UK Student Visa: Documents Required for Extension

To extend a Student visa in the UK, you will need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed student sponsor, evidence that your new course meets the academic progress requirement, and, if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, proof that you have enough money to support yourself. You will also need to prove your identity, either through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or by providing biometric information at a UKVCAS service point. The application fee is £558 per person, plus the healthcare surcharge.

The core documents you must provide

The Home Office does not publish a single fixed checklist for a Student visa extension. Instead, the documents you need depend on your personal circumstances. However, the GOV.UK guidance sets out the following core items that every extension application must address.

Requirement	What you need to show
Current immigration status	You are in the UK on a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa
Unconditional offer	An unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor, shown by your CAS
Academic progress	Your new course is at a higher academic level than your current course, or meets one of the exceptions
Financial evidence	Proof of enough money to support yourself, if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months
Identity	Either the UK Immigration: ID Check app or fingerprints and photo at a UKVCAS service point

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

The CAS is the single most important document in your application. It is issued by your licensed student sponsor and confirms that you have an unconditional offer of a place on a course. Without a CAS, you cannot apply to extend your Student visa.

You must apply within 6 months of getting your CAS. This is a strict deadline, so you should not request a CAS until you are ready to submit your application.

There is one specific scenario where a CAS can be issued for work rather than study: if you are applying to work as a student union sabbatical officer, you can get a CAS for that role.

Proving the academic progress requirement

In most cases, you must show that your new course is at a higher academic level than your current course. This is called the academic progress requirement. Your new course must be one of the following:

• at a higher academic level than your current course
• at the same level and related to your previous course or career aspirations, provided it is degree level or above at a Higher Education Provider (HEP)
• intercalated to a medicine, dentistry or medical science course you started studying under your Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)

There are several exceptions where you do not need to show your studies are at a higher level. These include:

• resitting exams or repeating modules
• applying for the first time to a new institution to complete a course you started at an institution that lost its student sponsorship licence
• applying after working as a student union sabbatical officer to complete a qualification you started studying under your last Student visa
• completing a PhD or other doctorate that you started studying under your last Student visa
• continuing your medical, dentistry or medical science degree after completing an intercalated course
• applying to extend your stay to complete your studies because you have done (or want to do) a work placement or study abroad programme

If you fall into one of these exceptions, you will need to provide evidence that supports your specific situation, such as confirmation of your previous course or your placement arrangements. The GOV.UK guidance links to further detailed guidance on when you need to prove your studies are at a higher level.

Financial evidence

You do not always need to prove you have money to support yourself when extending. The requirement applies if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months. If you fall into this category, you will need to show that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK.

GOV.UK does not specify a fixed amount on the extension page. The overview page states that the amount will vary depending on your circumstances. You should check the detailed student visa guidance for the current financial requirements, as the amount depends on where you are studying and how long your course lasts.

Identity verification and biometrics

As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you are from and the type of passport or resident permit you have. There are two possible routes:

• use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document, and create or sign in to your UKVI account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You will be told what you need to do when you apply. There is no fee for providing biometric information, but you must complete this step for your application to be processed.

Dependants: partners and children

If you have a partner or children who need to extend their visa, they must apply separately. They can apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires. The visa fee of £558 applies to each person, and the healthcare surcharge also applies to each applicant.

Fees and timing

The fee to extend a Student visa is £558 per person. You will also need to pay the healthcare surcharge, the amount of which depends on how long your visa lasts. There is no fee for biometric information.

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts. You must apply before your current visa expires, and your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring. For example, if your visa expires on 1 December, you must apply for a new visa before 1 December, and your new course must begin by 29 December.

A decision is usually made within 8 weeks for applications made inside the UK. You may be able to pay for a faster decision, but you will only be told if this is available when you apply.

What to do next

Before you apply, check the official GOV.UK Student visa guidance to confirm the current financial requirements and to read the detailed academic progress guidance. The extension page links to both. You should also confirm the exact fee and healthcare surcharge amounts, as these can change.

Do not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. If your application is successful, you will receive an eVisa, and you will need to create a UKVI account to access it.