Standard Visitor visa and Electronic Travel Authorisation for study

Information about the visa and digital authorisation required to study at the University of Plymouth for a period of six months or fewer

The Standard Visitor Visa is a short visa that allows you to visit the UK. 
A Visitor Visa will also allow you to study at the University of Plymouth for a period of 6 months or fewer.

Who needs a Standard Visitor visa?

To check your eligibility for the Standard Visitor visa, visit the Government website.
You are likely to need a Standard Visitor visa in the following situations:
  • Exchange programme
    If you are currently studying a degree course overseas and have been accepted to study in the UK as part of an exchange programme of fewer than 6 months, then the Standard Visitor visa may be the appropriate visa to get. For example, you are currently studying a bachelor's course overseas and you will be coming to University of Plymouth for one semester.
  • Distance learning
    If you are currently registered as a University of Plymouth student studying a distance learning course overseas and need to enter the UK to take part in a short period of UK-based study or meet with your supervisor as part of the course. For example, you are studying a PhD and need to meet with your supervisory team. 
  • Repeating assessments
    If you are on a longer course, but you are asked to re-sit exams or complete a referral without attendance (for example - just sitting the exam), you may wish to leave the UK and return with a Standard Visitor visa to complete your assessments. If you think this applies to you, please contact the Student Immigration Advice Team to discuss the situation.
  • Period of overseas research at the University of Plymouth
    If you are currently studying a PhD at an overseas university and have been invited by staff at the University of Plymouth to partake in research that forms part of your thesis.
  • Medical electives
    If you are coming to undertake an elective at the University of Plymouth that is relevant to your medicine, nursing, midwifery or dentistry overseas course.
  • Short course of 6 months or fewer
    If you are attending a short course of 6 months or fewer at the University of Plymouth. 
Any other visitors such as visiting academics and researchers should contact HR.

Do I need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa in advance? 

If you are a national or citizen of a country that requires entry clearance prior to travel to the UK as a Visitor, you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.
Nationals or citizens of countries that are not on the visa nationals list (e.g. USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia ETC) are considered "Non-visa nationals". This means that instead of applying for a Standard Visitor visa before your trip, you can obtain Visitor permission at the UK border during immigration. However, visitors must still apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. To find out more about the ETA, please refer to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) section below.

How do I apply for a Standard Visitor visa? 

You should apply online through the UKVI website once you have obtained all the necessary documents. You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa and choose 'short term study - up to 6 months' as the reason for your visit.
You will either need to submit your documents to the Visa Application Centre or your documents will be scanned and returned to you when you attend your appointment:
Please read the Standard Visitor visa section on the Home Office website and pay close attention to the Study for Visitors section.
  • Complete the online application form
  • The current application fee in local currency starts from £135
  • You'll need your current travel document, e.g.: passport (valid for the entire duration of your stay in the UK and ideally has 6 months validity before you travel)
  • Provide evidence of your unconditional offer to study in the UK, e.g.: your admissions letter
  • Evidence of previous qualifications such as certificates or transcripts, if applicable (they will be listed on your offer letter) or proof of overseas study if you are on an exchange programme
  • You'll need to obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you're applying for postgraduate study or research that requires this
  • Details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans – you shouldn’t pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa
  • You'll need to show that you have enough money to support yourself during the time you will be in the UK – this includes any course fees, accommodation fees and the cost of an onward or return journey. Evidence of this should be in the form of your own personal bank statements or payslips for the past six months. We recommend that you should provide evidence that you have at least £1,171 for each month of your stay to cover living costs plus all of the tuition fees due.

Genuineness

All visitors to the UK must satisfy the genuine visitor requirements. This means that:
  • You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
  • You must not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits. You must also not intend to make the UK your main home. The visitor guidance lists factors such as the number of visits that you have made over the last twelve months, including the length of stay on each occasion in assessing whether or not your visits to the UK are frequent and successive;
  • You must be genuinely seeking to enter the UK for a purpose and activity permitted as a Visitor;
  • You must not undertake any of the prohibited activities for a Visitor. See prohibited activities.

