Student Visas

Entry into the UK with a Cayman Islands (BOTC) Passport

Entry to the UK is permitted for up to 6 months on a BOTC passport.

If a student is staying on a course longer than 6 months, they must obtain a STUDENT VISA.

The visa you apply for depends on your circumstances :

Apply for a student visa – if you’re coming to the UK to study a university or college course for more than 6 months, or more than 11 months if it’s an English language course.

You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:

have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
can speak, read, write and understand English
have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 – you’ll need evidence of this when you apply

If you’re 16 or 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

This visa has replaced the Tier 4 visa.

UK Biometric Residence Permit

You’ll get a biometric residence permit (BRP) if you:

apply to come to the UK for longer than 6 months
extend your visa to longer than 6 months
apply to settle in the UK
transfer your visa to a new passport
apply for certain Home Office travel documents

You don’t have to apply separately for a BRP. You’ll get one automatically if your visa or immigration application is approved, or you’re replacing an older document.
Why you need a BRP
You can use your BRP to confirm your:

identity
right to study or work in the UK
right to any public services or benefits you’re entitled to
More details: www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits

Student Visa

You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:

have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
can speak, read, write and understand English
have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 – you’ll need evidence of this when you apply

If you’re 16 or 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. You can check visa processing times for your country.

Fees

It costs £348 to apply for this visa from outside the UK.

You must pay £348 per person for any dependants.

Healthcare surcharge

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.

Overview

You might need to pay a healthcare surcharge (called the ‘immigration health surcharge’ or IHS) as part of your immigration application.

Whether you need to pay depends on the immigration status you’re applying for.

When you must pay

If you’re making your immigration application online, you pay the surcharge as part of your application or when you book an appointment.

If you’re applying by post, you pay the surcharge online before you send your application. You’ll need to include the IHS reference number on your application form.

When you can start to use the NHS

You can start using the National Health Service (NHS) when both:

– you’ve paid the healthcare surcharge (or are exempt from paying it) – your visa or immigration application is granted

You’ll still need to pay for certain types of services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

You should bring your biometric residence permit with you when you access healthcare in the UK.

How long you can stay

You can arrive in the UK before your course starts:

• up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less • up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months

How long you can stay depends on the kind of course you’re doing and what study you’ve already completed.

What you can and cannot do

You can:
• study
• work as a student union sabbatical officer
• apply from inside or outside the UK
• apply to extend your stay
• work in most jobs – depending on what level your course is and what kind of sponsor you have

You cannot:
• get public funds
• work in certain jobs, for example professional sportsperson or sports coach
• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)

You may be able to bring in family members (dependants) .

Read the full guidance to find out how long you might be able to stay and what you can and cannot do.

Child Student Visa

You can apply for the Child Student Visa if you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK – gov.uk/child-study-visa

Y ou’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.

• have a place on a course • have the consent of your parent or guardian • have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs • be from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

How long it will take

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks . Find out about paying for a faster decision .

It costs £348 to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside the UK.

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.

How long you can stay

Your age and the length of your course of study will affect how long you can stay.

Age when you apply

How long you can stay

Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards

Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards

You can arrive in the UK:

• up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less • up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months

What you can and cannot do

• study at an independent school • apply from outside the UK

You can also work, if you’re 16 or over:

• part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week • full-time during vacations • on a work placement as part of your course (but not for more than 50% of your course time) • as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years

• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further education college

• take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed • work as a doctor or dentist in training • work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer • settle in the UK on this visa

• bring in family members (‘dependants’) – if your parents want to accompany you, they’ll need to apply for a Parent of a Tier 4 (Child) visa

How to renew your BOTC Passport from the UK

Please see information at our BOTC PASSPORT APPLICATIONS FROM THE UK page

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