Immigration guidance

We provide immigration advice and guidance to staff and students in line with the rules and regulations set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Our student advice service provides free and confidential advice and information on UK immigration-related matters to prospective and current students, as well as recent graduates. We are:

• Student Immigration Advisor
• Senior Student Immigration and Compliance Officer
• Assistant Registrar

We are legally permitted to offer immigration advice in accordance with:

• Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner’s (OISC) Guidelines
• UK Council for International Student Affairs’ (UKCISA) Code of Ethics

Please note that we are the only members of the University that are legally permitted to offer immigration advice to students. Our Student Immigration Advisors operate within our conditions of service.​

Contact us

For help, advice or to book an appointment, please contact us at [email protected]. We aim to respond to all emails within two to three working days.

This team oversees the University’s responsibilities as a Student visa sponsor. This includes:

• Issuing Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to current students and applicants
• Student registration
• Recording and monitoring passport and visa details
• Reporting student status changes to the Home Office
• Reviewing Break in Studies and Internal Transfer requests for international students
• Auditing student files
• Liaising with our Premium Account Manager at the UKVI
• Monitoring student attendance

As a prospective or current international student, it is important that you understand and comply with the conditions of your Student visa. Non-compliance could mean withdrawal from your studies and a breach in visa conditions, and this will likely be reported to UKVI.

Both Regent's University London and you have some key responsibilities to adhere to. If you are unsure of your responsibilities, please contact [email protected] or refer to the official student guidance.

In most cases international students on a Student visa are allowed to do some work whilst studying in the UK. You should check your visa/Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and expect to see a condition that allows work, but with restrictions.

Students in the UK studying on a Short-term study visa or a Visitor visa are not allowed to work in the UK.

Working in the UK during your studies

As an international student studying at Regent’s University London on a Student visa, you must abide by certain restrictions on the amount and type of work you can undertake.

In any case, if you are uncertain about whether you will breach any UKVI regulations, please contact the Student Immigration and Compliance Services (SICS) department for further advice.

Your work conditions, including the maximum hours you can work during term time, are normally printed on your visa sticker or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

If you are studying at degree level and above	If you are studying a course below degree level
20 hours maximum per week during term time	10 hours maximum per week during term time
Note: This includes work, paid or unpaid, for one or more companies. This also applies to you if you are undertaking your dissertation module or you have re-sits or re-submissions.	Note: This includes work, paid or unpaid, for one or more companies. This also applies to you if you have re-sits or re-submissions.

A ‘week’ is defined as ‘a period of seven days beginning with a Monday’.

Work placements, which are considered to be an assessed part of your course, do not count towards these hours and can be full-time.

However, during official vacation periods, you are allowed to work full-time. Term and vacation dates differ depending on your level and programme of study, so it is important you check before undertaking full-time work. If you want to work more than your usual restricted hours, your employer is required by law to check with Regent’s University London that you are on vacation. If in doubt, please contact the Student Hub, or refer to your academic calendar.

If you are not allowed to work in the UK, you must not work in term time or during vacation periods.

In some cases, students may not be allowed to work if their visa/BRP states: ‘No work’ or ‘Work prohibited’. If you have this on your visa/BRP, or you believe your working hours are incorrect, please get in touch with the Student Immigration Advisor to look into this with you as soon as possible.

It is a breach of your immigration status and a criminal offence if you are found to be working more than your weekly limit, or when you are not permitted to do so. You can be penalised with a fine of £5,000 and/or up to six months’ imprisonment and you would be liable to removal from the UK. You could also be banned from returning to the UK for at least 12 months.

Types of work you cannot undertake:

Student visa holders have certain restrictions on the types of work they can undertake.

You cannot:

• be self-employed
• engage in any business activity
• take a permanent full-time job
• be employed as a professional sportsperson including as a sports coach
• be employed as an entertainer
• be in a permanent full-time job
• work as a doctor or dentist in training

Students who have completed their course:

If you have completed your course, you can work full-time during the remainder of your Student visa. The same limitations to the types of work as listed above apply.

Completion of your course means either the end date of your course as stated on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) or if you complete your course later, or earlier than that date, the date that the award board agrees your award.

National insurance

As an international student, you must pay National Insurance (NI) contributions if you work in the UK. Therefore you only need to apply for a NI number if you plan to work in the UK.

