Find out what you need to do to apply for Standard Visitor visa permission. We also include guidance about the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) that will apply to certain Non-Visa Nationals. Documents you need to prepare You will need: your passport You will also need documentation showing: the purpose of your visit your invitation letter from the University of Edinburgh with details of your programme how you intend to support yourself financially during your stay for example, bank statements, scholarship letter, educational loan documents your accommodation for example, an accommodation contract or evidence of temporary accommodation where you will stay while you look for somewhere to live your intention to leave the UK before the end of the 6-months period for example, return flight tickets or evidence that you are expected to return to your home country to complete your studies your ATAS certificate, if required Information about the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) You can find full details for the Standard Visitor visa including the visa fees and more information about the required documents on the UKVI website. UKVI information for Standard Visitor visas How to apply for your immigration permission Visa nationals If you are a national of one of the countries on the visa national list, you will need to make your application online and submit your fingerprints and a digital photo at your nearest visa application centre. UKVI list of visa nationals You can find detailed information on how to answer the questions in the online visa application form in our application guide: Document Standard visitor visa | Application Guidance (2.79 MB / PDF) Apply for a Standard Visitor visa Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for specific Non-Visa Nationals Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) - permission to travel to the UK What is an ETA? The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is new and has replaced the former Electronic visa waiver. An ETA is an advance travel permission required by specified non-visa nationals when coming to the UK as a visitor or transiting the UK. Certain nationalities will need to get an ETA if: Coming to the UK as a Standard Visitor upon arrival, for up to 6 months only for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study reasons. If you will be a Visitor to the UK, you can apply for an ETA now if you’re a national of: Bahrain Jordan Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates The ETA requirement will be rolled out to other non-visa nationalities by the end of 2024. An ETA is required by specified non-visa nationals in advance of travel to the UK. However, permission to enter as a Standard Visitor upon arrival is up to 6 months maximum only. Visitors must still ensure they meet the Standard Visitor visa requirements at the point of arrival to the UK and throughout their visit duration. Visitors must ensure they do not overstay their permission in the UK. You will not need an ETA, if you have either a visa or already hold valid permission to live, work or study in the UK. If coming to the UK to study on a programme of longer than 6 months, you will need a Student visa. Check if you need to make a UK visa application How to apply for an ETA Each traveller must get their own ETA, including children and babies. It costs £10 to apply online (no refunds available). An ETA decision may take up to 3 working days. You’ll receive an email confirming you’ve been issued an ETA - linked to your passport. An ETA is given for 2 years or until your passport expiry date - whichever is earlier. An ETA holder must meet visa requirements as a Visitor to the UK, which may be checked by a Border Force immigration officer upon entry into the UK. An ETA is only 'permission to travel' to the UK and does not act in itself as immigration permission to enter the UK. You should keep a copy of your approved ETA to show upon entry to the UK with a border immigration officer. Keep a copy of your ETA entry, boarding pass(es) or flight itinerary to prove how and what date you have entered the UK (this evidence is for international check-in purposes) ETA Refusal If you receive an ETA refusal, first read the UKVI decision email carefully for your options. However, there is no right to administrative review or appeal against a decision made on an ETA application. Please send us an online enquiry, if you need further advice about the ETA. Next steps If you have received a successful visitor visa decision after an application (entry clearance) please make sure to only travel to the UK after the start date of your visa vignette, whilst it is valid. Travelling to the UK What to do if your application has been refused HTML Contact us immediately if your visa application has been refused. Email us at studentimmigration@ed.ac.uk In your email, provide the following: your name your date of birth your nationality your student number where you made your application an attachment with your refusal notice (include all pages) We prioritise visa refusals, so you can get advice as quickly as possible. This article was published on 2024-07-29
HTML Contact us immediately if your visa application has been refused. Email us at studentimmigration@ed.ac.uk In your email, provide the following: your name your date of birth your nationality your student number where you made your application an attachment with your refusal notice (include all pages) We prioritise visa refusals, so you can get advice as quickly as possible.
