Do you have an enquiry about visas? Let us know about your enquiry so we can help you.
Before you contact us, this may help you:
Do you need to request a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)?
Find out how to request a CAS as an incoming student:
You must have accepted an unconditional offer from the University before you can request a CAS.
Have you deferred your studies?
If you have previously requested a CAS and then deferred your studies, you will need a new CAS. You can’t request another CAS through EUCLID.
You will need to complete this enquiry form to request a CAS.
Are you waiting to receive your CAS after requesting it?
We issue CAS at different times of the year:
From 1 July for undergraduate students
From 15 April for postgraduate taught students
Throughout the year for postgraduate research students
If you requested your CAS less than 3 weeks ago, please be patient and wait for us to contact you.
If you have been waiting more than 3 weeks from the dates listed above, then contact us through this form.
Is there a mistake, error or missing information in your CAS?
If you confirmed your CAS is correct but then find a mistake, or if information is missing or needs updating, then contact us through this form. Our response time will be within 10 days.
You cannot apply for your visa until all the details on your CAS are correct.
Do you still need help?
Do I need an ATAS certificate?
Selected science and technology programmes require you to have an ATAS certificate. Details can be found in your offer letter.
If this applies to you, then you will need to apply for an ATAS certificate before you start studying at the University.
Apply for an ATAS certificate
You should aim to apply for your ATAS certificate at least 3 months before you intend to apply for your visa. ATAS certificates are valid for 6 months. They must be used in a visa application in this timeframe.
Details on how to apply for an ATAS certificate
Usually, ATAS decisions take at least 4 weeks. But it can take longer – especially in the busy summer period.
Delays in ATAS application process
If you have been waiting more than 12 weeks, contact us through this form, and we can ask for an update about your ATAS application.
If your ATAS application is refused
If your ATAS application is refused, then contact us.
You will need to provide:
your reference number
the date of your application
If you are unsure how to answer a question in the Student route visa application form, the following information may help you.
Accommodation in the UK
You do not need to have your accommodation confirmed before you apply for your Student route visa.
In the Student route visa application, you will be asked:
‘Do you have an address for where you are going to stay in the UK?’
If you are an incoming student who has applied for University accommodation but have not yet been allocated any, then you should answer ‘no’ to this question. In the next question, about where you are planning to stay, you can explain that you have applied for University accommodation, but it has not yet been allocated.
Your travel history
In the Student route visa application, you will need to provide information about your travel history. This includes:
which countries you travelled to
how many times you visited each country
when you travelled to each country
how much time you were in the country for
You must answer the question as fully and with as much accuracy as possible.
If you cannot remember the exact travel dates, then you should put dates that are as close as possible to when you travelled. In the ‘additional information’ section, you should explain that you do not have the exact details and you provided answers that are as accurate as you can make them.
If you have a more specific question about the visa application, then contact us through this form.
You must provide supporting evidence when you apply for a Student visa.
Information about the type of evidence you must submit is available on the following pages:
Applying outside the UK: document checklist
Applying inside the UK: document checklist
If you have a more specific question about supporting evidence, then contact us through this form.
Can I apply for a dependants visa application?
Only certain students are allowed to bring dependants to the UK. You can bring dependants to the UK if:
or
Bringing dependants to the UK
Help with a dependants visa application
If you need help with your dependants visa application, or would like us to review your application, then contact us through this form.
Errors or mistakes in your vignette
If there are errors, mistakes or missing information in your vignette (the sticker in your passport), then you will need to get in contact with the visa application centre where you made your application.
You will need to correct any errors before you travel to the UK.
If you are unable to correct any errors or mistakes, then contact us.
Errors or mistakes on your BRP
If you find an error in your BRP then you must report it online as soon as possible. You should report any errors within 10 days after you collect your BRP.
If you report an error after 10 days, then you may have to apply and pay for a replacement BRP.
UKVI should contact you in 5 working days after you reported the error online but you may have to wait longer.
Report an error in your BRP to UKVI
If you cannot find your vignette (the sticker in your passport), read our directions for what to do:
Lost vignette
If you need more advice, then contact us through this form.
Rights, responsibilities and restrictions
You are responsible for your immigration status and for following the conditions of your visa.
It is important you follow all rules and conditions.
Detailed information on your rights, responsibilities and restrictions
Working in the UK
If you hold a Student route visa, then there will be limitations on what kind of work you do and how many hours you can work as a student.
