eVisas - your online immigration status

You may be in the process of making or preparing your Student Route visa application now and wondering what form your visa will take.

At present, for applications made overseas (except for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals), applicants granted their visa can expect to receive a visa vignette (sticker) in their passport when the visa is granted. You will also receive instructions from the UKVI on how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa in your grant email, which will direct you to the 'Get access to your eVisa' page.

This is part of the transition to eVisas and the process is subject to change. Check regularly for updates.

For those students who currently hold a BRP or will receive a vignette in the near future, but have Student Visa permission that extends past 31 December 2024, the process will depend on how you applied for your current visa.

If you applied for your Student Visa from overseas (except for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals) or you applied in the UK and attended an in-person biometric appointment, you will need to create a new UKVI account in order to access your visa. You can create this account at Gov.UK  eVisa account page

Watch the UKVI informational video for guidance on this process.

After you complete the process, you will receive an email from the UKVI informing you that your eVisa is ready to view. This stage can take a few days. After you receive this email, you can log in to your account and access your eVisa.

To prove your immigration status to the University you will need to generate a share code. Please see our guidance below on how to do so.

If you applied for your visa using the UK Immigration ID Check App then you will already have a UKVI account. This applies to all nationalities who use the App in the UK and to EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals accessing the App overseas. You can find further information and log in to your account on the UKVI pages.

We advise all students to  download a PDF copy of the eVisa once  you have accessed this. Please save this  securely and ensure it remains accessible to you for future reference.

If your BRP expires earlier than 31 December 2024, then this is the date that your visa expires. You will not be issued with an eVisa. You must not remain in the UK after the expiry date on the BRP unless you take action to extend or switch your visa before the expiry date.

Existing students can access our Intranet pages for guidance on Student visa extension and to access information about visas for after-study.

Student Visa Support will help students through this change and will update this page and the University's communication channels regularly.

Once  you have access to your eVisa, check the information on it is correct.

If you notice an error on your eVisa- you will need to complete the online eVisa error reporting form

On this form you can report the following errors:

• name
• sponsor reference
• photo
• National Insurance number
• visa restrictions - these say what you can and cannot do in the UK
• immigration status
• valid until date
• Email address to sign in to your account
• Phone number to sign in to your account

It is very important to report an error in your visa end date as soon as possible. Until the error is corrected, the incorrect expiry date will be the date by which you will need to exit the UK to avoid becoming an overstayer.  Our 'Correct lengths of visas' guidance will help you check if you visa has been issued correctly.

If you applied for your visa in the UK and there is an error in your end date on both your grant email and your eVisa, then there is a different process for correction through Administrative Review. Details will be included in your grant email.

When reporting an error in your end date you will be asked 'What is the correct date your visa is valid to?' here you should input the date your visa should be corrected to.

The UKVI will contact you within 10 working days to either:

• confirm that they’ve corrected the details
• ask you for more information.

Make sure you recheck your eVisa when they have confirmed it is corrected, to ensure it has been amended correctly.

Notify the University via the Student Connect system when you have the amended eVisa so your record can be updated accordingly or to contact Student Visa Support for support with this process.

All students should ensure that they have access to their eVisa prior to any travel. You will be asked to provide evidence of your eVisa in order to travel.

It is very important that you check your details and visa dates are correct on your UKVI account and to ensure that you update your account with your current passport details.

Students travelling in 2024  should continue to carry their in-date BRP or visa vignette with them also. The UKVI advise that those with BRPs that expire on 31 December 2024 continue to carry this document with them throughout early 2025.

Key documents to have with you when travelling (stored safely in your hand luggage):

• Passport
• eVisa -we recommend you generate a share code and take a screenshot of your eVisa in advance of travel in case of any system issues at the time of travel
• Most recent BRP
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)  - either electronic or printed - as proof  of study
• A residence agreement letter or an email confirming your Cardiff address will serve as proof of your UK residency

The University will need a copy of your Student Visa for you to enrol and for ongoing study.

You can provide a share code at the point of enrolment to ensure that your student ID and enrolment period continue for the full length of your course. If you cannot access your share code at that time, you will still be able to present your BRP. You will need to provide your share code at a later date and before the expiry date listed on your BRP to meet UKVI regulations and your continued enrolment on your course.

More information will be available soon.

Guidance on How to generate your eVisa Share Code.

The UKVI eVisa pages are updated regularly as the student route visa changes over from BRPs to online eVisas.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provide valuable guidance regarding the eVisa.