What to do when your Student visa is due to expire

Does your BRP expire 31-12-2024?

Check your original visa letter to confirm the true end date of your visa. Most students visa permission will expire after 31-12-2024 so you will not need to apply for a visa extension, you just need to switch your current visa to an eVisa. It is the BRP that is expiring not your immigration permission.

You will need to switch to an eVisa before 31-12-2024 to be able to access your immigration status after 1 January 2025.

Please follow the steps below if you have not already switched.

Next steps

Create a UKVI account and switch to an evisa.
You will need to sign in to see if the switch worked (scroll to the bottom of the page to sign in) and continue with the switch
Then only once you have successfully switched: Update your UKVI account details: Sign into your UKVI account (scroll to the bottom of the page) to update your details. Ensure to update your log in details from the BRP number to your passport number. This is because your BRP card won’t be valid from 2025 onwards!

The switch is very quick, easy and free to do online.

However, if you get stuck with technical issues, visit the Student Hub or see our Digital Champions in the Student Hub 10:00-12:00 (midday), Monday to Friday during term time.

If you are travelling overseas before 31-12-2024, please keep your BRP card with you when you travel.

We also advise you take a screen shot of your online eVisa status, save and print out a copy to have in your hand luggage.

Please read the UKCISA information page before travelling: Can I travel with my visa?

Your course is due to finish before your Student visa expires, and you intend to return home

If your current visa gives you enough time to complete your course and you do not intend to do any further study or stay in the UK for any other reason, you should schedule your travel arrangements to leave the UK before your current student visa expires.

Your Student visa is due to expire before your course finishes

If your current visa does not give you enough time to complete your course (for example, if you have been referred in a module or need more time for your PhD), you will need to make a visa extension application. Please contact Student Immigration Advice to find out how you can do this. Make sure you start your application at least one month before your visa expires.

If you are currently studying on a course that requires an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate , you will need to apply for a new certificate and receive it before submitting any new visa application. This also applies if you are changing to another visa category (e.g., Skilled Worker) and wish to remain studying. ATAS applications take at least 30 working days (6 full weeks) to process and there is no ‘fast track’ service. You should submit your ATAS application as early as possible. You cannot submit a new visa application if you do not have the new ATAS issued and you may be interrupted from your course until the ATAS is approved.

You have applied for a new visa (not a Student visa)

If you have applied to extend your visa yourself, you need to provide evidence of the application to Student Immigration Advice.

If you are currently studying on a course that requires an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate , you will need to apply for a new certificate and receive it before submitting any new visa application. This also applies if you are changing to another visa category (e.g., Skilled Worker) and wish to remain studying. ATAS applications take at least 30 working days (6 full weeks) to process and there is no ‘fast track’ service. You should submit your ATAS application as early as possible. You cannot submit a new visa application if you do not have the new ATAS issued and you may be interrupted from your course until the ATAS is approved.

You are planning on applying for a new visa (not a Student visa) to remain in the UK

Please contact us to discuss various options. We cannot offer specific advice on visas for after your studies and may need to refer you to an independent immigration advisor. However, we can certainly provide some guidance.

Your current Student visa covers your course but you would like to stay in the UK after it expires to study a new course

If you want to study another course, you will need to apply for a new visa before the new course starts. If the course will be at the University of Plymouth, we recommend that you contact Student Immigration Advice for help preparing for your visa application. The team will tell you whether you can make the new application from within the UK or from overseas. If your new course will be with another university, you must contact them directly for immigration advice.

You have left the UK

Please contact UKVI Reporting at ukvi-reporting@plymouth.ac.uk and provide a copy of evidence showing that you have left the country, such as a flight ticket.

You are a distance learning student

You have received an email from us because the visa we have on record for you is expiring. Please provide us with evidence that you have left the UK, or let us know that you intend to leave. Distance learning students will not be withdrawn from their programmes once their visas expire, but please remember that each time you enter the UK, you will need to complete a Right to Study check by emailing ukvi-reporting@plymouth.ac.uk.