Find out what work you can do as a student
Find out about working after your studies
If you need further advice, contact us using the form.
Contact us immediately if your Student route visa application has been refused.
Email us: studentimmigration@ed.ac.uk
In your email, provide the following information:
Your name
Your date of birth
Your nationality
Your student number
Where you made your application (inside or outside the UK)
Copy of your refusal notice – include all pages
We will prioritise visa refusals, so you can get advice as quickly as possible.
Once your visa application is successful, then find out how you can arrive in the UK, including using eGates and travelling through Ireland:
Arriving in the UK
If you have lost your passport
After you arrive in the UK, you must complete International Check-in before you start your studies.
How to complete International Check-in
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national with a new Student visa, you can find information on providing your share code before you attend your appointment on this page:
International Check-in for EU/EEA/Swiss students
When you are in the UK, you can collect your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) from either the University or from the Post Office.
Collect your BRP
After you collect your BRP, it is important you check all the details are correct.
Checking your BRP
Requesting a BRP for dependants
If you are collecting a BRP for a dependant(s), then complete the dependant BRP request form instead of this form.
Dependant BRP request form
What you need to do
You must attend International Check-in before you can open a bank account in the UK.
To open a bank account in the UK, you will need the following:
How to open a UK bank account
A bank introduction letter
In most cases, you will need a ‘bank introduction letter’ before you can open a bank account in the UK.
If you are living in University of Edinburgh accommodation
You will receive your bank introduction letter at International Check-in.
If you are living in private accommodation
You will need to log-in to MyEd then click on ‘Accounts’ then ‘Progression’ then ‘My student record’.
Once your record loads, then you will need to click on ‘Documents’ then ‘bank introduction letter.’
How to get a bank introduction letter
If you need to make changes to your programme this can affect your Student route visa.
You must contact us about any changes.
Changes include:
Changes to your programme
Taking a break from studying
Resits
Repeating a year
Changing geographical location
Withdrawing from your studies
Being excluded from your studies
More information on what changes to your studies mean for your visa:
Changes to your studies
Nationals from some countries who are studying in the UK for more than 6 months are required to register with the police after they arrive in the UK.
Check if you need to register with the police
Read about registration from Police Scotland
You must contact us through this form if you intend to renew or extend your Student route visa.
We can then advise you on what you need to do next.
Deferring your studies
If you have deferred your studies, and previously requested a CAS, you can no longer request a CAS through Euclid.
You will need to complete the enquiry form to request a CAS.
What to do if you lost your passport or BRP
Working in the UK as a student
If you hold a Student route visa, then there will be limits on how much work and what type of work you can do as a student.
More information on working during your studies:
Working during studies
Working in the UK after your studies
If you are thinking about working in the UK after you complete your studies, then the following pages may help:
Working after studies
Graduate route visa
Travel during your studies
You will need to ask for permission from your school if:
you wish to travel during term time
you will continue your studies overseas (apply for a Leave of Absence)
you are taking a break from your studies (apply for an Interruption of Studies)
Your Personal Tutor or Supervisor will be able to advise you.
If you wish to interrupt your studies for longer than 60 days, you should contact us through this form for advice on how this may affect your visa.
Vacation period
You can travel during the vacation period or at weekends without asking for permission.
Your vacation period will depend on the type of programme you are studying:
Semester and vacation information
Travel after your studies
Information about travelling after your studies:
Travelling at the end of your studies
A Pre-sessional English language programme is for University of Edinburgh students who hold a Conditional Firm (CF) offer for a postgraduate degree starting in September 2022.
This language programme is not available for undergraduate students.
Learn more about getting a Pre-sessional English Summer CAS
Standard Visitor visa
If you are applying for a course that is less than 6 months, in most cases, you should apply as a Standard Visitor.
Short-term student visa
If you are coming to the UK to study an English language programme which is less than 11 months, you can apply for a short-term study visa.
This visa is not for summer pre-sessional students.
Short term student visa
Hong Kong BN(O) visa
This is a bespoke immigration route to allow British National Overseas (BN(O)) citizens who usually reside in Hong Kong, and their immediate family members, to move to the UK to live, work and study.
We cannot provide specialist immigration advice on the Hong Kong BN(O) visa.
We only provide general information about this visa.
