5. Apply
You should read the full guidance before you apply.
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.
Apply outside the UK
You must apply online for a Tier 4 (General) student visa.
You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application.
You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK (even if you actually arrive at a later date).
You may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country you’re in - check with your visa application centre.
North Korea
You can’t apply online if you’re living in North Korea.
To apply from North Korea you must:
1.download the application form and guidance - read the guidance if you need help filling in the form
2.read the instructions to find out where to take your completed form
Apply in the UK
Check if you can apply from inside the UK to:
1.extend your existing Tier 4 (General) student visa
2.switch to this visa from another visa
6. Extend your visa
You may be able to stay longer to continue your course or study a new one.
You must:
1.meet the eligibility requirements of this visa
2.be in the UK
3.have a sponsor
Who can sponsor you
You can only apply to extend your leave to study if your current or new sponsor is:
1.a higher education institute (HEI)
2.an overseas HEI
3.an embedded college offering pathway courses
4.an independent school
You must include your dependants in your application if they’re on your current visa, including children who have turned 18 during your stay.
Read the full Tier 4 guidance before you apply.
When to apply
You must apply:
1.within 6 months of getting a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)
2.before your current visa expires - but no more than 3 months before the course start date on your CAS
You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.
Ways to apply
If you want to get a decision more quickly than the standard 8 weeks, you can apply:
1.for priority service - there’s a limited number of places each day
2.to use a premium service centre - you’ll need to go in person
| Application type | Time for a decision | Cost per person |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8 weeks | £448 |
| Priority | 10 days | £823 |
| Premium | Same day | £948 |
You’ll also need to provide biometric information and pay the healthcare surcharge.
Apply for the standard or premium service
You can apply online:
1.for the standard service
2.to book an appointment at a premium service centre
Pay the appropriate fee at the same time.
Apply for the priority service
You must fill in a request form before you can use the priority service. Send it to the email address on the form.
Only the first 60 requests received each day after 8:30am (Monday to Friday) are accepted - you’ll get an email saying if you’ve been successful.
Once you’ve been accepted for the priority service you should apply online for yourself and any dependants within 24 hours. Pay the fee at the same time.
Send your supporting documents by registered post or courier to the address given in the priority service acceptance email. Send your dependants’ documents in the same envelope.
Your documents should reach UK Visas and Immigration no later than two days after you applied.
Provide your biometric information
For all applications you must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). You can do this at:
1.some Post Office branches (this costs £19.20)
2.a premium service centre if you’ve paid to use one
You’ll be told when you need to provide your biometric information for the standard or priority service. You’ll have to do it within 2 working days if you’re using the priority service.
You’ll get a biometric residence permit if your application to extend your visa is successful.
Pay the healthcare surcharge
For all applications you must also pay the healthcare surcharge for each person. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply for your extension.
What happens next
You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:
1.your supporting documents need to be verified
2.you need to attend an interview
3.of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
7. Switch to this visa
You may be able to change (switch) to a Tier 4 (General) student visa if you’re in the UK under any of the following visas or schemes:
1.Tier 1 (Post-study work)
2.Tier 2 (General)
3.Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer)
4.Tier 2 (Minister of religion)
5.Tier 4 (Child)
6.student (under the rules in place before 31 March 2009)
7.student re-sitting an examination
8.student nurse
9.students writing up a thesis
10.student union sabbatical officer
11.work permit holder
12.postgraduate doctor or dentist
13.Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme
14.International Graduates Scheme
15.Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme
You should include any dependants who are on your current visa on your application to extend - including children who have turned 18 during your stay.
When to apply
You must apply:
1.within 6 months of getting a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)
2.before your current visa expires - but no more than 3 months before the course start date on your CAS
You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.
Ways to apply
If you want to get a decision more quickly than the standard 8 weeks, you can apply:
1.for priority service - there’s a limited number of places each day
2.to use a premium service centre - you’ll need to go in person
| Application type | Time for a decision | Cost per person |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8 weeks | £448 |
| Priority | 10 days | £823 |
| Premium | Same day | £948 |
You’ll also need to provide biometric information and pay the healthcare surcharge.
