Once you have your visa
Mae'r cynnwys hwn ar gael yn Saesneg yn unig.
Last updated: 01/08/2024 11:40
There are restrictions on how long you can stay in the UK before and after your studies when you hold a Student Route Visa.
Arriving before your course starts
The start date of your course will be stated in the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) email you receive from us.
Courses lasting six months or more
You can travel to the UK up to one month before your course start date if your visa is for six months or more or a pre-sessional English language course.
Courses lasting less than six months
You can only come to the UK seven days before the course start date if you're coming for a course that is less than six months and is not a pre-sessional English language course.
Please check your visa carefully when you receive it. You cannot travel before the date stated on your visa document.
If you believe there is an error please follow the guidance issued by the Home Office.
Correct lengths of visa and correcting errors
You must check that your visa has been issued for the correct time.
Errors on your visa must be reported to the UKVI within a fixed timeframe or it may not be possible to correct them.
Correct length of Student Visas
When considering your application for a Student Route visa made in or outside of the UK, the UKVI must comply with the following regulations:
Type/length of course | Length of stay allowed |
12 months or more | The full length of the course +4 months after the end of your course |
Six months or more but less than 12 months | The full length of the course +2 months after the end of your course |
Pre-sessional course of less than six months | The full length of the course +1 month after the end of your course |
Course of less than six months that is not a pre-sessional course | The full length of the course +7 days after the end of your course |
Postgraduate doctor or dentist | The full length of the course +1 month after the end of your course |
Dependents of students are granted the same length of time as the student.
If you have financial sponsorship, and your financial sponsor limits the time you may study in the UK, your visa may be issued for the same length of time stated on the sponsor letter plus the usual post-course period allowed.
How will my visa be evidenced/issued
UKVI issues visas in different formats depending on the length of leave issued, how you applied, and in some cases, your nationality. The way that all visas are issued is changing and there is currently a transition to a digital-only system anticipated from 2025 (information from the UKVI is awaited on this)
Your visa may be issued in more than one format, particularly for visas issued during 2024. Please read on for the format that your visa will take and information on how to best check your immigration permission has been issued for the correct duration.
If you applied for your visa in the UK
Visa national | Non-visa national | |
I was directed and able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app when creating my visa application form | E-visa (digital status) and BRP | E-visa (digital status) only |
I was not able to use the UK immigration: ID Check app | BRP only Please check your grant email for confirmation of the full period of leave issued | BRP only Please check your grant email for confirmation of the full period of leave issued |
If you applied for your visa overseas
Visa national | Non-visa national | |
I was directed and able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app when creating my visa application form | n/a | E-visa (digital status) only |
I attended a Visa Application Centre appointment as part of my application | Visa permission under 6 months: visa vignette (sticker) only | Visa permission under 6 months: visa vignette (sticker) only |
BRP expiry date of 31 December 2024
If you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and this expires on 31 December 2024, but your full length of leave should be longer, this is not an error.
The UKVI is introducing a new system of Immigration status documents by 2025. This system is expected to be digital only and you can find more information on this directly from the UKVI here.
The UKVI will update their information on how to register for your UKVI account and prove your immigration status throughout 2024 and we will update the information here as soon as possible. You do not need to do anything until there is further information and your immigration status will not be affected.
However, you should still check your grant email to ensure that the end date stated there is correct as per the section 'correct length of visa' above. Your grant email is the email you received informing you that your visa has been granted. If you scroll down this document, you will find the end date and your conditions of leave stated. Check that the date here is correct and keep this email safely saved.
Correcting errors
Type of permission | Error |
Visa vignette (sticker) for a total grant of leave under 6 months | Any error can ONLY be corrected overseas. Please contact the VAC directly as soon as possible and allow time for correction before travel |
Visa vignette (sticker) for 30-90 days - BRP to be collected in the UK for grant of leave over 6 months | If the error is on the vignette and does not prevent travel you can proceed as normal and collect your BRP in the UK. If the error is repeated on the BRP or no BRP is produced, you can proceed as per the 'BRP' guidance below However, if the error prevents travel (e.g. dates, incorrect category of leave, please contact the VAC as per the vignette guidance above |
BRP | Errors must be reported using the Gov.uk website via Report a problem with your new BRP You must include your CAS number and details of the error(s) in the error report If you have dependant family members with BRP errors, a report must be submitted for each individual IMPORTANT NOTE: if you submitted your visa application in the UK and the error in the BRP is the length of leave, you can NOT report this error in this way. |
BRP - application made in the UK, error in length of leave only | You must submit an Administrative Review within 14 days. Please follow the guidance Ask for a visa administrative review: If you're in the UK
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E-visa (digital leave) | Errors in digital permission can currently only be corrected through the University Please carefully check your digital leave If there is an error, please raise an enquiry via Student Connect and include the following information:
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Until an error is confirmed by UKVI, the details included on your vignette, BRP or digital leave apply. If your document has expired already, please contact SVS for information about overstaying implications
Corrections can only be made where an error has occurred. If you have been granted leave for a different course or institution, or applied for leave in an incorrect category, a fresh application must be made.
All errors must be reported within the relevant deadline. Please check our information above and the UKVI relevant pages for the application deadline. If the deadline is not met, then a new visa application may be required under UKVI policy. In many cases, such an application will NOT be viable in the UK.
Update your University record
If you report an error with your BRP and are issued with a new one, you must ensure that you provide a copy of your new BRP to the University to ensure that your record remains up to date. You can do this by attending the Centre for Student Life with your new BRP and passport, or by opening an enquiry with a scan of your new BRP through Student Connect.
If you have questions about the correction process or experience any difficulty with this process, please contact us:
Contact us
Cyswllt Myfyrwyr
All the ways to get to Cardiff, along with advice on arriving early or late, clearing immigration and declaring any money you're carrying.