You need to apply for a NI number by phone:

National Insurance number application line
Telephone: 0800 141 2075 
Textphone: 0800 141 2438
Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

You can start work before your NI number arrives if you can prove you can work in the UK – your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will state your work conditions.

As soon as you receive your NI number, you should provide this to your employer.

You might need a visa to visit other European countries while studying at Regent's. The Schengen area covers 26 countries and you can get one visa to visit them all. Before planning your travel, please familiarise yourself with the current government travel advice and Coronavirus restrictions.

Schengen visa

The Schengen visa gives non-EU/EEA nationals the ability to visit multiple countries in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period (short-stay visa) or transit through the area (airport transit visa). It’s a great opportunity to travel to other European countries while you’re in the UK.

Which countries does a Schengen visa cover?

The Schengen area covers the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Spain.

Be aware that the Schengen visa does NOT cover all EU countries. If you want to travel to Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus or Croatia, you would need a separate visa. For more information, please refer to the embassy website of the country you plan to visit.

Do I need a Schengen visa?

If you are a non-EU/EEA national then you will need a Schengen visa to visit or transit through the Schengen area. If you believe you have another form of eligibility (e.g. you are a family member of an EU/EEA national) then please check with the embassy of the country you intend to visit.

There are currently some nationalities who are exempt from getting a Schengen visa for a short term stay but this can change frequently so be sure to check before you travel. 

Exemptions

Nationals from the following countries do not currently require a Schengen Visa*:

Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, North Macedonia, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Serbia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela.

*Information correct as of 11 January 2021. Please check the European Commission website for up to date information. 

Where to apply

You should apply at the embassy of the country you intend to spend the most time in. 

If you plan on travelling between several countries across an equal amount of time then you should apply to the embassy of the country which you will visit first.

When to apply

You can apply for your visa up to three months before you are due to travel. There is no deadline on applications but the application process takes around 15 days. You will not be able to enter the Schengen Area without the visa approved so you are advised to submit your application at least 15 days before you intend to travel. 

An appointment will be required to submit your application so be sure to check with the relevant Consulate or Embassy ahead of your visit.

Applications from certain countries may take up to 60 days to process so you are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Supporting documents

The exact documents you need varies according to the embassy you apply to. The following documents are required for every country:

1. Passport
   • This must have two blank pages and be valid for at least three months after you intend to leave the Schengen area.
   • Some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months, so check this with the embassy.
2. Completed application form
3. Recent passport standard photo x 2
4. Visa fee - €60 per person
   • An additional service fee may be required by the embassy
5. Evidence of being a student at Regent’s University London
   • You can request this via the Student Hub – Document Request
6. Valid medical insurance
7. Proof of funds for the visit
   • Bank statements
   • Amount varies by country but can be as much as €120/day. Check with the embassy
8. Proof of purpose for visit 
   • Accommodation booking/reservation or details of a specific tour itinerary
   • Formal invitation letter from a friend/family member – this may need to be verified by local authorities
   • Booked return travel may be required. If you intend to return to the UK, ensure your visa will still be valid.
9. Your UK BRP or visa vignette if applying in London

Check the website of the relevant embassy to see which documentation is required for your application. You should take your application documents with you when you travel as you can be asked to demonstrate your eligibility at the border.

Remember

• You should keep your passport, visa and application documents with you when travelling into the Schengen area and between countries. There may not be a check at the border but you could still be asked to prove your eligibility to enter a country
• If you intend to work or study in the Schengen area, you should check what type of visa you will require with the embassy of that country
• If you intend to leave and then re-enter the Schengen area then you should obtain a multiple-entry visa
• You should take your BRP or visa with you when you travel in order to be able to re-enter the UK
• If you attempt to re-enter the UK after you have completed your studies but before your Student visa expires you may be questioned by the Home Office about why you are returning and could be refused entry. 

For more information

• EU Commission Guide to Schengen Visas
• EU Member State websites
• UKCISA Guide to Travelling in Europe

Freedom of movement to the UK for EU/EEA nationals and their family members has ended following the UK’s decision to leave the EU. This means there are restrictions on the ability to travel, live and study in the UK for these nationals where there have previously been none.