What you cannot do: 

  • You cannot study a course that is longer than six months
  • You must leave the UK on or before the date that your immigration permission ends and cannot live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits
  • If you are unable to complete your course on the Standard Visitor visa you will not be able to leave and return to extend the time in the UK. Your course must be completed within the original six month period
  • You cannot make an application in the UK to switch to another type of visa
  • You will not be allowed to do any kind of work or work placement during your studies
  • You will not be allowed to bring your family to the UK as your dependants, marry or register a civil partnership
  • You can only do permitted activities as a visitor in the UK. See Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities for more information.

Medical insurance

As you will only be coming to the UK for fewer than 6 months, you will not be asked to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge to help cover healthcare costs in the UK. 
Entering with a Standard Visitor Visa means that should you require certain healthcare services in the UK, such as hospital aftercare, then you will be liable to pay for this and this can be extremely expensive. 
We highly recommend that before you travel to the UK, you arrange private medical insurance to cover medical costs in the UK should you require it. Please see the UKCISA Visitors page for further information. You should still register with a doctor when you arrive in the UK.
 

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

If your nationality is not on the visa national list, you are considered a non-visa national and you may not need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel. This includes EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, but you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETA) is a digital permission required by certain non-visa nationals to enter the UK for visits of up to six months or for transit purposes.  An ETA must be obtained prior to travelling to the UK.  It is not a visa and does not guarantee entry into the UK.  If you already have a UK visa (e.g. Student Visa), or have UK immigration status, you do not need an ETA.
If your course requires an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate, you will need to apply in advance of travel, even if you come with an ETA. 
An ETA costs £20 and lasts for 2 years, or until your passport expires - whichever is sooner.  An ETA holder can travel to the UK as many times as they wish during that time, subject to normal Visitor Visa conditions.
Processing times for an ETA are quick, but we recommend applying at least 3 days before you travel.   If granted, an ETA will be linked to the individual's passport.
An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. Individuals may still need to see a Border Force Officer.
We recommend that you carry the documents listed in the above section (How do I apply for a Visitor Visa?) with you upon arrival at the UK border. You must inform the Immigration Official that you wish to enter as a Visitor and present your documents.
If you have had previous visa refusals or hold any criminal convictions, you may prefer to apply for a visa in advance rather than apply for the ETA. 

Applying for an ETA

To apply, you will need to:
  • have the passport you will travel with (not a photocopy)
  • have access to your emails
  • provide contact and passport details
  • provide a valid photograph which meets UKVI requirements 
  • answer a set of questions about yourself/travellers
  • have access to a payment method (a credit card or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
You must upload or take photos of the passport and the face of the person applying. You do not need to enter your travel details.
The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA mobile app (please follow the links at the Government website) If you require help with the mobile app, read our guide on using the UK ETA app. If you do not have access to the mobile app, you can apply online. If you are applying for someone else who is not with you, you should apply online, not via the mobile app.

After you apply

You should get an email confirming you have successfully been given an ETA. UKVI will link your ETA to the passport you applied with.  
Your ETA will last for 2 years or until your passport expires (whichever is sooner). You can travel to the UK as many times as you want during that time using the ETA.
Each time you must travel using the same passport you used when you applied for your ETA. If you change your passport, you need to apply for a new ETA. If you get a new passport, you will need to apply for a brand-new ETA.
If your ETA application is refused, you will need to apply for a visa if you wish to seek permission come to the UK.
If you want to discuss your eligibility for a either a Standard Visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation, please contact studentimmigrationadvice@plymouth.ac.uk.
Our advisors are only trained to give immigration advice for studying in the UK and cannot offer advice on working visas. 
We will offer guidance where we can but will advise you to seek independent immigration employment advice if we feel your needs are beyond our area of expertise.