Your arrival
Visa checkpoint
The information on these pages applies to any student not holding a UK or Irish passport.
As a University who is authorised to sponsor international students, we are required to ensure that every student has valid UK leave (permission) throughout the whole period of their study. We are required to keep copies of documents provided during visa checkpoint as part of our sponsor duties in accordance with our privacy notice.
Students holding any form of ‘unlimited leave’, e.g. Indefinite Leave to Remain, ‘No time-limit' or EU Settled Status, will only have to evidence their UK status once when they first register with the University. If during your studies, your status changes or you obtain a new document or eVisa, please share this with us so we can update our records.
New students
All new international students must complete their visa checkpoint at the start of their studies and provide evidence that they have valid permission to study in the UK with the University of Leicester.
Returning students
Returning students will only be required to attend a visa checkpoint where an immigration document we have stored against your record has expired or where you have obtained a new passport or visa.
Students who are returning to campus-based study after a break in studies, perhaps after a period of Resit Without Residence or a suspension, will normally have to obtain a new visa before travelling to the UK. Students whose document has expired will have to provide a new passport or visa before completing registration. If either applies to you, you will need to book an appointment to attend a visa checkpoint and complete your registration.
The guidance below will apply to you so please read it carefully. All other returning students whose immigration documentation is still current and valid will complete registration and be made current when their fees for the year have been paid and online registration has been completed. You must pay your fees for the year before you can complete online registration.
Attending your visa checkpoint
January 2025
Visa checkpoint will take place in the multi-use space located on the third floor of the Percy Gee Building. Bookings will open in late November 2024 and will be included in your invite to register as well as any reminders. From Tuesday 21 January 2025 onwards you will need to visit the Information Hub in the David Wilson Library to complete your visa checkpoint.
Once you complete the visa checkpoint you will receive your University ID card and will be able to download a range of letters (including a letter to help you open a UK bank account) that you may need during your studies to confirm your student status. You can find them in the 'My uni documents’ section of My Student Record.
Successfully completing visa checkpoint and completing registration
To successfully complete the visa checkpoint and register with the University all students must have provided:
- a valid passport and visa or
- other acceptable evidence of valid permission to study in the UK
You must only attend your visa checkpoint once you have all the documentation you require (please see full list of documents below depending on your immigration status).
- If you are collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the Post Office please collect this before you attend your visa checkpoint.
- If you opted to collect your BRP from the University when you applied for your visa, we will let you know when this has arrived and invite you to book an appointment to attend your visa checkpoint.
If you do not evidence that you have valid leave (permission) to study in the UK you will not be able to register. Your permission should normally cover the full duration of your programme of study and if it does not you may be asked to speak with a member of Student Immigration Advice and Compliance before you register.
If you are having difficulties providing evidence you should let Student Immigration Advice and Compliance (SIAC) know as soon as possible. With your consent they are able to liaise directly with UKVI to confirm your immigration status and right to study in the UK. To proceed, complete the consent for immigration check form.
Registering on a course of less than 6 months in duration
If you are a non-visa national you do not need a visa to come to the UK for a short period. You can study on courses of up to 6 months without a visa, for instance an English language course or one semester of Study Abroad/Erasmus. You can also do a short piece of research that’s relevant to your course overseas.
You cannot study or register on a course that lasts longer than 6 months, unless it is a distance learning course, in which case you can travel to the UK periodically to meet with your tutor. You are not permitted to work or get public funds. See the guidance on visitors below.
Anyone registering on a full-length degree course who not already holding permission to live, work or study in the UK (e.g., EU Settled Status) will normally need to request a CAS and obtain a student visa. This normally includes students registering for two consecutive Study Abroad semesters.
What to bring with you
Please note all documents must be originals and copies will not be accepted. When travelling we recommend that in addition to the documents below you carry in your hand luggage any documents you used to gain entry to the University and have them ready to show an officer at the border.
Please see below for the relevant information on documentation you must provide depending on your immigration status.
Student visa
Child Student visa
If your entry clearance or BRP states Child Student visa you will not normally be able to enrol unless:
- you have just completed a course of study (A-levels) and have applied for a new Student visa to study with us. Please see the section - 'You are waiting for a decision on your visa application'
- your Child Student visa shows our Sponsor Licence number JTV8BV799 and has been issued in error
If a Child Student visa has been issued in error, you must contact visas@le.ac.uk as soon as possible, providing a copy of your BRP and visa application so they can request a correction. There will be a slight delay in allowing you to register.
Graduate Route visa
Study is not generally allowed on a Graduate Route visa. To register you will have to request a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies and apply for a Student visa. Please note you can only ever obtain one Graduate Route visa so you will not be eligible to apply again after completing your new course.
EU, EEA/Swiss citizens granted EU Pre-Settled/Settled Status
Accepted documents
- Passport or national ID card
- Share code – Please generate a Share Code and complete the Share Code form before booking an appointment and attending the checkpoint. When you generate your code through the online portal you should choose 'something else’ as the reason for the check.
Dependant of an EU, EEA/Swiss national granted EU Pre-Settled/Settled Status
Accepted documents
- Passport
- Share code – Please generate a Share Code and complete the Share Code form before booking an appointment and attending the checkpoint. When you generate your code through the online portal you should choose 'something else’ as the reason for the check.
Visitor
You will only be allowed to register on a course of less than 6 months, for example, one semester of Study Abroad. You cannot extend or switch from a visitor visa in the UK.