The EU Settlement Scheme allows EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who entered the UK by 31 December 2020 the right to continue to reside, work and study freely inside the UK after the transitional period ends. Successful applicants will be granted with a settled or pre-settled status. The deadline to apply for most people was 30 June 2021, however, late applications may be considered in exceptional circumstances. You can find the eligibility requirements on the Government website here.

Who can apply?

• EU nationals with a valid passport
• Citizens of the EEA (Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland)
• An eligible family member of someone from the previous two categories.

All the information below applies to people all three of the above categories. 

Conditions

• You must have entered the UK before 31 December 2020 
• The deadline for applications was 30 June 2021; late applications may be considered in exceptional circumstances 

Since the transition period ended on 1 January 2021, European nationals no longer have the automatic right to enter, live or study in the UK. This means that if you leave the country after December 31 2020, you:

• may not be able to re-enter the UK without proof of settled status or a valid work visa 
• will need to apply for a visa under the UK's new immigration system

Categories

When you apply for the EU Settlement Scheme you will be considered for one of two possible categories. The decision is automatic, based on the evidence you provide showing your length of residence in the UK.

Settled status

If you have lived in the UK for a continuous five-year period you can apply for settled status (indefinite leave to remain). This will allow you to remain in the UK permanently and also grants permission to study. If you have left the UK for more than six months in any 12-month period within the last five years, you are ineligible for settled status. This can be extended to 12 months in exceptional cases (such as illness).

Pre-settled status

If you have not lived in the UK for five consecutive years, but you do currently reside here, you can apply for pre-settled status. Then, once you have met the requirement of living in the UK for at least five years, you can apply for settled status.

How to apply

Applying for the EU Settlement Scheme can be done online for free.

The EU Settlement Scheme is not an automatic process and if you wish to receive its benefits then you must apply for it yourself. As with any immigration decision, you will need to assess all available options and determine which is the most appropriate for you. 

If your application is successful, please provide Regent's a confirmation of your status so we can update our records. You can view and prove your status to others using this website.

Supporting documents

When you apply, you'll need to provide evidence of the following:

Your identity. You can prove your identity in a number of ways:

• If your passport has an NFC biometric chip, upload a digital photo with your phone or iPhone (version 7 or higher)
• Complete an online application and upload your photo there. When you finish, post your application to the Home Office – you'll be given the address at the end of the application
• Make an appointment to scan your ID document at a service location across the UK. Please follow this link and enter your postcode to find your nearest location.

Residential history. You'll need to show evidence of how long you have lived in the UK.

• If you're applying for Settled Status, provide your National Insurance Number. This links your application to your HMRC tax records and establishes the length of your residency. Please see the UK Home Office website for other types of acceptable evidence of residency.
• If you're applying for Pre-Settled Status, you can request a Student Status Letter from the Student Hub to evidence that you reside here as a student.

A photograph: upload a digital, passport-style photo of your face.

Criminal history: you'll be asked to declare any criminal convictions.

Other options

If you can't or don't want to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme, you will need to apply under a new immigration route to enter the UK after January 1 2021, and to stay from July 1 2021. If you wish to come to the UK to study on a course longer than 6 months, you will need to apply under the Student route. If you wish to study on a course of up to 6 months, you can enter the UK as a visitor. Please bear in mind that you will not be allowed to work, access the NHS, or extend your stay if you enter as a visitor.

Updating your details

To update your details once you've applied for the scheme, please inform us at [email protected]

For more information 

Regent's Student Immigration & Compliance Services are available to help and support all international students; you can contact them at [email protected]. For more advice, you can also:

• Talk to a specialist immigration advisor. Search for an advisor with UK Government's online tool
• Sign up for email alerts on the UK Government website
• Read useful information for students from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). UKCISA have also provided advice for students with families, and advice on post-Brexit rules and entitlements

All Regent's students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their nationality. This means there’s no uncertainty as to what EU students’ fees will be in the future.

However, you may wish to apply for funding to support your studies. If this is the case, you'll need to be aware of some important dates.

If your course starts on or before July 31 2021

The UK Government has confirmed that EU students who will start their course before July 31 2021 will remain eligible for financial support for the duration of their course, even if the course is due to end after the UK’s exit from the EU.

If your course starts on or after August 1 2021

If your course starts on or after August 1 2021, and you are an EU student, you will most likely be ineligible for financial support from Student Finance England, unless you're an Irish national, or qualify for a citizen's rights agreement.

