Our Visa and Immigration team is the only team at the University authorised to give specialist immigration advice. Our advisers are regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).
- Email: immigration-support@nottingham.ac.uk (we reply within 3 to 5 working days)
- Phone: +44 (0)115 846 6125, 10am to 4pm UK time, Monday to Friday
- (available for current students and recent UoN graduates with an active IT account)
If you're extending your visa from inside the UK, we strongly recommend using our free Visa Application Checking Service before you submit.
If you are:
- in the UK on a different type of visa and want to switch to the Student route, contact our Visa and Immigration team for advice before you apply.
- applying for a UK student visa for the first time see our Apply for a student visa from outside the UK information instead.
If you're looking to extend or switch your visa follow these steps in order and check the common questions we get from applicants.
Step 1: Check that you can apply
Apply in plenty of time. The earliest you can apply is usually three months before your current visa expires. If you are a current student making changes to your course (such as transferring course or adding a placement year), you may need to or be able to apply for your visa sooner than this, and you will receive advice about the timing of the visa application when you request the course change.
If you are starting a new course, the gap between your current visa expiry date and your new course start date must be no more than 28 days. If the gap is longer, you cannot apply inside the UK and will need to apply from overseas.
The date of your online application is used to work out how much Immigration Health Surcharge you pay, so in some cases applying early can increase the amount. Our team can advise you.
Do not travel outside the Common Travel Area while you are waiting for a decision (the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands). Travelling will cancel your application. We also recommend that you do not make any non-refundable travel plans until you have received your new visa. , but they are not guaranteed. A faster priority service is available for an extra fee.
Step 2: Get your CAS
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an essential part of your application. It confirms that we are accepting you onto a course, or that you are a current student making sufficient academic progress. A CAS can be used once.
If you are progressing to a new course, you do not need to request a CAS, but you must meet the requirements to receive one:
- Firmly accept your unconditional offer
- Pay a tuition fee deposit (postgraduate taught master's only)
Once you have met these requirements, we will start preparing your CAS.
If you are extending your current course after a course extension, a course transfer or reassessments, you must request a new CAS through the . You can request it up to six months before your current visa expires, or sooner if our team has asked you to.
Step 3: Prepare your documents
Your supporting documents can be digital copies. Everyone will need:
- A current valid passport
- Your new CAS number
Depending on your situation, you may also need:
- Financial evidence, unless you have been in the UK with a visa for the 12 months immediately before your new application, in which case you are usually exempt. If you are not exempt, you must hold your funds in an accepted format before you submit your application. Follow our funding requirements guidance carefully.
- A new ATAS certificate, if your course requires it. It must have been issued within the last six months. Apply as soon as you can, as ATAS takes at least 30 working days (around six weeks).
- Documents for any eligible dependants applying with you.
- Written consent from your official financial sponsor, if they have fully funded your fees and living costs in the last 12 months.
- Professional translations of any evidence that is not in English.
- A letter of consent from your parent or legal guardian, if you are under 18, or if you are relying on their bank statements for your financial evidence.
Evidence of your academic and English language qualifications is not usually needed for applications made in the UK at degree level or above, because Nottingham assesses your academic ability as a trusted Higher Education Provider.
Step 4: Start your application
As part of your application you will need to prove your identity. You will answer a few questions first to find out how. You will either:
- Use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to scan your identity document, and create or sign in to your UKVI account, or
- Have your photograph and fingerprints taken at a
, using our student visa application form guidance to help you answer the questions correctly.
If you are using our visa checking service (Step 5), complete the form up to the 'Declaration' section, then stop. Do not go past this point or make any payment yet.
Step 5: Check your application (current students)
Use our free Visa Application Checking Service.
We recommend that every current student has their application checked by one of our Immigration Advisers before submitting.
Checking lowers the risk of a refusal that could affect your immigration status or your registration with the University. We can also check applications for your dependants.
If your visa expires within seven days, email us immediately and include your student ID.
Step 6: Submit and pay
The date you pay the visa application fee is your official date of application, and this must be before your current visa expires.
You will pay:
- The visa application fee ().
- The , which gives you access to the NHS for the length of your visa.
The same fees apply for any family members applying as your dependants.
Optional priority services may be available for an extra cost.
Step 7: Verify your identity and upload your documents
If you used the ID Check app: you will be guided to upload your supporting documents online after paying. You do not need to attend an appointment.
If you need to give your biometrics in person: you will create a UKVCAS account, book an appointment and upload your documents. There is a service point in Nottingham. What you pay depends on the service point, the timing of your appointment, and any extra services you choose.
Take your document checklist, your appointment confirmation (with the QR barcode), your passport and your supporting documents to the appointment. Your photograph and fingerprints will be taken and your passport scanned.
Step 8: Get your decision and update your records
A decision can take up to eight weeks, and you must stay in the UK during this time. When your visa is granted, you will receive an email confirming the duration and conditions of your visa.
Your visa will be issued as a digital immigration status (eVisa). Our From eVisa to registration page explains how to view your eVisa and share your status with the University.
If your application is refused, the reasons will be in the decision letter. Contact our team immediately at immigration-support@nottingham.ac.uk and include a copy of the letter. We can advise on whether to appeal or make a new application, which would need a new CAS from us.