Extending your Student Visa in the UK

Last updated 2 April 2025

When to extend your Student Visa

Before your current Student Visa expires
You can apply for a Student Visa in the UK three months before the start date of your course

This will give you enough time to prepare everything properly and make the process less stressful.

If another university sponsors your Student Visa, you must apply for a new visa sponsored by the RCA before you can start your degree here. You will not be able to enrol on the programme until you have submitted your application.

Who can extend their Student Visa in the UK

You can extend your current Student Visa inside the UK under the following circumstances:

Meet the UKVI academic progression requirement e.g. from undergraduate to postgraduate to PhD.
Your new programme starts within 28 days of the expiry of your current visa.
If you are required to be here in the UK for your referral, only if it means you need to attend any classes or use the College facilities as part of your referral, you will need authorisation from your department.
If you require more time to complete your PhD, and this has been agreed with the research team, supervisor and Head of Programme.
If you are working as a student union sabbatical officer.

Who cannot extend their Student Visa in the UK

You cannot extend your Student Visa in the UK under the following circumstances:

If you are not required to be here in the UK for your referral it means you do not need to attend any classes or use the college facilities as part of your referral
If you are on a Standard visitor visa or a Short-Term Visa.
If your new course starts more than 28 days after your current visa expires.
If you have overstayed your visa (If you’ve stayed longer than you're allowed to under your visa or leave; this is called overstaying). If you have overstayed on your visa you must contact student-support@rca.ac.uk immediately for advice.
To gain eligibility for the Graduate visa, there must be an academic need for the extension.
If you have not met the Home Office academic progression requirement (see Appendix Student 14.3 on the Gov.UK website).

Academic progression

If you are currently studying in the UK, to apply for a new Student Visa inside the UK you will need to have completed your previous studies on a Student Visa and meet the Home Office academic requirements:

Provide a certificate, transcript, or (if at degree level) a university letter confirming:
- you are highly likely to pass
- the date your qualification will be awarded.
The new course must be at a higher level than your previous one.

If your degree is at the same level as the previous degree, it must be:

Related to your previous course.
Combined with previous studies to support career goals and aspirations. (You must state why the course meets this requirement).
Your CAS must include a progression justification.

The application process

Step 1: Getting your CAS

The process of arranging your CAS number will begin after you have accepted your offer, uploaded all required documents and paid your deposit, but it also depends on whether you are inside or outside the UK.

Please refer to the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number.

Step 2 : Check the UKVI Financial Requirements for extending your Student Visa

Living In the UK for 12 months or more

If you have been living in the UK for the past 12 months or more with a valid visa and are applying to extend your visa from within the UK, you will automatically meet the financial requirements. However, we recommend having your financial documents prepared in case the UKVI requests evidence of your finances

Living in the UK for less than 12 months

If you have lived in the UK for less than 12 months, you will not meet the financial requirements. This means you must demonstrate you have sufficient funds to cover your outstanding tuition fees and living expenses for one academic year.

.The maintenance level is set at £1,483 per month for nine months a total of £13,347
You must hold the money in an account in your name or a parent’s/legal guardian's name, for a minimum period of 28 days before submitting your online visa application.
You'll need to provide a bank statement or letter from your bank confirming that the money has been held for a minimum of 28 days consecutively.
This letter or statement must be no more than 31 days old on the date that you submit your application.
If you are relying on your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), you will need their permission to use this and provide evidence that they are your parents/legal guardians (birth certificate or another official document).
If you will receive official financial support, including sponsorship, a scholarship or a bursary, please ensure that this funding meets UKVI's requirements. If not, you are required to submit a bank statement to supplement your funding

Please note: You cannot use money in a company or business account, or a different relative such as a sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle.

UKVI financial verification checks

The UKVI conduct verification checks when considering financial evidence and will refuse the application if your bank does not verify the statements. If your bank is not willing to verify financial statements for data protection reasons or for service charges, UKVI will refuse the application. If you are concerned about this, then please consult your bank directly regarding their policies. You can also find out more about the financial requirements on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website and the Gov.UK website.

Differential evidence requirement

If you are a national of a country on the Government's Differential Evidence Requirement List, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, you are not required to submit evidence to show that you meet the financial requirements or provide your academic qualifications used to obtain an offer of study.

Although you do not need to provide this evidence of your finances, you must confirm in your application that you meet the eligibility and financial requirements and have these documents. The Home Office will retain the right to request sight of these documents.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

Additional documents will be needed at the point of making your visa application.

Your CAS
Passport(s)/travel document(s)
Application fee
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) English language ability (as stated in your CAS)
Sponsorship letter (national government or any international organisation, international company)
A letter from your parent/legal guardian if they are supporting you financially, and evidence of their relationship with you
All documents provided should be in English. Officially certified translations are accepted where necessary.

Step 4: Apply online

Once you have received your CAS have prepared your documents and meet the financial requirements you should complete the online visa application form: Student Visa: Extend your visa, Gov.UK website.

Apply using the UK Immigration ID app

The UK Immigration: ID Check app streamlines the identity verification process for visa applicants, allowing you to confirm your identity without attending an in-person appointment.

Before using the app, you must start your visa application online and create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account:

You can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app if you have:

A biometric passport (with a chip).
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) previously issued with an expiry date of 31 December 2024.

Ensure you have access to a compatible smartphone:

Android 8.0 or above is capable of Near-Field Communication (NFC) functions.
- Download the app from the Google Play Store.
iPhone 7 or newer models, iOS 15 or later
- Download the app from the App Store

Once you have completed this, you can continue with the rest of the visa application online.