With the UK's Graduate visa, you can work in the UK for up to two years after you graduate – applying your skills and advancing your career with valuable local experience and industry connections. 

Under the Graduate visa, you'll be able to stay in the UK for up to two years after graduating (three years if you've completed a PhD) to work, or look for work, without the pressure of having to secure a job immediately. 
 
The scheme launched on 1 July 2021 and is now open for applications. Before applying please familiarise yourself with the eligibility criteria explained in the sections below. 
 
Once you've received your Graduate visa, you can start to work immediately at any level – including self-employment and voluntary work. Although this route is non-extendable, you can apply for a different visa before the Graduate visa expires – such as a Skilled Work visa – to continue working in the UK.

What is the Graduate route?

It is a new visa for international students who wish to extend their stay in the UK to work, or look for work, after they have completed their studies. 

Who can apply for this visa?

In order to be eligible, you must successfully complete an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a UK Higher Education Provider such as Regent’s University London and still have a valid Tier 4 or Student visa at the time of applying.

You must apply from inside the UK. If you are currently overseas there might be a deadline by which you need to return to the UK before applying for the Graduate visa. Please check this with our Student Immigration Adviser for further information.

What will I receive? 

Successful applicants will receive a one-time, non-extendable visa to stay in the UK for a further period of 2 years (Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates) or 3 years (PhD/Doctorate students). The visa will allow you to work in the UK at any skill level, including self-employment and voluntary work. You do not need to find employment before applying for this visa – you will be able to receive this visa to stay in the UK and look for work.

How to apply for this visa

The application process for most applicants will be entirely digital. You will need to use an app on your phone to prove your identity and submit an online application form through the Government website. Please refer to this guide published by the UK Government for more information. 

How much does it cost?

The visa application fee has been confirmed as £700. The Immigration Health Surcharge will cost you £624 per year.

What documents should I prepare?

In order to apply, you will need:

• A valid passport or a travel document
• Your CAS number which you used with your last Tier 4/Student visa application; if you no longer have your CAS number, please contact us and we will be able to provide it
• You may need your latest, up-to-date police registration certificate, if you were required to register with the police (your application will not be adversely affected if you were unable to register due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
• If you have been officially financially sponsored (both for your maintenance and course fees) within 12 months of the date of your application, you will need a letter of consent from your official financial sponsor
• There may be more documentation required depending on your individual circumstances.

There is no financial requirement, which means that you won't need to demonstrate that you have a minimum amount of funds available in your bank account in order to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be able to extend my Graduate visa?

No – the Graduate visa route is a non-extendable visa. You can only obtain this visa once. You can, however, apply for a different visa before your Graduate visa expires: for example, a Skilled Worker visa, if your employer wishes to sponsor you under this route.

Can I apply for this visa if I am completing my course in the UK on a Visitor visa?

Unfortunately not – you can only apply for a Graduate visa if your most recent visa is a Tier 4 or Student visa, and if it is still valid at the date of application.

Can I apply for this visa if I do not complete my course?

No – one of the main eligibility criteria of this route is that you complete your course successfully. Only once your course is completed can you apply for a Graduate visa.

How will the UK Visas and Immigration know that I completed my course?

Your Student visa sponsor (Regent’s University London) will be required to confirm this to the UKVI in order for you to be eligible for a Graduate visa.

Can I apply for this visa if I changed my course?

Yes, you will be able to apply for a Graduate visa if you changed your course at Regent’s as long as you successfully complete the new course.

My visa expires before I complete my course – can I still apply for the Graduate visa?

You have to complete your course before applying for the Graduate route visa. You also need to have a valid Student visa at the time of application.

If your current Student visa expires before your course is completed (for example, because you have to re-sit an exam), please contact our Student Immigration Adviser for further guidance.

Do I need a sponsor to apply for the Graduate visa?

You do not need a sponsor nor a job offer in order to apply. This visa will allow you to stay in the UK and look for work if you do not have a job at the time of applying.

Will there be a cap on my working allowance? 

Unlike with the Student visa, the Graduate visa will not specify the number of hours you can work each week. It will also allow you to work at any skill level, including self-employment and voluntary work. You will not be permitted to work as professional sportsperson.

