How to Apply for a UK Student Visa: The Steps in Order, from CAS to eVisa

TL;DR: To apply for a UK student visa, you need an unconditional offer, a CAS from your university, money held in the right way for 28 days, and any TB test or ATAS certificate your case calls for. Then you apply online on GOV.UK, pay £558 plus the health surcharge, prove your identity, and usually get a decision within three weeks.

Most UK student visa delays do not come from the form. They come from doing the steps in the wrong order: booking a test before the money is ready, or paying a fee before the CAS has arrived. This guide puts the steps in the order the Home Office expects, so each one is ready when the next needs it. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local steps are in their own section near the end.

Not sure your offer, funds and documents line up for a UK student visa yet? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

Before the form: what must already be in place

The Student visa form only asks for things you should already have. GOV.UK lists two documents every applicant must provide: a current passport and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider. Everything else depends on your situation.

1. An unconditional offer. Your university issues a CAS only after you meet the offer conditions. Our guide to conditional vs unconditional offers explains what you still owe.
2. Your deposit, if your university asks for one. Many universities ask for a tuition deposit before they release a CAS. See when you pay a UK university deposit.
3. Your CAS. Check every detail on it, from your name to the course dates and fees paid. Our CAS checklist shows what to look for.
4. Money held for 28 days. You must show enough money for your course fees and living costs. The funds rules and the 28-day holding period are in our guide to the UK student visa 28-day rule.
5. English. For a degree-level course, your university can assess your English itself, at a level equal to CEFR B2. Below degree level, you usually need a Secure English Language Test.

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The UK student visa steps in order

When you can apply. GOV.UK says the earliest you can apply from outside the UK is six months before your course starts. Applying earlier is not possible, and applying late risks missing your start date.

Filling in the online application

You apply online on the Student visa application page on GOV.UK. You can save the form and come back to it, so you do not need to finish in one sitting.

The form asks for your CAS number, passport details, travel history, money and family details. Answer every question exactly as your documents show it. A small mismatch, such as a different spelling of your name or a fee figure that does not match your CAS, is the kind of detail that slows a decision.

You then pay two amounts:

• The visa fee: £558 when you apply from outside the UK, according to GOV.UK.
• The immigration health surcharge: worked out on the length of your visa. Our guide to the immigration health surcharge for students shows how it is calculated.

GOV.UK also notes that your fee is only refunded if UK Visas and Immigration has not started processing your application.

Proving your identity and getting a decision

After you pay, you prove who you are in one of two ways. GOV.UK says you will either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document, or have your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre. The form tells you which applies to you.

Processing starts once you have completed this step. GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within three weeks when you apply from outside the UK, and that you may be able to pay for a faster decision. If your application is complex, UKVI will contact you. Our guide to UK student visa processing time covers how to plan around it.

If you are approved, you get an eVisa, a digital record of your immigration status. Set up your UKVI account and link it to the passport you will travel on. Our UK eVisa guide walks through it. For a course longer than six months, GOV.UK says you can arrive up to one month before your course starts, but never before the start date on your visa.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka is on the Home Office list of countries where you need a TB test if you are coming for six months or more. The only approved clinic is IOM's Migration Health Assessment Centre in Colombo, and the certificate is valid for six months from your x-ray. Our guide to the IOM Colombo TB test covers booking and what to bring.
• If your university asks for attested A/L or O/L certificates, request them early. See how to request your certificates online.

Frequently asked questions

How early can I apply for a UK student visa? From outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is six months before your course starts.

How much does a UK student visa cost? The application fee is £558 from outside the UK. You also pay the immigration health surcharge, which depends on how long your visa lasts.

How long does a UK student visa take? GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within three weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Can I apply for a UK student visa without a CAS? No. A CAS from a licensed student sponsor is one of the two documents every applicant must provide, along with a current passport.

Do I need IELTS for a UK student visa from Sri Lanka? Not always. At degree level, your university can assess your English itself. Below degree level, you usually need an approved Secure English Language Test.

PS: The application itself takes an afternoon. Getting the CAS, the funds and the TB test lined up in the right order is what takes weeks. If you want a second pair of eyes on your order of steps before you pay any fee, check your eligibility with Prosper.

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