If you applied overseas at a Visa Application Centre before traveling you must provide your:
- Passport
- Entry Clearance Vignette
- Boarding card or flight details or
If your passport was stamped at the UK border you will need to provide:
- Passport
- Entry Clearance Vignette
- Date entry stamp or
If you don’t have a vignette or a date stamp in your passport you will need to provide:
- Passport
- Boarding card or flight details
If you do not intend to apply in advance you should additionally carry the documents below with you in your hand luggage and have them available to show a Border Force Officer:
- Your offer letter which shows you have been accepted on to a course with us
- Evidence of funds to support yourself whilst in the UK
- A rental agreement or details of accommodation that you have arranged for your stay
- A return travel ticket or evidence you have the funds to pay for one
You should apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK if you have a criminal record or you’ve previously been refused entry into the UK.
Electronic Travel Waiver (ETA)
You can normally apply for an ETA if you are holding a passport from a country listed below and not already holding a visa. You can study on a course of up to 6 months.
- Bahrain
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
At visa checkpoint you will need to show:
- Passport
- Date-stamp in passport or boarding card or flight details
Short-Term Study visa
This visa is normally only for study on an English Language course of more than 6 months. You must apply for this visa at a Visa Application Centre in your home country before travelling.
Accepted documents
- Passport
- Entry clearance vignette in passport
- Date-stamp in passport or boarding card/flight details
Skilled Worker visa
You will only usually be able to register for a part-time course as your focus should be on the job role you are being sponsored for.
Accepted documents
- Passport
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
Dependant visa
You can normally register on a Dependant visa. If your visa will expire before your course ends you will have to either extend your Dependant visa or request a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies to obtain a Student visa. Please note to qualify for the Graduate Route and meet the UK study requirement you would have to study at least 12 months on the Student visa.
Accepted documents
- Passport
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
British National Overseas (BNO) visa
Most BNO applicants are issued with online digital status.
Accepted documents
- Passport
- Share code – Please generate a Share Code and complete the Share Code form before booking an appointment and attending the checkpoint. When you generate your code through the online portal you should choose 'something else’ as the reason for the check.
British National Overseas (BNO) or British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) Passport
If you are holding a BNO or BOTC passport you will normally be able to enrol on your course. However, this passport will only allow you to visit the UK for up to 6 months, without a visa and you do not automatically have the right of abode or right to work in the UK. Therefore, within 6 months you will have to show that you have applied for either a Student visa or a UK Passport if eligible.
Accepted documents
- Passport
Ukraine Scheme BRP
Accepted documents
- Passport
- BRP card
Asylum or protection in the UK
Accepted documents
- Passport*
- Valid ARC card
*If your passport has expired or you do not have access to your passport you will still be able to register provided you can prove your status in the UK. If your ARC card has expired please complete the consent for immigration history form, providing your consent for us to check your immigration status and permission to study directly with UKVI. You should take your expired ARC card to the Sports Hall as part of the visa checkpoint.
If you have been issued with a BAIL Letter which states ‘No study’ you must tell visas@le.ac.uk, as until this is updated/corrected you will not be able to register or study.
Indefinite Leave to Enter/Remain (or Settlement)
Accepted documents
- Passport
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) OR
- Wet-stamp in passport or recent UKVI letter confirming permission*
*If you are holding a wet-stamp in your passport or other physical evidence, please see our guidance on UKVI’s switch to online digital status. If you already have an online digital status or eVisa, please generate a Share Code and complete the Share Code form before booking an appointment and attending the checkpoint. When you generate your code through the online portal you should choose 'something else’ as the reason for the check.
Waiting for a decision on a visa application
You may not be able to provide a current valid visa at the visa checkpoint or during your studies because you have made a new visa application and are waiting for a decision. In this case, you must provide evidence that you made a valid application before your previous visa expired by providing:
- your current passport or travel document.
- your previous, or most recent visa (or permission) so we can confirm the expiry date
Other acceptable documentation
- a checklist and UKVCAS appointment letter with barcode or
- a biometrics letter or
- an acknowledgement letter from the UKVI
- A copy of the application which shows when payment was taken
- UKVI letter or email confirming the visa has been issued (you must provide new BRP as soon as it arrives)
What we cannot accept
- A solicitor’s letter confirming submission of the application
- Application which does not list your name
- Biometric appointment letter
If you are having difficulty obtaining any of these documents, you should let Student Immigration Advice and Compliance (SIAC) (visas@le.ac.uk) know as soon as possible. With your consent they are able to liaise directly with UKVI to confirm your immigration status and right to study in the UK. To proceed, complete the consent for immigration check form.
To avoid delays at the visa checkpoint, please send a copy of these documents to visas@le.ac.uk before booking your appointment and attending the visa checkpoint.
Once you are enrolled we will make periodic checks to ensure that your application is still pending and you retain the right to study in the UK. If you receive any updates or are notified of a change in your status you should tell visas@le.ac.uk as soon as possible. When you receive your new visa you should take it to the Information Hub in the David Wilson Library so it can be copied for our records. If your visa is refused you must notify visas@le.ac.uk as soon as possible as well as updating us of any appeal.
To successfully pass the visa checkpoint and avoid delays please ensure you print the documents above and have them ready to present at the checkpoint. If you have any concerns around documentation please contact visas@le.ac.uk in advance providing any relevant documentation so they can advise you correctly.