Switch to Student Visa UK

You can switch to a Student visa if you're in the UK on a different visa and have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor.

You can switch to a Student visa if you’re in the UK on a different visa and have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor.

Please contact our immigration lawyer on 0161 989 9370 or fill in the enquiry form to take the first step towards your successful UK Student visa application.

Call Rex Law Chambers on 0161 989 9370 or fill in our enquiry form for immigration advice and help with your Global Talent visa application.

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Can I switch to a Student visa UK?

You may be able to switch UK Student visa from inside the UK if you are already in the UK with a visa from which switching to a Student visa is permitted under the UK Immigration Rules.

You cannot switch to this visa if you have one of the following visas:

a visit visa
a short-term student visa
a Parent of a Child Student visa
a seasonal worker visa
a domestic worker in a private household visa
leave outside the immigration rules

Requirements for a Student visa

If you want to change your current UK visa to a UK Student visa from inside the UK then you should meet the following requirements of the Immigration Rule to switch to a Student visa:

Use the correct UK Student visa application form
You must have a valid CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)
You must be a genuine student and meet the genuineness test for a student visa
You must select an eligible course to study in the UK
You must meet funds and financial requirements
You must meet the English language requirements
You must meet Tuberculosis (TB) test requirements (if applicable)

Read the guidance for the full list of eligibility requirements for UK Student visa applications.

You must also meet all the other eligibility requirements depending on type of application and your personal circumstances. Please contact us for an initial assessment to determine your eligibility, and to discuss the options.

Documents required for the UK Student visa

To switch to a UK Student visa, the applicants will need to provide several documents in support of their visa application depending on their personal circumstances.

You must provide the following documents when you apply for the switch to a UK Student visa from inside the UK:

Your current valid passport
CAS letter from your course provider (licensed student sponsor)
Evidence of that you have enough money to pay the course fee and support yourself
Your TB (Tuberculosis) test results

Read the guidance for the full list of documents you’ll need to provide in support of your Student visa application.

This is a general list of documents. Depending on type of application and your personal circumstances, you might also need to provide additional documents.

Please contact us for an initial assessment to determine your eligibility, and find out the required list of documents in support of your application.

How early can you apply for the switch to a Student visa?

You can apply to change (‘switch’) to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK if you’re already in the UK on a long-term Student visa. However, you cannot apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you’re currently in the UK on a short-term student visa.

UK Student visa processing time

You should get a decision on your UK Student visa within 8 weeks if you are applying for a Student visa extension or switching to this visa from inside the UK by using standard service.

For those applying for a Student visa from outside of the UK, the Home Office (UKVI) aims to process visa applications within 3 weeks.

How long does the visa application process take?

Once you have applied online and attended your biometrics appointment, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

3 weeks, if applying from outside the UK using standard service
8 weeks, if applying from inside the UK using standard service
5 working days, if applying using priority service
24 hours, if applying using super priority service

Super Priority Service

You may be eligible to use the “super priority service” to get a faster decision by the end of the next working day (within 24 hours). You’ll need to pay £1,000 in addition to the UK visa application fee.

Priority Service

You may be able to choose the ‘priority service‘ when you apply for a UK visa to get a faster decision within 5 working days. You’ll need to pay £500 in addition to the UK visa application fee.

When you apply, you might be eligible to choose the ‘super priority service‘ or ‘priority service‘ to get your visa faster depending on the type of application and what country you’re in.

Applicants are advised to check the latest information about UK visa application processing time on the official UK government website either applying from inside the UK or outside the UK.

UK Student visa application fees

Home Office (UKVI) fees for UK Student visa application are:

£363 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK
£490 to apply for a Student visa extension or switch to this visa from inside the UK

Please note that these fees are subject to change, and you should always check the most up-to-date information on the UK government’s official website before applying for a visa.

How much does a UK visa application cost?

The cost of a UK visa application varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for, your location and the type of service such as ‘standard service‘, or ‘priority service‘.

Here are some common costs associated with applying for a UK visa:

Home Office visa application fee
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) (unless visa length is less than 6 months or you’re exempt)
Biometrics fee (if applying from inside the UK)
The ‘priority service’ fee to get a faster decision (if applicable)
English language test fee (if required)
Immigration lawyer fees (if using legal services to boost your chances of success & avoid mistakes)

Please note that the above is a general list of costs associated with UK Visitors visa applications. There may be additional costs depending on your circumstances.

Immigration lawyer fees

Our expert UK immigration lawyer will guide you through every step of the UK Visitor visa application process including advice about legal requirements and eligibility criteria.

At Rex Law Chambers, our immigration lawyer charges a fixed fee between £800-£1000 for our complete legal services in relation to your Visitor visa application. The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the matter and the casework involved in the matter.

Immigration lawyer for the UK tourist visa

As part of our immigration services for your immigration application, our expert immigration lawyer will:

advise you about eligibility criteria and the requirement;
provide you with a comprehensive checklist of supporting documents;
fill in and submit your Visitor visa application;
check all the supporting documents;
upload all the supporting documents online in their correct format and order;
schedule your biometrics appointments;
prepare a cover letter or letter of representation to support your application;
dealing and responding to any enquiries or correspondence from the Home Office (UKVI);
do all the follow-up work on your visa application until a decision is received from the Home Office (UKVI).

Contact our experienced and friendly immigration lawyer on 0161 989 9370 or fill in our enquiry form to get reliable & confidential immigration advice and legal assistance with a UK Visitor visa application or any other immigration matter.

Need legal advice or help from an immigration lawyer?

Call us on 0161 989 9370 or fill in the enquiry form to get legal advice or help with your UK visa application. Our UK immigration lawyer is ready to assist you.

At Rex Law Chambers, we specialise in a wide range of UK visas and nationality applications and our principal immigration lawyer has a wealth of experience and expert knowledge to deal with all types of UK visas and immigration applications. He has successfully handled many complex and high-profile cases and also represented clients in their immigration matters.

Free immigration advice online

Our immigration lawyer can provide one-off FREE general legal advice online via live chat or through the enquiry form. The FREE advice does not cover the advice in relation to complex legal issues or advice about documents to be submitted in support of the application.

If you would like to get detailed immigration advice then please schedule an in-person, Zoom, or phone consultation by using our appointment request form.

Switch to Student Visa UK