Apply for the standard or premium service
You can apply online:
1.for the standard service
2.to book an appointment at a premium service centre
Pay the appropriate fee at the same time.
Apply for the priority service
You must fill in a request form before you can use the priority service. Send it to the email address on the form.
Only the first 60 requests received each day after 8:30am (Monday to Friday) are accepted - you’ll get an email saying if you’ve been successful.
Once you’ve been accepted for the priority service you should apply online for yourself and any dependants within 24 hours. Pay the fee at the same time.
Send your supporting documents by registered post or courier to the address given in the priority service acceptance email. Send your dependants’ documents in the same envelope.
Your documents should reach UK Visas and Immigration no later than two days after you applied.
Provide your biometric information
For all applications you must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). You can do this at:
1.some Post Office branches (this costs £19.20)
2.a premium service centre if you’ve paid to use one
You’ll be told when you need to provide your biometric information for the standard or priority service. You’ll have to do it within 2 working days if you’re using the priority service.
You’ll get a biometric residence permit if your application to extend your visa is successful.
Pay the healthcare surcharge
For all applications you must also pay the healthcare surcharge for each person. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply for your extension.
What happens next
You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:
1.your supporting documents need to be verified
2.you need to attend an interview
3.of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
8. Family members
Your family members (dependants) might be able to apply to join or remain with you in the UK if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA)or Switzerland.
A dependant is either:
1.your husband, wife or civil partner
2.your unmarried or same-sex partner
3.your child under 18 years old - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
You can apply to bring a dependant to the UK if you’re:
1.sponsored by a higher education institution on a course at level 7 on theOfqual register or above that lasts 1 year or more
2.a new government-sponsored student on a course that lasts longer than 6 months
3.a Doctorate Extension Scheme student
They’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of their application. Check how much they’ll have to pay before they apply.
Savings
You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.
Each dependant must have a certain amount of money available to them - this is in addition to the money you must have to support yourself.
The amount of money you need depends on:
1.the length of your course
2.where you’re studying in the UK
3.whether you’ve finished a UK course or are currently studying
You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 28 days before you or they apply.
Dependants applying outside the UK
Your family members must apply online.
They’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of their application.
They’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when they said they’d arrive in the UK.
They may be able to get their visa faster or other services depending on what country they’re in - check with the visa application centre.
North Korea
Your family members can’t apply online if they’re applying from North Korea.
Each family member will need to make their own application. They must:
download the application form and guidance - they can read the guidance if they need help filling in the form
read the instructions to find out where they need to take their completed form
Dependants applying in the UK
You should apply for your dependants’ visas at the same time as you extend orswitch your own visa.
If you can’t do it at the same time, your dependants can apply to extend or switch their visas at a later date.
They can’t apply in the UK as dependants if they already have a Standard Visitor visa.
If your dependants want to get a decision more quickly than the standard 8 weeks, they can apply:
1.for priority service - there’s a limited number of places each day
2.to use a premium service centre - they’ll need to go in person
| Application type | Time for a decision | Cost per person |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8 weeks | £448 |
| Priority | 10 days | £823 |
| Premium | Same day | £948 |
You’ll also need to provide biometric information and pay the healthcare surcharge.
Apply for the standard or premium service
Your partner or child can apply online:
1.for the standard service
2.to use a premium service centre
Pay the appropriate fee at the same time.
Apply for the priority service
Your dependant must fill in a request form before they can use the priority service. They must send it to the email address on the form.
Only the first 60 requests received each day after 8:30am (Monday to Friday) are accepted - they’ll get an email saying if they’ve been successful.
Once they’ve been accepted for the priority service your partner or childshould apply within 24 hours. They should pay the fee at the same time.
They should send their supporting documents by registered post or courier to the address given in the priority service acceptance email.
Their documents should reach UK Visas and Immigration no later than two days after you applied.
Biometric information
Each person applying must also provide their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).
They can give their biometric information at:
1.certain Post Office branches if they applied online (this costs £19.20)
2.a premium service centre if they applied in person
They’ll get a biometric residence permit if their application is successful.
Children born in the UK
If you have children while you’re in the UK, you can apply online.
You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.
