have not successfully completed your previous programme, you will not normally be able to make a new Student Visa application inside the UK
- If you hold certain types of immigration permission, you cannot make a Student Visa application in the UK. See the gov.uk guidance on who can switch to the Student Visa from within the UK
If you are not eligible to apply for a visa from within the UK, you will need to leave the UK and apply from your home country.
The Student Visa application form
To apply for a Student Visa from within the UK, you will need to complete the online form. Once you have created an online account, you can access your application at any time and complete it at your convenience.
During the application process, you will need to scan and upload your supporting documents.
When you have completed the application form, there are some fees you will need to pay in order to finalise your visa application:
- Immigration health surcharge
- Visa application fee
- Biometric enrolment fee (this applies to some people, not all)
Biometric Enrolment and UK Immigration ID Check App
At the end of the visa application, you will be asked to book an appointment at a UKVCAS Service Point, to provide your biometric information. You can choose one of the 6 free 'core' service points, or for an additional charge you can select an 'enhanced' or 'premium' service point.
If you have given your biometric data in an application made in the UK before, you may be given the option to use the ID verification app to verify your ID, instead of needing to book an appointment. For more information on using the ID check app, see the gov.uk website.
If you are advised that you must attend an appointment, you will need to present your passport to confirm your identity. We recommend that you take all of your supporting documents with you to the appointment, just in case there have been any issues when you uploaded them.
After you have confirmed your ID by one of the 2 methods above, your visa application will be processed. You can keep your documents, including your passport, whilst your application is pending.
Application fee and method of application
The basic fee for a standard in-country Student Visa application is £490. There is an additional fee of £500 if you use the priority service, or £1000 for the super priority service.
Please note that in addition to the visa application fee, you will also need to pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge and biometric enrolment fee. See below for further information about these charges.
Unless you choose to attend an enhanced or premium UKVCAS service point, you should not need to pay any additional charges for your visa application. If you attend an enhanced or premium service point, there will be an additional charge for the appointment itself. This will be detailed in your application form and should be between £60-£125, depending on the day and time of the appointment.
The application system can be confusing. If you notice other additional fees in the application process, and you are not sure what they are for, or if you need assistance with submitting your application, you can contact the International Student Advice Service for advice.
Immigration Healthcare surcharge
As part of your online Student Visa application, you will need to pay a fee for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS). For a Student Visa, from 06 February 2024 the charge is £776 per year for the duration of your visa. Please refer to the UKVI information about the healthcare surcharge for more details.
Paying this charge will provide you with full access to the National Heath Service (NHS) whilst you are in the UK.
Dependants
If you are applying with dependants (your spouse, civil partner, partner or children), you need to confirm this in the application form. When you confirm that you have dependant(s), an additional section of the form will be displayed, where you can complete their details.
Find out more in our guidance about applying with dependants.
Your Immigration Status after you apply
If f you submit your new visa application before the expiry date of your old or current visa, you will be lawfully resident in the UK regardless of the length of time it takes UKVI to decide your application. This action is also referred to as making an in-time visa application.
Your application must also be valid in addition to being submitted in time. To check that your application is valid, please see the section on the validity requirements for a student explained in Appendix ST of the Immigration Rules.
When you make an in-time valid visa application, a provision known as section 3C kicks in to protect your immigration status in the UK after the expiry date of your visa has passed and whilst you wait for your new application to be decided. This means that you can continue to live and work in the UK legally under the conditions of your old leave until your new visa application is decided. For more information on the immigration conditions that are extended where section 3C applies, please see the 3C Leave Guidance.
It is important to note that you must not travel outside the UK whilst your application is pending as if you do, your application will be automatically treated as cancelled. You must ensure that you have received a decision on your application and have also received your BRP by post or access to prove your immigration status digitally before you travel outside the UK.
Advice on your visa application
We recommend getting advice before making your application, to maximise your chances of success and reduce the likelihood of any problems. If you would like free and confidential guidance and advice about submitting your Student Visa application, contact the International Student Advice Service.
Additionally, the UKCISA website has some helpful guidance on making a Student Visa application in the UK.