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Student Route Visa — Updated June 2026

UK Student Visa from Nepal: Complete 2026 Guide

£558 visa fee · £13,761 London show money · IELTS 6.0+ · CAS · TB test Kathmandu · VFS biometrics · Graduate Route visa — every step with current 2026 data.

How to Apply → Graduate Route Visa
⚡ Quick Summary — UK Student Visa 2026

What You Need to Know

  • Visa is called the Student Route visa (replaced Tier 4). Apply up to 6 months before course start.
  • You need a CAS number from a UKVI-licensed university — check RAG tier status before applying.
  • Financial requirement: tuition + £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) in bank for 28 consecutive days.
  • English: IELTS 6.0+ overall or PTE Academic (both SELT-approved).
  • TB test certificate from a UKVI-approved clinic in Kathmandu — mandatory for all Nepali applicants.
  • Visa fee: £558 + Immigration Health Surcharge £776/year of study.
  • Biometrics at VFS Global Kathmandu. Standard decision: ~3 weeks.
⚠️ New June 2026 — UKVI RAG System: Before your university can issue a CAS, it must be at Green tier. Universities at Amber tier have CAS issuance frozen. Verify your university's compliance status before preparing your 28-day bank statements. Full RAG guide →

1. Documents Required

🪪 Identity

  • Valid passport (full study period)
  • All previous passports
  • Passport-size photos

🎓 Academic

  • CAS number from university
  • Unconditional offer letter
  • All academic transcripts
  • Personal statement

💰 Financial & Language

  • Bank statements (28-day rule)
  • Sponsor letter + relationship certificate
  • IELTS / PTE certificate
  • TB test certificate
⚠️ Name Consistency is Critical: Your name must be spelled identically across all documents — passport, bank statements, university offer letter, and citizenship certificate. Even minor discrepancies are a leading cause of visa refusal. If any variation exists, contact our compliance desk immediately for a document audit before applying.

2. Financial Requirements — UKVI 2026

You must hold first-year tuition fee + living costs in one bank account for 28 consecutive days before application.

Study LocationMonthly9-Month TotalApprox. NPR
London (Greater London)£1,529£13,761~NPR 23.4 lakh
Outside London£1,171£10,539~NPR 17.9 lakh
✅
Example: Studying in Leicester with £15,000 tuition → show £15,000 + £10,539 = £25,539 (~NPR 43.4 lakh) for 28 consecutive days. Transfer all funds to one account and avoid large unexplained withdrawals during this period.

3. IELTS & English Requirements

University Type / LevelTypical IELTSPTE Equivalent
Undergraduate (most Post-92)6.0 (no band below 5.5)PTE 50
Taught Postgraduate (most)6.5 (no band below 6.0)PTE 58
Russell Group Postgraduate7.0 (no band below 6.5)PTE 65
UKVI minimum (visa only)5.5 overallPTE 42
Chevening Scholarship6.5+ (successful applicants 7.0+)PTE 58+

IELTS tests conducted by British Council and IDP in Kathmandu, with sessions in Pokhara, Biratnagar, and other cities. Book well in advance — popular dates fill months ahead. See scholarship guide for score requirements by award.

4. TB Test in Nepal

Nepal is on UKVI's mandatory TB test list. Get tested at a UKVI-approved clinic in Kathmandu before applying. Certificate is valid for 6 months. Results ready in 2–5 working days. Always verify the clinic is approved at gov.uk before booking.

5. Step-by-Step Application

  1. 1

    Get Unconditional Offer & CAS Number

    Accept your offer and meet all conditions. The university issues your CAS — typically 3–6 months before course start. First verify your university's RAG tier to ensure CAS issuance is not frozen.

  2. 2

    Pass Your IELTS / PTE Test

    Book at an approved test centre in Nepal. Scores must meet both university and UKVI requirements and be within 2 years at time of application.

  3. 3

    Complete TB Test — Kathmandu

    Schedule at a UKVI-approved clinic in Kathmandu. Keep the certificate — upload with your visa application. Valid for 6 months.

  4. 4

    Prepare 28-Day Bank Statements

    Ensure tuition + £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) sits in one account for 28 consecutive days. Prepare parent sponsor letter and notarised relationship certificate if applicable.

  5. 5

    Complete Online Application — gov.uk

    Apply at gov.uk/student-visa. Enter CAS number, passport details, IELTS scores. Pay £558 visa fee + £776/year IHS online.

  6. 6

    Biometrics at VFS Global Kathmandu

    Book and attend biometrics appointment. Bring original passport and documents. Upload supporting documents to UKVI portal.

  7. 7

    Await Decision

    Standard: ~3 weeks. Priority: ~5 working days (extra fee). Track online. Collect your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) in the UK after arrival.

6. All Visa Fees 2026

FeeAmountNotes
Visa Application Fee£558Paid online via UKVI portal. Non-refundable.
IHS (per year of study)£776/yearImmigration Health Surcharge — paid at application
Priority Service+£250~5 working days instead of 3 weeks
IHS — 1-year Master's£776One year of study
IHS — 3-year UG£2,328£776 × 3 years

7. Working as a UK Student

✅ Permitted
  • 20 hrs/week term-time (degree level)
  • Full-time during official vacations
  • Paid internship if part of course
❌ Not Permitted
  • Self-employment or freelancing
  • More than 20 hrs/week term-time
  • Access to public funds

8. Graduate Route Visa

Duration
  • 2 years — UG & Master's graduates
  • 3 years — PhD holders
  • Apply from within the UK
  • Cannot be extended
What You Can Do
  • Work in any job, any hours
  • No job offer required
  • No minimum salary
  • Switch to Skilled Worker visa if sponsored

The Graduate Route applies to all UKVI-licensed universities — not just Russell Group. Use the 2-year window to find a Skilled Worker visa sponsor if you plan to stay permanently.

9. Visa FAQs

Standard processing is approximately 3 weeks (15 working days) from biometrics. Priority service costs an extra £250 and takes ~5 working days. Apply no earlier than 6 months before your course start date.
Yes. You can use a parent's or legal guardian's account. Provide a notarised relationship certificate and a signed financial sponsorship letter. The 28-day rule applies to the parent's account. Funds must total tuition + £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London).
You'll receive a refusal letter explaining the reasons. Most refusals are due to insufficient financial evidence or document inconsistencies. You can reapply addressing those specific reasons. An administrative review is available if UKVI made a legal error. Contact our advisors to strengthen a reapplication — success requires proper preparation and document audit consistency.
PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, and some university-specific English tests are accepted as alternatives. For the UKVI visa itself, you need a SELT (Secure English Language Test) from an approved provider — IELTS Academic and PTE Academic are both SELT-approved.
Yes. If your chosen university is at Amber or Red tier, your CAS issuance may be frozen or delayed — directly blocking your visa application regardless of how strong your documents are. Always check RAG compliance status before preparing your bank statements and applying.

Related Guides

🟡
UKVI RAG System
Check your university before applying
🏛️
University Guide
Fees in NPR, Russell Group vs Post-92
🎓
Scholarships 2026
Chevening, Great & university awards
🏆
Best Consultancies
Nepal's top 10 UK education advisors

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