UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is moving towards digitisation of the immigration system in 2024. Your visa may be issued as a physical document, a digital document, or a combination of both, during this period.
- eVisa. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status.
- Vignette. A vignette is a visa sticker placed in your passport following a successful entry clearance application (an application made from outside the UK), to allow you to travel to the UK.
- Visa decision letter. Successful visa application decisions are issued via a letter (physical document accompanying your passport or PDF delivered via email). This states key information such as your visa expiry date.
Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are no longer being issued. If you are already in the UK and have a BRP, you will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa before 31 December 2024. After 31 December 2024, you will use your eVisa for travel purposes and to demonstrate your right to study, work and rent property in the UK. Please read follow the UK Visas and Immigration guidance on accessing your eVisa account.
When your visa is issued after applying in the UK (visa extension)
Your visa will be issued as a digital status (eVisa), and you will be able to view your immigration status online. You will be able to generate a sharecode which you must provide to the University, so that we can verify your immigration status. If you are registering on a new course you will need to take your passport to in-person registration, and we will ask you to complete a Microsoft Form to provide your sharecode and your visa decision email from UKVI.
When your student visa is issued overseas (entry clearance)
Your visa will be issued as a digital status (eVisa). You will be able to view your immigration status online, and you will be able to generate a sharecode which you must provide to the University, so that we can verify your immigration status. If you are registering on a new course you will need to take your passport to in-person registration, and we will ask you to complete a Microsoft Form to provide your sharecode and your visa decision email from UKVI.
You will also receive a
visa decision letter which you should show to the border officer on arrival to the UK, along with your passport and vignette. This visa decision letter will state your visa expiry date.
Registering in-person and providing your immigration documents
Book an appointment to register on a new course
Outside of dedicated events, in-person registration appointments can be booked via the above link. Please only book one appointment. If you need to cancel or change the time of the appointment, there is a link to do so in the appointment confirmation email.
Appointments take place at Cherry Tree Lodge, building number 13 on the University Park campus map.
Checking your visa details
It is essential to carefully check that the information on your visa is accurate and promptly report any errors via the Home Office website, within 10 days of receiving it. If your visa was previously issued on a BRP, you should still use that link to report any errors that you have noticed, if you have not already done so.
- Check your visa end date, which should include the full duration of your course plus a 'wrap-up period'. See our visa duration page for guidance on how long this should be. Make a note of your visa expiry date – if you need to apply for a new visa you will need to do this before your current visa expires.
- BRP holders studying a course of 12 months or more will see their BRP expiry date is 31 December 2024 as UK Visas and Immigration are moving all visa holders to an eVisa in 2024. You MUST check your visa decision letter or email for the true end date of your visa. See the information above on accessing your eVisa.
- Check the biographical details (such as name, date of birth and nationality) are correct.
- Check the sponsor licence number is correct - the University of Nottingham sponsor licence number is RFDX42DB2.
- Check how many hours you are allowed to work in the UK during term-time, which should be 20 hours per week, or 10 hours per week for students studying courses below degree level.
You also need to ensure that you understand and abide by the conditions of your visa (such as registering with the police, if applicable) as this is your responsibility.