Registering on a Student visa

• Passport
• Entry clearance vignette with sponsor licence number JTV8BV799
• Boarding card or flight details

Students will no longer be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) in the UK, and instead, your grant/decision letter or email will include guidance on how to create your UKVI account and generate your online digital status (eVisa).

In January 2024, as entry clearance vignettes are still being issued, if you applied for your visa overseas you will be able to register with the documents above. You will not need to provide us with a Share Code as UKVI will provide us with the details of your online digital status or eVisa. If you applied for your visa in the UK please refer to the ‘If you applied for your Visa in the UK’ section below. 

• 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.

You should wait for confirmation from visas@le.ac.uk that they have received and updated your details before booking a visa checkpoint slot.

• Passport
• Entry clearance vignette
• Boarding card or flight details

UKVI stopped issued BRPs on 1 November 2024 so anyone whose visa application was processed after this date will have been issued with digital online status (eVisa). 

• 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.

You should wait for confirmation from visas@le.ac.uk that they have received and updated your details before booking a visa checkpoint slot.

We can only let you register whilst waiting for a decision on a visa application if you submitted the application in-time (before your previous visa expired. Therefore, we will need to see your most recent visa as well as your application documentation which shows clearly when the application was submitted (date payment submitted). 

• Passport
• Most recent visa (BRP, wet-stamp in passport, Share Code)
• Visa application checklist (your must be named on the application)

Other acceptable documentation

• UKVCAS appointment letter with barcode or
• Biometrics letter or
• Copy of the application which shows when payment was taken

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, please contact visas@le.ac.uk giving your consent for an immigration history check to be carried out.

You will need to apply for a new visa using a CAS we have issued to you, if:

• You have been studying with another sponsor
• Recently completed another course with us, the University of Leicester

Please note you can only normally apply for your new visa in the UK if you successfully completed your last course. You must provide evidence that you have submitted a new in-time visa application before you can register. This means you must submit the new application before the previous visa expires.

Please see the information above if this applies - 'You are waiting for a decision on your visa application' and email the relevant documents to visas@le.ac.uk.

If you have any difficulties in making this application before you register, please contact visas@le.ac.uk as soon as possible as they will be able to advise you further.

You should plan your travel to arrive in the UK and complete registration before the start date of your course and in time to attend your teaching events including scheduled introductory sessions. However, you must travel to the UK within the validity (start and expiry date) of your entry clearance vignette. If you arrive sooner you will likely have to exit the UK and re-enter during its validity which could be costly and disruptive to your studies.

Sponsored students with a student visa must provide a date stamped entry clearance vignette (visa sticker in passport) and their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP card). If your entry clearance vignette was not stamped you must bring your boarding card or flight booking with you so we can establish and record when you entered the UK. This is an important and mandatory requirement of our student sponsorship.

If your 90 day entry clearance vignette expires before you are able to travel to the UK you must apply online to transfer your visa. The application costs the equivalent of £154 (GDP). You will be provided with a new entry clearance vignette which will permit you to travel to the UK and collect your BRP.

When you travel to the UK you should carry the documents you provided with your visa application in your hand luggage as a UK Border Force Officer can request to see them. Please make try to see a Port Officer at the border to ensure your entry clearance vignette is stamped when you enter the country. If you cannot do this please retain your boarding card or e-ticket and email a copy with your documents to visas@le.ac.uk.