If you are not able to use the UK immigration: ID app, you will need to complete the online application and book a biometric appointment.

Step 5: Pay your Immigration Health Surcharge and visa application fee

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Fee

£776 per year plus £388 (half rate fee under 6 months long. This online tool helps calculate your IHS

Visa application fee

£490 for standard service ( increasing to £524 on 9 April 2025)
£500 for priority services
£1,290 for super priority service

This online tool helps calculate your visa application expenses.

Get a faster decision on your application.

Step 6: Complete your application

After successfully verifying your identity:

Return to your online application to complete the remaining sections.
Review all information carefully before submission.
Upload any required documents (if applicable).
Ensure you download a copy of your completed application for future reference.

If you are not using the UK immigration ID app at the end of the application you will be directed to book a biometric appointment.

Here is a step-by-step guide to booking your biometric appointment.

Step 7: Wait for a decision

The processing time

The standard processing time for a Student Visa is 8 weeks. It will be less if you have paid for the priority service.

When processing starts

UKVI begins processing your application after you:

Verify your identity and submit documents using the UK Immigration: ID Check app (if eligible).
Attend an in-person appointment at: UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service).

SSC (Service and Support Centre) to provide fingerprints & a photo (biometric information).

Wheprocessing ends

You’ll receive a letter or email when a decision has been made.
You can stay in the UK while waiting for a decision, as long as you applied before your visa expires

You do not need to contact the UKVI to track your application if your application is within the processing time. They will not be able to provide you with any information.

Watch the UKVI video on understanding processing times

When your application takes longer

You might wait longer If:

Information is not accurate and requires further attention.
Further evidence is required for example evidence of funds.
Your support documents need to be verified.
Further information is required on the circumstances that have been declared in your application.
UKVI is experiencing increased visa demand.
Unexpected technical issues affecting visa systems.

Before contacting the international student adviser, please make sure you have attempted to contact the UKVI yourself first. The advisers will not be able to contact the UKVI on your behalf during the processing time. We will require written consent to contact the UKVI on your behalf.

Do not travel before a decision is made.

Leaving the UK before a decision could result in an automatic withdrawal of your application. Please do not travel outside the UK during this time until your Student Visa has been granted.

Your Health surcharge will be refunded, but the application fee may not be.
You’ll need to reapply before returning to the UK.

Please contact student-support@rca.ac.uk if you have any questions

Step 8: Receive your decision

If your visa application has been approved, you will receive a visa decision via email, You will not get a BRP; instead, you will get an electronic record of your immigration status in the UK known as an eVisa.

Visit our eVisa page for more details on:

Creating a UKVI account/ Updating your account.
Proving your immigration status.
Reporting an error on your eVisa.
Troubleshooting and reporting technical issues.

What if my visa application has been refused

If your visa application has been refused, you must inform Student Support and Admissions as soon as possible.

In your email provide the following information:

your name and student number
nationality
date of birth
date and location of the application
scanned copies of the refusal letters ( all pages)
a copy of your visa application.

The international student advisor will review your refusal and provide guidance. If the refusal is correct and justified, you may be able to reapply from outside the UK, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.

Reasons for visa refusals

incomplete application forms
Insufficient financial evidence
Invalid documentation
no longer meet the UKVI requirement
not responding to email queries from the Home Office

If your visa application has been refused by UKVI due to an error, you may have the option to challenge the decision through an administrative review. For applicants applying from within the UK, you have a maximum of 14 days to request this review after receiving the refusal. By submitting an administrative review, your application will be reassessed by a different caseworker. If the initial refusal was indeed an error, the decision should be overturned, and your visa will be granted.

If you wish to apply for administration review you need to read the information on the UKVI website and apply online. The fee is £80 which will be refunded to you if your administrative review is successful. If your refusal is justified by the UKVI and your previous visa has expired you will become an overstayer. Send a scan of your entire refusal notice paperwork to Admissions and Student Support, and individuals in the teams will help you through the next steps.

Overstaying in the UK

Overstaying in the UK is a criminal offence, therefore, you must arrange to leave the UK or make an application to extend your stay before your visa expires. If you submit your Student Visa before your expiry date, then your permission in the UK will extend until a decision has been made.

If your visa application is invalid, your current visa has expired, and there is no grace period, once your visa expires, you will have no legal permission to be in the UK until you get a new visa.

This will mean that:

You cannot work or study (the College will suspend your enrolment)
You may need to pay for any healthcare that you receive
Your bank may close your account
You will need to state on each future UK visa application that you overstayed your leave.

You cannot make a visa application in the UK once your visa has expired, unless:

You can prove that the overstay was for reasons beyond your control, e.g. hospitalisation or the Home Office website not working.

Overstay of up to 30 days

You will only be able to make a new application to return to the UK if your period of overstay was less than 30 days, and you left the UK voluntarily and at your own expense.

Overstay of more than 30 days

If you overstay for more than 30 days in the UK, you will be banned from returning for one to ten years.

Contact Student Support.

Please speak to an adviser to seek full advice about your options as early as possible to avoid overstaying. This could seriously affect future applications to the UK and other countries.

Applying from outside the UK

If you will be applying for a new Student Visa from outside the UK, please visit Student Visa.

Royal College of Art students at Battersea

Contact us

If you have any outstanding questions around your Student Visa, contact the Student Support team.

Email us at
student-support@rca.ac.uk