UK · CHAPTER 10
The UK Student visa,step by step.
With your CAS, apply online up to six months before your course, pay £558 and the health surcharge, attend a VFS biometrics appointment, and receive a decision usually within three weeks. Indian applicants also need a TB test certificate from an approved clinic.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
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- Application fee
- £558
- Apply from
- 6 months before course
- Usual decision
- Within 3 weeks
- Health surcharge
- £776 / year
Documents
- Valid passport
- CAS number and the documents listed on it
- Proof of funds (28-day rule)
- TB test certificate from an approved clinic
- ATAS certificate if your course requires it
- Parental consent and birth certificate if using parents' funds
- English-language evidence if your university asks for it
The steps
- 01
Get your CAS
Check name, course dates, fees paid and English assessment on it.
- 02
TB test
Book at an approved clinic in India; the certificate is valid for six months.
- 03
Apply online
Complete the GOV.UK form, pay £558 and the health surcharge.
- 04
Biometrics
Attend a VFS appointment to give fingerprints and a photo and submit documents.
- 05
Decision and eVisa
UK immigration status is now digital (eVisa). Create your UKVI account and keep your details updated.
- 06
Travel
You can usually enter up to one week before a course of six months or less, or one month before a longer course.
Dependants
Only students on postgraduate research programmes (such as a PhD) or government-sponsored students can bring a partner and children. Taught master's students generally cannot.
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TB test and biometrics in India
Indian applicants staying more than six months need a tuberculosis test certificate from a clinic approved by the UK Home Office. The certificate is valid for six months, so book it once you are close to applying. Biometrics are given at a VFS Global centre; you then receive an eVisa (a digital immigration status) instead of a physical card.
Your eVisa and UKVI account
- 01
Create a UKVI account
You link your passport to your eVisa; use it for travel, renting and work.
- 02
Generate share codes
Landlords (Right to Rent) and employers (Right to Work) check your status with a share code.
- 03
Update your passport
If you renew your passport, update it in the account before you travel.
Visa conditions to know
- Arrive no earlier than one month before a course of over six months
- Work limits: 20 hours a week in term for degree-level students
- No public funds (most state benefits)
- Your university reports if you stop attending
- Changing course or university may need a new CAS and visa
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
£558 from outside the UK, plus the immigration health surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa.
Generally not on a taught master's. Postgraduate research students and government-sponsored students can bring dependants.
Yes, priority and super-priority services are usually available at VFS centres for an extra fee, giving faster decisions. Availability changes in peak months.
No. The UK has replaced biometric residence permits with eVisas. You prove your status online through your UKVI account.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
UK GUIDE
Proof of funds & loans
UK Student visa maintenance funds, the 28-day rule, education loans from India and TCS on remittances explained for 2026–27.
UK GUIDE
Pre-departure checklist
What to finish in India before flying to the UK: eVisa, documents, money, accommodation, packing and your first-week plan.
FROM INDIA
Documents & attestation
Indian documents for study abroad: transcripts, degree certificates, MOI letters, gap explanations, MEA apostille, notarisation, WES/ECA and sworn translations.
FROM INDIA
Scams & emergencies abroad
Study abroad fraud warnings for Indian students: fake agents, offer letters and visas, forex and job scams, plus lost passports and emergencies abroad.
TOOL
Compare countries
Compare countries on fees, living costs, visa rules and post-study work, in one table.
FRANCE
Study in France
The full France guide: degrees, fees, Campus France, visa, housing and work, chapter by chapter.
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