Can I study on the Graduate route visa?

You can undertake some study on this visa. However, if you wish to study with a Student visa sponsor on a course that normally requires a Student visa, you will not be able to undertake such a course under your Graduate visa; you would need to apply for another Student visa and meet the requirements of the route.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at [email protected].

If your Biometric Residence Permit is lost, damaged, or stolen, you will need to report it and apply for a new BRP card within a specified timeframe. You will need to apply for a replacement BRP if your lost BRP was valid for 3 months or more – failure to do so may result in a fine of up to £1,000. If your BRP was valid for less than 3 months, you do not need to apply for a replacement but you will still need to report the loss. This page will tell you what to do depending on your circumstances.

Keeping your BRP safe

To avoid having to replace your BRP in the future, we recommend keeping it in a safe place. You are not required to carry your BRP with you wherever you go. You will need it when travelling abroad (to show at the UK Border on re-entry), and may sometimes need it when accessing the NHS services or opening a bank account. However, in many other day-to-day situations, you will not need your BRP – it is not a requirement to carry an ID with you in the UK. As such, we really encourage you to keep it at home in a safe place and only take it with you when you need it.

If you are in the UK

If you lost your BRP and are currently in the UK, you will need to undertake the following steps to obtain a new BRP:

• If the card was stolen, report the theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number
• Report your BRP as lost/stolen by submitting this online form to the UKVI
• Apply for a BRP replacement using this online form – this will normally cost £75.20 and needs to be done within 3 months of your document being lost

As a part of the last step, you will be asked to book and attend a biometrics appointment (to provide your facial photograph and fingerprints again). Once you have attended the appointment, you should receive the decision within 8 weeks, although you may choose to pay extra for a faster decision. Please let us know once you receive your new BRP as we will need to update our records.

You can also find an overview of the process on the Government website here.

If you need to travel

If you lost your BRP in the UK and wish to travel abroad, we would strongly encourage you to obtain a new BRP before travelling. You may be able to choose a priority service when applying for your BRP replacement to accelerate the process (this will come at an additional cost).

If you do travel outside the UK without your BRP, you will need to make additional arrangements in order to return to the UK. These are described in the ‘If you are outside the UK’ section below.

If you are outside the UK

If you lost your BRP abroad and are currently outside the UK, there will be an additional step for you to take. This is because it is not possible to apply for a new BRP from overseas directly – you must be in the UK first. However, you cannot return to the UK without your BRP. Therefore, as a first step, you will need to apply for a document confirming your immigration permission which you will then show at the UK Border on arrival. This document is called a ‘replacement BRP visa’ and is granted in a form of a vignette (sticker) endorsed in your passport.

As such, if you lost your BRP overseas, these are the steps to follow in order to obtain a new BRP:

• If the card was stolen, report the theft to the local police and obtain a crime reference number
• Report your BRP as lost/stolen by submitting this online form to the UKVI
• Apply for a ‘replacement BRP visa’ using this online form – it will cost £154 and as a part of the process, you will need to book and attend a biometrics appointment overseas
• Once your application is approved and a ‘replacement BRP visa’ is endorsed in your passport, you will need to travel back to the UK within its validity dates
• Once you are in the UK, you will need to apply for a BRP replacement using this online form – this will normally cost £75.20 and needs to be done within 3 months of your document being lost

As a part of the last step, you will be asked to book and attend a biometrics appointment (to provide your facial photograph and fingerprints again). Once you have attended the appointment, you should receive the decision within 8 weeks although you may choose to pay extra for a faster decision. Please let us know once you receive your new BRP as we will need to update our records.

You can also find an overview of the process on the Government website here.

If you have any questions or doubts, please contact us at [email protected].

It may occasionally happen that you find an error on your visa documents, or that you do not receive your document in the timeframe expected. Please see the below headings for advice on what to do in your situation. Please also contact us to make us aware of you circumstances and the action taken, or for any further assistance.

There is an error on my Entry Clearance visa vignette

If you spot an error on your Entry Clearance vignette (the sticker in your passport) while you are still in your home country, you will need to contact your Visa Application Centre (VAC) in the first instance and explain that an error has been made. This should then be corrected for you free of charge. An error on your vignette could be, for instance, incorrect validity dates, a misspelled name, wrong date of birth, or an incorrect Sponsor licence number (you can check this on your CAS).

