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Students can receive their visa permission in a couple of different ways.
How you prove your UK immigration permission can vary depending on the length of your permission and the country from which you applied to come to the UK.
Receiving an application decision
You should expect to receive the outcome of your visa application – referred to as a ‘Decision’ – to the email address you gave in your application. You should make sure you check your inbox and junk/spam folders to ensure you do not miss any emails from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Your decision email will tell you the outcome of your application, as well as the length and conditions of your immigration permission. It will also detail how you can prove your immigration status to enter the UK, as well as how to prove your rights to things such as renting, working or studying to those who need to verify this. You should read your decision email carefully to check that the dates and conditions of your immigration permission are what you expected. If you think anything might be incorrect, or you have any concerns, you should contact Student Life International as soon as possible.
Students studying for 6 months or more
If your studies are 6 months or more, your immigration permission will be in the form of a digital visa – this is called an eVisa. This will be accessed through the View and Prove service, where you can view information about your visa permission, as well as generate ‘share codes’ to prove your status for things such as your rights to study, rent or work. Instructions on how to activate your eVisa can be found in your Decision Letter or Email from UKVI.
If you applied outside the UK and you were told that you needed to visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC), you may receive a Visa Vignette (or sticker) in your passport. This is also known as an Entry Clearance Vignette. This gives you a 90-day period in which to enter the UK, and once inside the UK, you can setup your eVisa.
If you applied for an extension, or are switching, and already have an eVisa, then your eVisa should be updated with your new permission automatically.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has a useful Frequently Asked Questions webpage on eVisas.
Students studying for less than 6 months
If you will be studying at UEA for less than 6 months, maybe as part of a Study Abroad programme, you will not be given an eVisa.
If you were not required to apply for a visa to enter the UK, then you would be classed as a “non-visa national”. You may have needed to receive Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead. You can read more about this on our Visitor Visa webpage.
If you did apply for a visa, after receiving your decision email, UKVI will place a Visa Vignette (sticker) in your passport before returning it to you. This will be valid for the entire length of your stay in the UK and can be used to multiple re-entry (leaving and returning) to the UK. It is very important that you keep your passport safe. If your passport is lost/stolen during your time in the UK, you may need to apply and pay for a replacement visa vignette as well as a passport.
Checking your Visa
However you receive your immigration status, it is very important that you check the details to ensure the information is correct. Click on the button below to find out more about what you need to check.