Document Checklist
UK Student Visa Document Checklist (2026)
The UK Student visa is decided on your CAS record and the evidence that backs it up — your maintenance funds, English proof and, for some applicants, a TB certificate or ATAS clearance. Gather these before you start the online application, and confirm every figure against current GOV.UK guidance, since maintenance amounts and document rules are reviewed periodically.
Your CAS and course
- CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) numberIssued by your licensed education sponsor, usually 2–6 weeks after you accept your offer and any deposit. Your application form pulls course, fee and sponsor details directly from this reference number.
- Unconditional offer confirmationYour CAS should reflect an unconditional place — conditions like outstanding English test results or final transcripts should be cleared before your sponsor issues it.
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificateRequired for some postgraduate research and certain science, engineering and technology subjects at Master's level or above. Apply for this separately and well before your visa application — it is not issued instantly.
Identity and English
- Valid passport or travel documentCovering your intended period of study, with at least one blank page for a vignette if you're applying from outside the UK.
- Proof of English abilityCEFR B2 for degree-level courses, B1 below degree level — via an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), a UK qualification, or an English-taught non-UK degree assessed by Ecctis. Your CAS will confirm which route applies to you.
- BiometricsFingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre, or a digital identity scan via the UK Immigration: ID Check app where your nationality is eligible.
Money and maintenance
- Maintenance funds evidence£1,529 per month if studying in London, £1,171 per month outside London, for up to 9 months of your course (a capped total, not open-ended).
- 28-day bank statementsThe balance must not drop below the required amount at any point across a continuous 28-day window, ending within 31 days of your application date.
- Financial sponsor letter (if applicable)A government body, international organisation, or your university itself covering fees or living costs — your CAS records this and you're exempt from showing the funds yourself if it applies.
- Parent or legal guardian consent and funds (under 18 applicants)Additional consent letter and, in some cases, evidence of the funds being held by or on behalf of a parent or guardian.
Health and conditional documents
- Tuberculosis (TB) test certificateRequired if you've lived for more than 6 months in a country on the Home Office's TB-testing list; test at a clinic the Home Office approves for UK visa purposes, valid for 6 months from the test date.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) paymentPaid as part of your online application, covering NHS access for your visa's full length; not a separate document, but budget for it alongside the visa fee.
- Certified translationsFor any supporting document not already in English or Welsh.
- Academic transcripts or qualification certificatesNot always required upfront, but keep them ready — caseworkers can request them, and your sponsor will already have verified them for your CAS.
If dependants apply with you
- Proof of relationshipA marriage or civil partnership certificate, or evidence of a relationship equivalent to marriage, for a partner.
- Children's birth certificatesShowing your relationship to each dependent child.
- Additional maintenance funds per dependantOn top of your own requirement — Student visa dependant rules are narrower than on work routes, so confirm your course level and CAS actually permit dependants before assuming they can join you.
Tips
- Apply as soon as your CAS is issued — you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts from overseas, or 3 months if applying from inside the UK.
- Don't let your bank balance dip below the required maintenance amount at any point during the 28-day window, even briefly — a single low day can fail the financial requirement.
- Match every figure — your name, course dates, and financial amounts — exactly across your CAS, bank statements, and application form; small mismatches are a common, avoidable refusal trigger.
- Book your TB test early if you need one — appointments at approved clinics can have multi-week waits in high-demand countries.
- Keep your CAS reference confidential and use it only once; a CAS is tied to a single application.
Requirements change — always confirm the current list with the official source before you submit.
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