Student Visa for Foreigners.

1. Overview

You can apply for a Student Visitor visa if:

• you’re doing a short course of study in the UK
• you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
• you meet the other eligibility requirements

  What you can and can’t do

  You can:
  • do a short course of study in the UK, such as an English language course or a training course
  You can’t:
  • study at a state school
  • work or carry out any business
  • marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or a civil partnership
  • come to the UK specifically for private medical treatment
  • extend this visa
  • bring family members (‘dependants’) with you - they must apply separately
  • get public funds

  How long you can stay

  You can stay in the UK for:
  • 6 months - for any short course including English language courses
  • 11 months - an extended visa for English language courses only

  Fees

  It costs:
  • £85 for a 6 month standard visa
  • £162 for an 11 month extended visa

  How long it takes

  You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.
  You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
  Check the guide processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in the country you’re applying from.

2. Eligibility

You must prove that you:

• are 18 or over
• have been offered a place on a course in the UK at an accepted place of study
• have enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you
• can pay for your return or onward journey

You may be able to apply for a Child Visitor visa if you’re under 18.

Where you can study

You must be accepted on a course taught by an organisation that is licensed to sponsor Tier 4 migrants or accredited by one of the following:

• Accreditation UK
• Accreditation Body for Language Services
• British Accreditation Council
• Accreditation Service for International Colleges

Otherwise your course will need to be held at an educational institution listed by one of the following:

• Bridge School Inspectorate
• Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)
• Estyn (in Wales)
• HM Inspectorate of Education (in Scotland)
• Independent Schools Inspectorate
• Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
• Schools Inspection Service

Learning English as a foreign language

You must be accepted on a course to learn English as a foreign language if you’re applying for an 11 month extended visa.

A mixed course, some of which is spent studying English, doesn’t count.

Visiting the UK as part of an overseas course

You can apply for a Student Vistor visa if you’re studying at an overseas higher education institution and part of your course is in the UK.

Your institution must:

• hold its own national accreditation
• offer only part of its educational programme in the UK
• offer programmes that are equivalent to a UK degree

Researching in the UK for a short time

You can come to the UK for a short period of research if you’re already enrolled on an overseas course.

To be eligible:

• your course must be equivalent to a UK degree
• you must be carrying out the research at a UK recognised body, or a body that receives public funding as a higher education institute

3. Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• a current passport or other valid travel identification
• 1 passport-sized colour photograph
• evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, eg bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
• details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans - you shouldn’t pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa
• your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that aren’t in English or Welsh.

Read the guide for a full list of documents you can provide.

Documents about your course

You must provide proof of:

• the course you’re studying, eg a letter of acceptance from the educational institution - on official headed paper, stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation)
• your previous study, eg academic certificates, academic references, academic transcripts
• any English language ability or qualifications, eg test certificates, award certificates for degrees taught in English

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

4. Apply

You must apply online for a Student Visitor visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

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:

• download the application form
• read the instructions for North Korea on how to apply

Dubai, UAE Visa Requirements

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION
Citizens of the following Countries (including all 28 EU member states) will get their visa upon arrival at all UAE airports or other points of entry. This includes those who hold visas in their passports or entry stamps from other countries and the visa is valid for 30 days, renewable once.
Australia, Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, United States of America, United Kingdom with (Right of Abode in UK) and the Vatican.

GCC NATIONALS
Visa requirements for entering Dubai vary greatly between different nationalities and it is always advised to check regulations before traveling. National citizens of GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) do not require a visa to visit the UAE. Visas will also be issued to escorts/domestic helpers of GCC nationals for a renewable duration of 60 days. Original passport of the sponsored person and a valid residency visa is required for entry into the UAE.
GCC Residents who are not GCC nationals but hold high professional status such as company managers, doctors, engineers or employees working in the public sector and their families are eligible for a non-renewable 30-day visa upon arrival at all UAE airports or other points of entry. Original passport of the sponsored person, valid residency visa and proof of employment in the country of residence is required for visa.
For all other nationalities, a visa must be applied for before the visitor enters the country either through their respective embassy, a local UAE sponsor or a local hotel.

