Important Update (March 2025):
The UK Home Office has announced a number of visa and ETA fee increases that will take effect from 9 April 2025. These include changes to the Student Visa, Visitor Visa, Short-Term Study Visa, and ETA.
This depends on whether you are a visa national or a non-visa national.
EEA & Swiss students are non-visa nationals
If you are not sure about your visa status, please check : https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
All nationalities
You will enter the UK as a Visitor
There are no limits on the number of courses you can study but they must be completed within the time of the permission granted
You must have sufficient funds to cover your time in the UK
Work (paid & unpaid), including voluntary work, is not permitted
Any visitor who has come in on business or as a tourist can choose to then take an English language course while in the UK
You must have a full passport to enter the UK
You do not need to apply for a visa in advance
There are no fees to enter the UK
You may use the e-gates at the UK border. However, in the unlikely event that you are questioned, you should carry evidence demonstrating that you meet the entry requirements. Please have your immigration and enrolment letters from the school with you. If the school has not arranged your accommodation, please have your accommodation address
Visa nationals need pre-entry clearance for a standard visit visa, so if you are a visa national you must apply for a Visitor Visa before you come to the UK
A standard Visitor Visa for a visa national for up to 6 months will cost GBP127 from 9 April 2025. Applications submitted before this date will still be charged at the current rate of GBP115.
Please ensure you create a UKVI account. It is free. You should receive details on how to do this when you receive a reply regarding your visa application.
The normal safeguarding checks will apply to under 18s
You’ll need to provide the following information:
the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK
details of where you’ll be staying during your visit
how much you think your trip will cost
your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
how much you earn in a year (if you have an income)
details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed
You might also need to provide:
details of your travel history for the past 10 years
your employer’s address and telephone number
your partner’s name, date of birth, and passport number
the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK
We also strongly advise you to provide:
Evidence of English language study, including school or college certificates, and certificates for any English language examinations you have taken
Evidence showing your reasons for coming to the UK to study English, such as further study, university entrance requirements or any job opportunities requiring English language
Your intentions will be assessed to check you are a genuine student.
You’ll be told what other documents and information to provide when you apply online
For more information see:
https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa
All non-visa nationals need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK unless:
You have either:
another visa (eg YMS visa, Visitor Visa, Short Term Study Visa)
permission to live, work or study in the UK
a British or Irish passport
The ETA will increase from GBP10 to GBP16 from 9 April 2025. It is valid for two years and allows multiple visits. Each visit can be up to six months.
This replaces the Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)
See more information about ETAs on GOV.UK
How to apply
Application is via the UK ETA app or an online form.
It is possible to apply for someone else.
The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app.
Make sure you have everything ready before you apply as you only have 20 minutes to apply and your information will not be saved.
To apply on the app you will need:
an email address
to take a photo of yourself– to apply for someone else, they must be with you
the passport you will use to travel to the UK.
a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
if you are under 18, you will need to give contact details for someone who has parental responsibility for you.
If you cannot use the app you can apply online
To apply online
Take or upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the UK
Scan your face with their device, if it has a camera
Take or upload a photo of yourself
You will need to answer questions about your:
address
job
criminal history
other nationalities, if you have any
If you are under 18, you will need to give contact details for someone who has parental responsibility for you
Pay for the application
After you apply
You will get an email confirming you have got an ETA. It will be linked to the passport you applied with
After 3 days you will receive an email when a decision has been made
You will usually get a decision within 3 working days, but you may get a quicker decision
Occasionally, it may take longer than 3 working days
You can delete the app when you have finished applying
The ETA lasts for 2 years. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want during that time
If you get a new passport, you will need to get a new ETA
Entering the UK
The ETA will be linked to your passport digitally, and you will not need to show anything else when you enter the UK
An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You will still need to:
see a Border Force officer or
use an ePassport gate, if eligible
We recommend that all students applying for the Short-term Study Visa use an immigration advisor.
This is the advisor recommended by English UK:
Global Visa support: Israel Tal
+44 7930612764
All visa and non visa nationals (including EEA & Swiss nationals) applying to study for longer than 6 months will need to make an application before travelling
You will need to apply for a Short Term Study Visa English Language
We recommend that you apply for your Short Term Study Visa 3 months before your arrival date
Please ensure you create a UKVI account. It is free. You should receive details on how to do this when you receive a reply regarding your visa application.
This route is for English language study only
You must be 16 or older
If you are aged 16 or 17 then parental consent is required
You must have an offer of a place (6-11 months duration ) at an accredited institution
You can only study on the course for which permission has been granted
Your course must be between 6 & 11 months long.
You must have sufficient funds to cover your time in the UK
Work (paid & unpaid), including voluntary work, is not permitted
You must leave the UK within 30 days of the end of the course or at the end of 11 months, whichever is earlier
You are not able to extend your visa
You’ll need to provide the following information:
a current passport (with a blank page for your visa) or other valid travel document
evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans - you should not pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa
evidence that you’ve paid your course fees or have enough money to pay them
You’ll also need to provide:
your tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test
contact details for at least one parent or guardian in your home country, if you’re under 18 years old
a certified translation if any documents are not in English or Welsh
Documents about your course
You must provide written proof of the course you’re studying. For example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:
permission to be in the country you’re applying from (if you’re not a national)
financial sponsor’s occupation, income, savings or funds that will support your studies
details of your travel history for the past 10 years
your employer’s address and telephone number
your partner’s name, date of birth, and passport number
the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK
We also strongly advise you to provide:
Evidence of English language study, including school or college certificates, and certificates for any English language examinations you have taken
Evidence showing your reasons for coming to the UK to study English, such as further study, university entrance requirements or any job opportunities requiring English language
Your intentions will be assessed to check you are a genuine student.
If you’re under 18
If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:
you’re travelling on your own
you’re travelling with someone who is not your parent or guardian
see https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english/documents-you-must-provide
Short Term Study Visa English Language Fees:
Visa fee GBP200 and from from 9 April 2025 it will increase to GBP214
Health surcharge GBP776
For more information on the Short Term Study Visa English language see:
https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english
Students who wish to study for longer than 11 months need to apply for a Student Visa under the Student Route or Child Student Route
The course must be at a school or college which is a Licensed Student Sponsor
Wimbledon School of English is not currently a Licensed Student Sponsor. If we decide to apply and are granted the licence we will let you know
From 9 April 2025, the fee for a Student Visa or Child Student Visa will increase from GBP490 to GBP524 for both main applicants and dependants.
For more information on the Student Route see https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital travel pass that’s been introduced to make travelling to the UK smoother and safer. It’s for people from countries who don’t need a visa but are coming for short stays of up to six months. The system started rolling out in November 2023 for some nationalities and will include most European visitors by 2 April 2025.
With an ETA, you can visit for a holiday, study, or work-related meetings, but you’ll need to apply before you travel.