Student Visitors
Who is the student visitor category for?
Do I need to apply for a visa before I come?
Leave to Enter (non-visa nationals)
Entry Clearance as a student visitor
Guide to documents needed to come to the UK as a student visitor
Who is the student visitor category for?
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who are coming to the UK to study a course of six months or less will usually apply in the student visitor category. Student visitors must not do any work, paid or unpaid, and they will not be able to extend their visa in the UK.
Summer Schools
If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national coming to a Summer School programme, such as the Irish Studies International Summer School or other similar programme that lasts a short time and does not lead to a recognised qualification, you MUST come to the UK as a student visitor.
Distance Learning Programmes
If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national on a Distance Learning programme and you come to the University for only short periods of time, for example, to meet with your supervisor, you should come as a student visitor. Distance Learning students must apply for a new student visitor visa each time they wish to visit the UK. You should contact us as early in advance of your anticipated visit to the UK as possible.
Erasmus/Study Abroad Programmes
If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national coming to Queen's to study a semester abroad (less than six months) which will count towards your degree from your home institution, you can come to the UK as a student visitor OR a Tier 4 student. The benefits of coming as a student visitor instead of as a Tier 4 student are:
- You will not be subject to any of the Tier 4 obligations;
- Applying as a student visitor is less expensive than the Tier 4 route;
- If you are a non-visa national you will not have to apply for entry clearance;
- The application requirements for applying as a student visitor are not as rigid as Tier 4;
- You are likely to be given a visa of six months in length, while under Tier 4 you will be granted the length of your course plus one week before and one week after.
However, as a student visitor you will not be permitted to do any work, paid or unpaid, even as a placement on your course. Also, you will not have the option of extending your visa from inside the UK and you must leave by the end of your visa.
If your course involves a work placement you must apply under Tier 4.
Viva Voce Exams
Students who are returning to the University to complete a thesis or undertake a viva voce exam may be able to do so using a student visitor visa. However, you must be certain that you will be able to complete your course within six months as you will not be permitted to extend your visa from within the UK.
Do I need to apply for a visa before I come?
If you are a national of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland you DO NOT need a visa before you travel to the UK.
If you apply and are granted a visa before you come to the UK your visa is known as an 'Entry Clearance' visa. Some nationalities, known as 'visa nationals' (see the list below) must apply for Entry Clearance before they travel to the UK, but other nationalities, known as 'non-visa nationals' can apply for 'Leave to Enter' (i.e. permission to enter) when they reach a UK port of entry.
However, we strongly recommend that all students apply for Entry Clearance before coming to the UK as, should you encounter any difficulty when you reach the UK port of entry, you will have permission to remain in the UK to appeal against a decision to refuse entry. If you do not have prior Entry Clearance and you encounter any difficulty when you reach the UK port of entry you will not be permitted to stay to appeal a negative decision.
The following nationalities are 'visa nationals' and must apply for a visa before travelling to the UK
| Afghanistan | Ecuador | Lesotho | Sierra Leone |
| Albania | Egypt | Liberia | Somalia |
| Algeria | Equatorial Guinea | Libya | South Africa |
| Angola | Eritrea | Macau | Sri Lanka |
| Armenia | Ethiopia | Macedonia | Sudan |
| Azerbaijan | Fiji | Madagascar | Surinam |
| Bahrain | Gabon | Malawi | Swaziland |
| Bangladesh | Gambia | Mali | Syria |
| Belarus | Georgia | Mauritania | Taiwan (except holders of a Taiwan passport which includes the number of the ID card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan |
| Benin | Ghana | Moldova | Tajikistan |
| Bhutan | Guinea | Mongolia | Tanzania |
| Bolivia | Guinea Bissau | Montenegro | Thailand |
| Bosnia Herzegovina | Guyana | Morocco | Togo |
| Burkina Faso | Haiti | Mozambique | Tunisia |
| Burma | India | Nepal | Turkey |
| Burundi | Indonesia | Niger | Turkmenistan |
| Cambodia | Iran | Nigeria | Uganda |
| Cameroon | Iraq | Oman | Ukraine |
| Cape Verde | Ivory Coast | Pakistan | United Arab Emirates |
| Central African Republic | Jamaica | Palestinian Territories | Uzbekistan |
| Chad | Jordan | Peru | Vatican City |
| People's Republic of China (except holders of a passport issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or Macao Special Administrative Region) | Kazakhstan | Philippines | Venezuela (except holders of a Venezuelan passport which contains biometric information held in an electronic chip) |
| Colombia | Kenya | Qatar | Vietnam |
| Comoros | Korea (North) | Russia | Yemen |
| Congo | Kosovo | Rwanda | Zambia |
| Cuba | Kuwait | Sao Tome e Principe | Zimbabwe |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kyrgyzstan | Saudi Arabia | The territories formerly comprising the socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) |
| Djibouti | Laos | Senegal | |
| Dominican Republic | Lebanon | Serbia |
If your country is listed above you must apply for a visa before you travel to the UK. If you are not a national of one of the above-listed countries, then you are a non-visa national and you do not need to apply for a visa to come to study a course of up to six months and you can apply for 'Leave to Enter' when you reach a UK port of entry.
