Visa Guide Advice and guidance to help students with their visa applications.

Are you unsure about what visa you require? Complete this quick questionnaire asking about where you are coming from and how long you are staying in the UK. Your results will tell you which visa you need to apply for, and you can find guidance on each visa below.

Complete Visa Questionnaire

Useful Visa Information

ETA (Non-visa Nationals)

Standard Visitor Visa (Visa Nationals)

Short-Term Study Visa (All Passports)

Student Visa (previously Tier 4)

Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS)

Argentina

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Honduras

Hong Kong

Israel

Japan

Malaysia

Mexico

New Zealand

Panama

Paraguay

South Korea

Taiwan

Uruguay

All EU & EEA

Requirements

Am I eligible? Must be a non-visa national coming to the UK for tourism, study or family visit for up to 6 months. Children (and babies) require one.

You do not require an ETA if one or more of these apply. You:

  • have a visa to enter the UK
  • are staying more than 6 months
  • have residence permission in the UK including settled or pre-settled status
  • are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

However, you should apply now and use an ETA to travel to the UK if you are from:

  • Bahrain
  • Kuwait
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates

If you are from the following regions and are travelling to the UK on or after 8 January 2025, you will need an ETA. You should apply after 27 November 2024.

  • Asia (eg Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong)
  • The Americas (eg USA, Brazil, Argentina, Peru)
  • The Caribbean
  • Australasia
  • Israel

If you are from the EU or EEA and are travelling to the UK on or after 2 April 2025 you will need an ETA and should apply after 5 March 2025.
Duration Stay up to 6 months.
Application Process No application is required for certain non-visa nationals who do not need an ETA (see eligibility above). Instead, arrive in the UK and get stamp at border control.

To apply for an ETA, you will need:

  • the passport that you will travel with (not a scan or photocopy)
  • a form of payment (bank card, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
  • access to your email
  • to take or upload a photo of the passport
  • to take or upload a photo of the person travelling

You do not have to enter travel details or information about where you are staying in the UK.

The Government advises people to apply using the UK ETA App, which you can download here:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uk-eta/id6444912481

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.gov.HomeOffice.ho3

Or you can apply online.

You will get a decision about your ETA application in 3 working days and will receive confirmation by email.
Application Cost ETA Application: £10
Extra Information Students may still be rejected entrance at border control. Please bring a letter from the school, a bank statement, proof of payment for accommodation/your course and/or evidence of activities after the end of your course.

With an ETA, you cannot:

  • visit the UK for more than 6 months
  • do paid or unpaid work or be self-employed
  • marry or register a civil partnership

Find out more

Start ETA Application

Requirements

Am I eligible? Must be a visa national coming to the UK for tourism, study or family visit for up to 6 months.
Duration Stay up to 6 months.
Application Process Apply up to 3 months before date of travel.

In the application, you must provide proof:

  • of acceptance onto a course that is no more than 6 months (e.g. letter from the school)

Be as detailed as possible with your application and provide as much evidence as you can.
Application Cost Application: £115
Extra Information Bring a letter from the school, a bank statement, proof of payment for accommodation/your course and/or evidence of activities after the end of your course.

Find out more

Start Application

Requirements

Am I eligible? Must be aged 16+ and accepted onto an English Language course lasting 6-11 months at an accredited school.
Duration Stays between 6-11 months for non-visa nationals or visa nationals. Students can stay in the UK for the length of their English course plus 30 days.
Application Process Apply up to 3 months before date of travel. Receive a decision within 2-6 weeks.

In the application, you must provide proof:

  • of acceptance onto a course (e.g. letter from the school)
  • that you have enough money for your stay and return journey (e.g. bank statement)
  • of your study plan (e.g. letter from University)

If you are under 18 years old you also need to show:

  • you have booked your travel and accommodation (e.g. accommodation/travel confirmation)
  • you have permission from your parent or guardian (e.g. letter)

Be as detailed as possible with your application and provide as much evidence as you can.
Application Cost Application: £200

Healthcare Surcharge: £470
Extra Information Visa is non-transferable.

Find out more

Start Application

Requirements

Am I eligible? Must be aged 16+, have a minimum B2-level of English and be accepted onto a full-time English language course that lasts for any period by a licensed student sponsor.
Duration Students can stay in the UK for the length of their English course plus 2 months after the end of their course.
Application Process Apply 6 months before you start your course. Receive a decision within 3 weeks.

To apply for a Student visa you must:

  • Request a Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) from IH London. International House Trust Limited is a licensed sponsor under the UK Visas and Immigration points-based system (license no 5BY3ENNA5) for people coming to the UK to train or study.
  • Show that you have enough money for your stay (e.g. bank statement)
  • Show acceptable proof that you have a suitable B2-level of English (e.g. IELTS or Cambridge Exam Certificate). For more information about tests and levels see: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english
  • Have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17

Please contact us (info@ihlondon.com) for more information about applying for this type of visa.
Application Cost Application: £363

Extending/Switching Visa: £490

Healthcare Surcharge: £470

Find out more

 

Requirements

Am I eligible? Required by all non-visa nationals coming to the the UK as visitors.
Duration Stay in the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, business, study or medical treatment.
Application Process Apply between 2 months and 4 days before you travel. ETA should be issued within 3 working days.

Requirements before you apply (you need to apply in one go, you cannot stop and save progress)
  • a photo of your passport 
  • a photo of your face 
  • your travel dates 
  • a credit card 
Application Cost £10
Notes ETA is valid for 2 years. If you get a new passport you will need a new ETA. The ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You still need to speak to a Border Force officer on arrival to explain your reason for travel.

Find out more

Start Application

Requirements

Am I eligible? Students from Australia, Canada, New Zealand & South Korea (aged 18-35) or Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay, Hong Kong & Taiwan (aged 18-30).
Duration Students can study and/or work in the UK for 2 years.
Application Process Apply up to 6 months before you travel. Receive a decision within 3 week.

To apply for a YMS visa you must:

  • have a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
  • show a bank statement showing you have at least £2,530 in savings (you will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row and day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa)
  • your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
  • provide other documents if you’re from Andorra, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Iceland, San Marino or Uruguay.
Application Cost Application: £298

Healthcare Surcharge: £1,552 total

Find out more

Start Application

It is also possible to study at IH London on some other visa types, for example:

  • Tier 1 – Investor / Entrepreneur visa
  • Tier 2 – General work visa
  • Diplomatic visa
  • Some Dependent visas

However, IH London is NOT able to provide advice or assistance in obtaining these.

Get in touch

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Book a consultation to speak with a course advisor on the phone, in person or over a video call. Alternatively, you can complete our online Enquiry Form and our team will contact you via email or a phone call.

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