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:
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
If you applied for your visa overseas
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
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.