UK Student Visa: Fees, Timelines and Extension Rules

The UK Student visa costs £558 to apply for from outside the UK, and the same £558 to extend or switch to from inside the UK. You will also need to pay the healthcare surcharge, the amount of which depends on how long your visa lasts. Decisions are usually made within 3 weeks for applications from outside the UK and 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 option is available when you apply.

Eligibility basics

You can apply for a Student visa if you are 16 or over and you have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor. You must also have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course — the amount varies depending on your circumstances — and you must be able to speak, read, write and understand English.

If you are 16 or 17, you need consent from your parents, and you will need evidence of this when you apply. If you are 16 or 17 and want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may instead be eligible for a Child Student visa.

The Student visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa. If you currently hold a Tier 4 (General) visa, you may still be able to extend your stay under the Student visa rules.

When you can apply

Your application window depends on whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK.

Where you apply from	Earliest you can apply
Outside the UK	6 months before your course starts
Inside the UK	3 months before your course starts

If you are applying from inside the UK, you must apply before your current visa expires. 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.

If you are extending, you must also apply within 6 months of getting your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). You can stay in the UK until you get your decision. If you applied for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision.

Fees and surcharges

The visa fee is £558 for each person applying. This applies whether you are applying from outside the UK, extending from inside the UK, or switching to a Student visa from another visa inside the UK. You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you.

In addition to the visa fee, you will have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. How much you pay depends on how long your visa lasts. The official guidance does not give a specific amount for the surcharge, so you should check the official GOV.UK page for the current figure.

When you extend your visa, you will need to have your fingerprints and a photo taken (biometric information). There is no fee for this.

How long it takes to get a decision

You will usually get a decision on your visa within:

• 3 weeks, if you are outside the UK
• 8 weeks, if you are inside the UK

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision — you will be told if you can when you apply.

If your application is complex, it will take longer. You will be contacted if, for example, your supporting documents need to be verified, you need to attend an interview, or your personal circumstances require additional consideration (such as a criminal conviction).

How long you can stay

How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you have already completed in the UK.

If you are 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If your course is below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

The official guidance advises you to read the guidance to find out exactly how long you can stay, as individual circumstances can affect the period granted.

Extension rules

You may be able to extend your Student visa to stay longer and continue your course or study a new course. This includes if you currently have a Tier 4 (General) student visa.

To extend your visa you must:

• be in the UK on a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa
• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor, shown by your CAS
• show that your studies are at a higher academic level than your current course (the academic progress requirement), with some exceptions

If you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you will need to prove you have enough money to support yourself in the UK.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Showing academic progress

If you are currently studying in the UK, you will usually need to show your studies will be at a higher academic level than your current course. 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 — it must be 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)

You do not need to show your studies are at a higher level if you are doing one of the following:

• 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

Graduate visa option

After successfully completing your course, you may be able to switch to a Graduate visa. This will allow you to stay in the UK for:

• 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
• 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
• 3 years if you completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification

What you can and cannot do

On a Student visa you can study and work as a student union sabbatical officer. You may be able to work — how much depends on what you are studying and whether you are working in or out of term-time.

You cannot:

• claim public funds (benefits) and pensions
• work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• be self-employed
• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)

If your application is successful, you will be told what you can and cannot do on a Student visa.

Travel restrictions while applying

If you are extending your visa from inside the UK, you must 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.

What to do next

Before you apply, check the current fee and healthcare surcharge amounts on the official GOV.UK Student visa page, as the official guidance does not specify the surcharge figure. Confirm your course start date and your visa expiry date to determine your application window. If you are extending, ensure you have your CAS and can meet the academic progress requirement or one of the exceptions. Read the full guidance on GOV.UK to find out exactly how long you can stay in your specific circumstances.