Leave to Enter
Non-visa nationals may apply for 'Leave to Enter' when they arrive at a UK port of entry. This means that you must seek permission to enter the UK to study your course when you arrive at the airport. You must arrive at a UK port of entry, such as Belfast International Airport or Heathrow in order to meet with UK Border Agency officials. If you do not arrive at a UK port of entry you will not meet with Immigration Officers, and you will not be able to get entry to the UK as a student visitor. This is likely to mean that you will not be allowed to enrol on your course at Queen's.
Non-visa nationals who apply for Entry Clearance will still need to demonstrate that they are genuine student visitors, and should prepare all of the relevant documents and carry them in their hand luggage, ready to present to Immigration Officers on arrival to the UK.
Please note that Dublin and Cork Airports are NOT UK ports of entry.
Entry Clearance as a student visitor
Entry Clearance is when you apply for and obtain a visa before you come to the UK. You will receive a sticker ('vignette') in your passport that will show:
- The date you are permitted to enter the UK;
- The date by which you must leave;
- The visa category (this will be C - Visit - Student). Your visa must show that you have obtained Entry Clearance as a student visitor or you will not be permitted to study your course;
- That you are not permitted to work while you are in the UK.
Where to apply for Entry Clearance as a student visitor
Unlike applying for a Tier 4 visa, you can usually apply for Entry Clearance as a student visitor from any country. However, it is important to check with the British Embassy in the country where you intend to apply to ensure that you will be permitted to apply there.
How to apply for Entry Clearance as a student visitor
Step 1 - Check with the British Embassy in the country you are applying in to see whether you will be allowed to apply there.
Step 2 - Read the application Guidance Notes carefully.
Step 3 - Prepare all relevant supporting documents as listed below. You can find the UKBA information guide here.
Step 4 - Depending on which country you are submitting your application in, you should either: complete the VAF1D application form; or apply online. You can find out whether to complete a paper or online application here. Make sure to complete all relevant sections.
Each country will have different procedures for submitting your application, so it is important that you check how it is done in the country in which you want to apply.
Guide to documents needed to come to the UK as a student visitor
The following information is for your guidance only. You must ensure to also read all the guidance and information provided by the UK Border Agency, which you can find here.
Whether you apply for Entry Clearance as a student visitor or apply for Leave (permission) to Enter on arrival to the UK, you will need to provide the correct documentation in support of your application. The evidence will be used to convince an Entry Clearance Officer or Immigration Officer that you:
- Are entering the UK for the purpose which you have stated;
- Intend to depart the UK by the end of the period of time you have stated that you intend to stay;
- Do not intend to take up employment in the UK;
- Do not intend to produce or sell goods or services in the UK;
- Can afford to support yourself financially while you are in the UK and that you can afford to pay for your own onward journey;
- Are not under 18 years old;
- Do not intend to marry or form a civil partnership, or to give notice of marriage or civil partnership;
- Do not intend to receive private medical treatment during your visit.
All of the documentation should be ORIGINAL and not a photocopy/scan/email/etc.
| Document | Description | Entry Clearance | Leave to Enter |
| Passport or travel document | This must be current and valid. | √ | √ |
| 1 passport sized colour photo | This must match the UKBA photo guidance. | √ | |
| Application fee | The application fee for a student visitor coming for up to six months is £76. | √ | |
| Evidence of your permission to be in the country where you are applying | You will need this if you are not a national of the country where you are making your application. This could be your visa or other document to show your immigration status. | √ | |
| Previous passports (where available) | The UKBA ask for you to provide your previous passport to show your previous travel history. If your previous passport(s) is not available, you should explain why. | √ | √ |
| Evidence of your marital status | This could include a marriage, civil partnership or divorce certificate. If you are single, there is no need to submit evidence of your marital status. | √ | √ |
| Evidence of your current employment or studies | For example, you can provide a letter from your employer or home institution showing they have given permission for your absence and that you are expected to return. | √ | √ |
| Evidence of finances | You should be able to prove that you have enough money to support yourself financially while you are in the UK without needing a job or relying on public funds. Evidence could be, for example, your/your parents' bank statements (showing transactions covering up to the previous 6 months), evidence of funding from scholarships, evidence that you have already paid your fees and accommodation costs. For guidance to living costs in the UK, please see here. | √ | √ |
| Evidence of accommodation | You should be able to show that you have thought about where you will live while you are here. If you have reserved accommodation in the student halls of residence you can show the printed email confirmation. Alternatively, you could show a hotel booking, or a letter of support from a friend who you will stay with. | √ | √ |
| Evidence of return travel bookings | If you have booked return tickets, you should show evidence of this. Otherwise, you should be prepared to prove that you can afford to pay for the return journey. | √ | √ |
| Letter from QUB | You will need to submit an original letter from Queen's University showing that you have been unconditionally accepted to a course at the University. The University will issue a standard format letter to all student visitors containing all the information required by the UKBA. If you have not yet received a student visitor visa letter from the University, please contact us. | √ | √ |
| Evidence of previous study | Your 'entry requirements' will be stated on your student visitor visa letter, and you should ensure to include original certificates or transcripts as evidence. This may include English language qualfications. | √ | √ |
Please note that this list is not exhaustive and it is your responsibility to satisfy the Entry Clearance or Immigration Officer that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for the purpose and duration that you have stated. It is your decision how you satisfy the Entry Clearance or Immigration Officer that your intentions are as you state in your application.
Further Reading
UK Border Agency: Student Visitors
UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA): Making an immigration application as a student visitor