SPONSORS
Tourists can get a Tourist Visa (valid for 30 days); or a Service Visa (valid for 14 days); or a Visit Visa (valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days) from a tourist company or a hotel by first making a reservation for at least one night. They must fax/courier the hotel a copy of their passport along with the reason for the visit (tourism is an acceptable reason) and their arrival date. Make sure that the hotel faxes you a copy of the visa when it is ready.
A special transit visa valid for 96 hours is available for a nominal fee through certain airlines
Other organizations, individuals already based/residing in UAE can also apply on your behalf for a Visit Visa. If you are coming to work in UAE, work visa can be obtained on your behalf from employer or sponsor.

TYPES OF VISAS

The Dubai Naturalization & Residency Department (DNRD) issues different types to visas.

VISIT VISA

Tourists who wish to stay in UAE for more than 14 days or those coming on family or business visits can apply for Visit Visas. These are valid for either 30 days (short term visit visa) or 90 days (long term visit visa). Both visas are non-renewable. Apart from the visa fees, a deposit is to be paid by the local sponsor/relative/resident which is reimbursed after the visit visa holder has left the country.
90-Day Long-Term Visit Visa for individuals is valid for 60 days from the issue date and non-renewable. Valid for 90 days from the arrival date and non-renewable
30-Day Short-Term Visit Visa for individuals is valid for 60 days from the issue date and non-renewable. Valid for 30 days from the arrival date and non-renewable
Documents required (Individuals):
• Clear passport copy of the sponsor
• Clear passport copy of the sponsored person
• A copy of the salary certificate or employment contract of the sponsor (resident) must be attached
• Proof of family relationship (kinship)
• Travel insurance
Documents required (Companies):
• Clear passport copy of the sponsor
• Copy of the establishment card
• Travel insurance.

TOURIST VISA

The tourist visa is a special category under the visit visa type and entitles the holder to a 30-day stay and in non-renewable. If visa holder of the tourist visa stays for more than 30 days, that person has to pay a fine per day plus some charges for an out pass.
Sponsorship of hotels and tour operators who bring in visitors is required for tourist visa. Individual tourists from Turkey, Ukraine, Albania, Russia, St Kitts-Navis, St Lucia, Mexico, Cuba, Bermuda, Belize, Guyana, French Guiana, Martinique, Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent, Jamaica, Palao, other non-defined American nationalities, Thailand, South Africa, Singapore, China can apply for this type of visa. Clear passport copy of the sponsor and travel insurance is required for visa.

MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA

Multiple-entry Visas are issued to cruise ship passengers since their schedule entitles them to enter the country more than once in a single trip. Such visas are also issued to business visitors who are frequent visitors to the UAE due to their ties with a multinational company or a reputable local company. Multiple-entry Visas are valid for six months from the date of issue and the duration of each stay is 30 days. The visa is non-renewable. The individual must enter UAE on a Visit Visa and then obtain a Multiple-entry Visa.
German citizens may apply to the UAE embassy in Germany for a one- or two-year multiple-entry visa. The maximum duration of each stay should not exceed three months per year.
US citizens may apply to the UAE embassy in United States for a one to ten-year multiple-entry visa. The maximum duration of each stay should not exceed six months per year.

TRANSIT VISA

Transit passengers stopping at Dubai International Airport for a minimum of 8 hours are eligible for a 96 hour transit visa. A valid onward ticket is required. Passport and other travel documents should be valid for at least three months. Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the 96-hour visa on arrival: Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, and Yemen.
We suggest that you check with your nearest UAE consulate or embassy whether you require a visa to be issued in your passport prior to flying to the UAE.
For more information please visit UAE Embassy in Washington D.C. and Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai.

Please note, the above rules and regulations are subject to change. Contact your local embassy/consulate to get additional information.