The Awards & Ceremonies team cannot issue letters for visa purposes or provide visa-related advice. However, the Student Immigration Services team can provide you with information and guidance regarding the appropriate visa to attend the Graduation Ceremony, as well as information on how to invite family/friends. If you require further advice with regards to visas, please visit Information Hub for GraduationLink opens in a new window.

Visa for Yourself

• If you currently hold a valid Warwick Student Visa which is sponsored by the University of Warwick or have applied for or received a Graduate route visaLink opens in a new window, AND you will remain in the UK until the date of your graduation ceremony, then you are fine to remain in the UK (and attend your graduation ceremony) prior to your visa expiry date.

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• If you currently hold a valid Warwick Student Visa which is sponsored by the University of Warwick, AND you have left the UK but will return to the UK for your graduation ceremony, we have been assured by the Home Office UKVI Policy Team that the Border Force officers have been briefed that attending the graduation ceremony is a permitted activity for students who have completed their course successfully and hold a valid Warwick Student Visa and wish to return to the UK for the purpose of attending their graduation ceremony. If you fall into this category, you no longer need to apply for a Standard Visitor VisaLink opens in a new window (although you can if you wish to). However, please note that the Border Force officials retain the right to establish that you are genuinely coming back to the UK to do what you said you would, and so it is important that you have sufficient evidence in your hand luggage in case you are asked (for example, an email from the Awards and Ceremonies Team confirming your registration; an email from professional services or your academic department confirming you have passed your degree; a return ticket to your home country after the graduation ceremony etc). If you have already received a Graduate Route visa, you may use this to travel to the UK and attend your degree ceremony too.

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• If you do not have a valid Warwick Student Visa or a Graduate route visa, you should apply for a ‘Standard Visitor VisaLink opens in a new window’. You should apply for your Standard Visitor VisaLink opens in a new window no earlier than 3 months before your graduation ceremony. To do so you should request a Student Status LetterLink opens in a new window, and include in your visa application a print-out of the email from the Awards and Ceremonies Team which confirms that you have been invited to attend the graduation ceremony, and a print-out of the email from professional services/your academic department that you have passed your degree. Please refer to this webpageLink opens in a new window for more information as to what other documents you may need to provide for this visa application.

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• Travelling on your eVisa - From 01 January 2025, you will no longer be able to use your BRP to return to the UK as the UK is moving to eVisas - a digital visa system. Please ensure you have accessed your eVisaLink opens in a new window and that your UKVI online account is up to date with your current passport details. The Home Office have created a helpful videoLink opens in a new window on how to travel on your eVisa.