Visa Information for Non-Visa Nationals coming to the UK to Study

To study a course of less than 6 months, students from Non-Visa countries such as Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Japan do not need to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa

You can enter the UK as a visitor, present your school documents at immigration on arrival at the airport and UKBA staff will stamp your passport allowing you to remain in the UK. Please make sure that you keep all your enrolment documents in your hand luggage to access them easily.

Your passport will be stamped with the date you must leave the UK.

As a visitor you cannot change your status to any other status from within the UK. If you want to extend your course to stay longer than 6 months, you must return to your country and apply for a Tier 4 Visa.

As a visitor you cannot work in the UK while you are studying.

As a visitor you can study an English course at any level from Elementary to Advanced. You do not have to provide any proof of your current English level but you cannot be a complete beginner.

As a visitor you do not need to comply with any minimum number of hours studied. You can apply for a course of 15 lessons, 20 lessons, 25 lessons or 30 lessons.

To study a course of more than 6 months, students from Non-Visa countries such as Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Japan DO need to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa. 

If your visa application is successful, your visa stamp will be put in your passport with the expiry date clearly marked.

As a Tier 4 student, if you decide to extend your course or apply for another course (eg Foundation, University) you can apply to do this in the UK. You do not need to return to your home country

As Tier 4 Student you have the right to work 10 hours per week while you are studying in the UK.

You must provide proof that your current English level is a minimum of Intermediate (CEFR B1 / TOEIC score 550+, TOEFL iBT Score 57+ / IELTS score 3.5+ / Cambridge PET) on application. Please click here for full details on applying as a Tier 4 Student.

You must comply with any minimum number of hours studied. You must study a minimum of 15 HOURS per week, so take a minimum of 20 lessons per week.

Students from the countries listed below MUST have a visa to study in the UK. For courses over 6 monthsm you must apply for a Tier 4 visa. For courses less than 6 months you must apply for a Student Visitor's Visa

 

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Belarus

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Bosnia Herzegovina

Burkina Faso

Burma

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

People's Republic of China (except those referred to in sub-paragraphs 2(d) and (e) of this Appendix)

Colombia

Comoros

Congo

Cuba

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Fiji

Gabon

Gambia

Georgia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Guyana

Haiti

India

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Ivory Coast

Jamaica

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Korea (North)

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Macedonia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Moldova

Mongolia

Morocco

Mozambique

Nepal

Niger

Nigeria

Oman

Pakistan

Peru

Philippines

Qatar

Russia

Rwanda

Sao Tome e Principe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Surinam

Swaziland

Syria

Taiwan (except those referred to in sub-paragraph 2(h) of this Appendix)

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Togo

Tunisia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

Uzbekistan

Venezuela (except those referred to in sub-paragraph 2(i) of this Appendix)

Vietnam

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

The territories formerly comprising the socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia