UK Student Visitor Visa

The Student Visitor Visa is a visa which allows students to go to the UK for a period of up to six months in order to undertake a short course of study, or complete certain academic requirements of their course after their Tier 4 (General) Student visa has expired. The Student Visitor Visa is the required route for the following Imperial College students:

• Visiting / Occasional students on courses of 6 months or less
• Final year Undergraduate / Masters students who need to resit exams
• PhD students who need to attend their viva
• Medical Elective students who are here for less than 6 months

Pre-Sessional English Language students are required to have a Tier 4 (General) Student visa in order to study at Imperial.

Please note that if you enter the UK as a Student Visitor you are not entitled to:

• Work (paid, unpaid, voluntary or as part of a work placement or internship)
• Extend your visa in the UK, or switch to a different visa category from within the UK
• Bring dependants

UK Tier 4 Student (General) Visa

UK Student Visa (Tier 4 Student (General) Visa) - This category is for students coming to the UK for post-16 education.

Tier 4 (General) Students are only permitted to study accredited courses at level 3 NQF (National Qualification Framework) or above with institutions that have a Highly Trusted Sponsor accreditation. Institutions which have not yet obtained Highly Trusted status are, so far, still permitted to offer international students courses at NFQ level 4 or above.

If you are 18 years old or over, you can spend no more than three years in the UK studying below UK bachelor's degree level as a Tier 4 (General) student during your lifetime. You can spend this time studying one course or a number of courses.

UK will not give you new permission to study below degree level if you have already been studying below that level for three years in the UK since your 18th birthday.

Tier 4 Student (General) Visa Requirements

A Tier 4 (General) Student who is 18 years old or over is allowed to spend no more than three years in the UK studying below UK Bachelor's degree level. This three year limit excludes time that a Tier 4 (General) student had spent studying in the UK below the age of 18; or in any non-Tier 4 category which permits studying, or under the rules that were in place before 31 March 2009.

From April 2012, time permitted for studying at a graduate level will be limited to five years, with some exceptions of those studying for Master's degrees or a PhD. For those who spend eight years or more in Tier 4 (General) category on completion of their PhD, no further leave under Tier 4 will be granted..

If your application is successful, UK will allow you to stay there for the full length of your course, and for some time (depending on the type and length of your course) after your course finishes. At the end of that time, you must leave the UK unless you have applied to extend your stay or to switch into another immigration category.

Type of course	Length of course	Length of stay allowed
Main course of study (including student union sabbatical officers)	12 months or more	The full length of the course plus four months after the end of the course
Main course of study (including student union sabbatical officers)	At least six months but less than 12 months	The full length of the course plus two months after the end of the course
Main course of study (including student union sabbatical officers)	Less than six months	The full length of the course plus seven days after the end of the course
Short course to prepare you for study	12 months or more	The full length of the course plus four months after the end of the course
Short course to prepare you for study	At least six months but less than 12 months	The full length of the course plus two months after the end of the course
Short course to prepare you for study	Less than six months	The full length of the course plus one month after the end of the course
Postgraduate doctors and dentists on a recognised Foundation programme	Maximum of three years	The full length of the course (up to a maximum of three years) plus one month after the end of the course

English language Requirements

Degree and above-degree level students are required to demonstrate knowledge of English at level B2 (upper intermediate level) on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages. Students studying below degree level need to provide a Secure English Language Test certificate at level B1 (intermediate level).

Entitlement to work for Tier 4 (General) Students

From 4th July 2011, Tier 4 (General) students sponsored by a Higher Education institution for studies at degree level or above are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during term time and full time during vacations.

Students sponsored by a higher education institution undertaking study below degree level are able to work 10 hours per week during term time, and full time during vacations.

Students sponsored by a publicly funded further education college undertaking a course of study at any academic level are allowed to work 10 hours per week during term time, and full time during vacations.

Other students are not permitted to work.

Tier 5 Visas - Creative & Sporting Workers

Migrants wanting a UK visa for up to 12 months as sports people, entertainers or creative artists can do so under this category.

It does not cover people who are currently in the United Kingdom under the permit-free concessions for entertainers, including permit-free festivals, and sports people. 

Those operating or intending to operate in the creative industries can apply for a licence for creative workers and their staff. Although not a common UK visa, it's nevertheless the best choice for those in these professions.

You can get your application under way today by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area.

Creative category eligibility

Category 1 - the migrant is required for continuity in the creative sector

In this category the person considering UK immigration will have worked for a period of one month or more on the same production outside the European Economic Area before coming to the United Kingdom. Same production means one which is largely the same in terms of direction and design as the production outside the European Economic Area.

Category 2 - the migrant has international status in the creative sector

This means that the migrant is internationally famous in their field.  This is different to being well-known only in one country.  

Category 3 - the migrant is established at the highest level in their profession within the creative sector

This means that the migrant has performed at the highest level and has established a reputation in their profession. This also includes people and groups who are engaged to perform or do work which only they can do.

Category 4 - the migrant is engaged by a unit company within the creative sector

A unit company is a large group of entertainers who have regularly performed together in their own country and overseas as part of an established production before coming to the United Kingdom. A group formed specifically for a United Kingdom tour will not be classed as a unit company. Pop music or groups are not classed as unit companies. 

Sporting category eligibility

To get a licence as a sponsor of sports people, you must be a sporting body, sports club, events organiser or other organiser operating, or intending to operate in the sporting sector.

An agent cannot be a sponsor under this category.

If you like this page you may find our page on Tier 5 visa youth mobility scheme (YMS) helpful.

General requirements

This category is for:

• Sportspeople who are internationally established at the highest level in their sport; and/or
• Sportspeople whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development and operation of their particular sport in this country; and/or coaches who must be suitably qualified for the job.

Though migrants in this category do not need a governing body endorsement to get permission to enter or stay, you must make sure that they follow the criteria set for the category before issuing a certificate of sponsorship.

If a sport does not have a governing body recognised by the home country sports councils, the sports councils and other relevant sporting bodies, for example, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, which is the national alliance of governing and legal representative bodies of sport and recreation, whether there is an appropriate body.

How Global Visas can help

Global Visas provide a complete range of UK immigration and visa services under the new points based system and as the system is rolled out in the UK, we will be fully equipped to help you obtain the right visa for your needs.

If you're a sporting body, sports club, events organiser or other organiser operating, or intending to operate in the sporting sector and need help obtaining a Tier 5 visa call Global Visas today. We operate on a flat fee structure taking the stress out of obtaining your visa. Find out further information on our Tier 5 Visa - Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) page.

Tier 5 Visa - Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS)

The Youth Mobility Scheme or YMS is a cultural exchange scheme designed to create reciprocal youth mobility opportunities for young people from participating countries and the United Kingdom.

The Youth Mobility Scheme (also known as Working Holiday UK visas) allows young people from participating countries to come and experience life in the UK for up to two years, contributing to the economy by working, paying taxes and spending on goods and services while young UK nationals enjoy similar opportunities in those countries.

As specialist immigration consultants, Global Visas help young people apply for immigration to UK and many destinations throughout the world. 

Our consultants are fully equipped to help businesses and individuals alike to get the best from UK visa services and 

find the right

 UK immigration service for their needs. 

Our team of immigration consultant provide guidance and UK immigration law advice for those who wish to relocate and we offer a full range of immigration compliance services for businesses.

You can get your application under way today by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area at the top of this page.

Eligibility

Applicants from non EC countries need to ensure their country has accepted responsibility for their participating nationals and offer a reciprocal youth mobility opportunities for UK nationals.

General Requirements

Applicants must hold a valid passport for a participating country and a 

certificate

 of sponsorship from issued by their government. They must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and be able to show they have sufficient funds to support themselves in the UK.

There will be a minimum of 1000 places allocated to each country.

Specific Requirements

To succeed you must meet the minimum points requirement, calculated based on your sponsorship, age and maintenance categories.

• Sponsorship – valid passport for a country with Deemed Sponsorship scores maximum points
• Age – you will be awarded points if you are between 18 and 30
• Maintenance - show that you have at least £1600 that you can use to support yourself while in the United Kingdom.

Tier 5 Visas

Tier 5 is a UK work permit designed to ensure the UK will continue to receive the cultural, social, religious and international development benefits of particular types of temporary workers and youth mobility.

Under Tier 5 - Applicants may apply through one of the following categories:

Temporary worker – Creative and Sporting

For those coming to the UK as sportspeople, entertainers or creative artists for short periods of time, primarily to perform, compete or otherwise take part in one or a series of events. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->

People who found this page helpful also read Tier 5 Visa Creative and Sporting Workers guide on our site.

Temporary worker - Charity Workers

For immigration to UK with the intention of working temporarily as voluntary workers for a charity.

Temporary worker – Religious Workers

For migrants coming to work temporarily in the UK either as a religious worker in a non-pastoral role, where the duties include performing religious rites but not preaching to a congregation, or as a visiting religious worker.

Temporary worker – Government Authorised Exchange

A UK visa for migrants coming through approved schemes aimed at sharing knowledge, experience and best practice.

Temporary worker – International Agreement

For migrants who are coming to the UK under contract to provide a service that is covered under international law, including GATS, similar bilateral agreements, employees of overseas governments and international organisations, and the provision for private servants in diplomatic households.

Youth Mobility Scheme

For young people to travel to the UK to satisfy principally non-economic objectives.

Tier 5 Visa Assessment

All Temporary Workers will need to obtain an entry clearance in the category under which they are applying and will need to show they have enough points to qualify. Points will be assessed against two sets of objective criteria and awarded on production of:

• A valid certificate of sponsorship issued by their licensed sponsor, and
• Evidence that the migrant has sufficient funds to support him/ herself.

Individual 

applications

 for the Youth Mobility Scheme will be required to:

• be a national of a country participating in the Scheme (or a British Overseas Citizen (BOC); a British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC); or a British National (Overseas) (BN(O));
• be sponsored by their national government (unless they are a BOC, BOTC or BN(O));
• be aged between 18 and 30 years of age inclusive;
• satisfy a funds test to ensure that they will not draw on public funds or become destitute during his stay;
• not have any dependant children; and
• not have previously spent time in the United Kingdom on a working holidaymaker or a Youth Mobility Scheme.