If you spot an error on your Entry Clearance vignette when you already are in the UK and you are due to receive a BRP card, we would advise to wait for your BRP and see if the error appears on the BRP card as well. If it does, you will need to report it – see the below section ‘There is an error on my BRP’ for information on how to do this.

If your Entry Clearance vignette has been issued for the entire length of your stay and there is an error on it, please contact us for information on how to correct it. 

If your overall stay in the UK exceeds 6 months, your Entry Clearance visa should not be valid for the entire length of your stay and instead, you should receive a BRP card. If your vignette has been issued for a period of over 6 months, please contact us for information on how to correct it.

My Entry Clearance visa vignette has expired

If your Entry Clearance visa vignette expired before you were able to travel, you will need to apply to replace it. This process currently costs £154 and is described in this short guide. 

I have lost my passport with the Entry Clearance visa vignette

If you lose your passport before you travel to the UK, you will first need to apply for a new passport. You should also report the loss/theft to the police and may be asked to prove this with the application for a replacement vignette. Once you have a new passport, you will be able to apply for a transfer of your visa vignette. Please contact us for further guidance.

If you have already travelled to the UK, you will need to contact the Embassy of your country to obtain a new passport. Unless your visa vignette was valid for the entire length of your stay, you will not need a new Entry Clearance visa as once you are in the UK, your BRP becomes your official visa document. If your vignette was valid for the duration of your stay or if you lost your passport before you managed to collect your BRP, please contact us for further guidance.

There is an error on my BRP

It sometimes happens that an error is printed on your BRP card. If you spot an error, it is crucial that you inform us of it. We will also check your BRP to see if there are any errors.

Examples of BRP errors:

• Your personal details are incorrect (name, date of birth, etc.)
• The expiry date is incorrect (your visa is too short or too long*)
• Your working allowance is incorrect (for example, you have been given 10h where your course entitles you to 20h/week, or the other way around)
• The sponsor licence number is incorrect (you can check against your CAS)

*Your visa should be valid until the end of your course + 2 additional months if the duration of your course is under 12 months or 4 additional months if your course is 12 months or longer.

When we confirm the error, we will tell you how to report it to the Home Office. You can also read more about BRP error reporting on the Government website here. 

My BRP has not arrived

If you applied to extend your visa or to replace your BRP in the UK, the document will be delivered to your chosen address by a delivery company called TNT. It should normally arrive within 10 days of receiving your decision letter from the Home Office (the decision letter is the letter which confirms the outcome of your application).

If your BRP is not delivered in the expected timeframe or if you miss the delivery, you should contact the delivery company in the first place. If TNT is unable to help, you should then report it to the UK Visas and Immigration.

Guidance on how to contact TNT and the UKVI with regards to your BRP delivery is provided on the Government website here. If in doubt, please contact us for further guidance.

My BRP is not at the Post Office

If you applied for your visa from outside the UK, you will have a designated BRP collection point in the UK. The UKVI letter which you received when your visa application was approved will confirm where to collect your BRP from. During the pandemic, this will normally be a Post Office, as the University has suspended their Alternative Collection Location (ACL) service. If your decision letter shows Regent’s University London as your BRP collection point, please contact us for further guidance.

If you go to the designated Post Office and your BRP card is not there, please let us know and we will contact the UKVI to check this on your behalf. 

If you cannot collect your BRP card as you are under 18, please contact us so we can arrange the collection together.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Your Student visa is intended to cover the duration of your studies in the UK but does not necessarily cover your graduation. If your Student visa expires before your graduation ceremony takes place, you will not be able to extend it for the purpose of attending graduation. Instead, you will need to obtain another visa.

Visitor Visa

Please make sure to familiarise yourself with the current Coronavirus restrictions on entering the UK before planning your travel. 

Please note that it is currently not possible to enter the UK from a red-list country on a visitor permission.

If your Student visa expires before the graduation ceremony and you do not have another permission to stay in the UK, we would normally advise you to apply for a Visitor visa. You can only apply for this visa from overseas, it is not possible to apply for this visa in the UK. 

Not everyone needs to apply for a Visitor visa in advance of arriving in the UK; if you are a non-visa national, you may be able to obtain this permission directly at the UK border. To determine if you need to apply for this visa in advance, please use the checker available here. 

Whether you apply for your visa in advance or as a non-visa national receive this permission at the border upon entry, you should provide the following documents:

• A valid passport (with at least one free page for your visa)
• A formal invitation to the Graduation Ceremony issued by Regent’s University London
• Details of where you intend to stay; you can submit supporting evidence such as a letter from your host, hotel reservation details or a tenancy agreement*
• Evidence of your intent to leave the UK (funds for a return/onwards travel or booked tickets)*
• Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay: this includes living costs, accommodation, tuition fees and travel costs; Acceptable evidence can be either 6 months’ bank statements or payslips
• When planning how much money you will need to show for your application, we advise you to have a minimum of £1,334 per month for living costs
• Failure to show sufficient funds is one of the more common grounds for visa refusal. Please ensure you provide evidence which clearly shows the money you have available. If in doubt, please consult with the Student Immigration Advisor at [email protected] 
• Official translations of any documents which are not in English or Welsh

* You should be careful about what accommodation and travel you pay for before you receive your visa in case your application is refused.

Visa nationals will need to submit the application online on the Government website here.
You can also read more about the Visitor visa and the application process on our website here.

Graduate visa

The Graduate visa permits you to stay in the UK and work after your studies for a period of 2 or 3 years. This visa is not in place for the purpose of attending your graduation ceremony but, if you obtain it, it will also allow you to attend the ceremony. If you are interested in staying in the UK after your studies to work, please refer to the information provided here to check if you may be eligible for this visa. If you do not wish to work in the UK and only need a visa to attend the graduation ceremony, you should apply for a Visitor visa instead. 

Inviting overseas family and friends to your Graduation Ceremony

If you wish to invite someone from overseas to attend the ceremony with you, they will need to apply for a Visitor visa. We cannot issue an invitation letter in their name. Instead, you should write a letter in which you invite them to join you for the Graduation Ceremony. They should include your letter as well as the formal invitation issued by the University in your name with their visa application.

The standard processing time for Visitor visa applications is around 3 weeks.

If you are from an EU country, or from Switzerland, and you are studying in the UK for more than 6 months, you may be eligible for a refund of the healthcare fee which you paid when applying for your visa. Currently, Student visa applicants need to pay £470 per year to have access to the NHS while in the UK – the fee needs to be paid in advance and for the full duration of the visa at the application stage. The payment of the healthcare fee is a mandatory step in the visa application process.

However, the Government introduced a scheme under which EU and Swiss nationals can claim reimbursement of that fee. Depending on your circumstances, the refund may be backdated as far as 1st January 2021. To be considered for the refund, you need to have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by your country and you must not work or intend to work in the UK on your Student visa.

If you receive the refund, you will only be able to access medically necessary treatment in the UK as opposed to a broader NHS provision available for those who paid IHS. It is important that you consider your circumstances before applying.

Who can apply?

You can apply if all the below conditions are met:

• You are from the EU or Switzerland
• You are a full-time student at Regent’s
• Your visa stared on or after 1st January 2021
• You have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in EU/Switzerland
• You do not work and do not intend to work in the UK: as advised by the UKVI, if you work in the UK, your EHIC will no longer be valid as your home country will no longer be responsible for your healthcare while you’re in the UK.

Important notes:

• Consider if you wish to apply for the reimbursement: if successful, you will be able to access only what is considered ‘medically necessary treatment’ during your stay and may be charged for treatment not regarded as such – this is for the healthcare provider to assess
• Reimbursement will cover the dates when your EHIC is valid – you must have had at least 6 months left on your EHIC when your visa started
• If you renew your EHIC, you may be able to apply for further reimbursement
• If you arrived in the UK on your visa in 2021, you must submit the application by 31st December 2022
• If you arrive from 1st January 2022, you will have a year to apply from the start date of your visa
• UKVI recommend applying as soon as possible 
• For students from the EU, reimbursement will be backdated to include surcharge payments made for visa starting on or after 1st Jan 2021
• For Swiss students, this will be backdated no further than 1st November 2021
• The type of visa you are on does not affect your eligibility for this scheme (however, you must have paid IHS as a part of your visa application to be eligible)
• Your dependants may also be eligible for the reimbursement

Before applying, please familiarise yourself with the information on the Government website here.