Student Travel Vignettes and eVisas

Before traveling to the UK:

• Check your UKVI Decision Letter against your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and contact us if you think it contains any errors.

• Check your Vignette or Temporary Travel Vignette against your CAS and contact us if you think it contains any errors.

• Keep your passport safe. It is a good idea to keep scanned copies of important documents such as your passport in your emails.
• Inform your Department if your arrival in Warwick will be delayed.
• Ensure you travel to the UK within the validity of your student visa to activate your immigration permission as a student.

If you enter the UK before the start date on your vignette or for EEA nationals, if you enter before the start date of your digital status, your student visa would not be activated, and you will not have the right to study. You may need to leave the UK and re-enter during the validity of your temporary travel vignette or for EEA nationals, after the start date on your digital status.

• Check the information on the Government website about entering the UKLink opens in a new window.

If you were issued a vignette, on arrival at the airport you must ensure that your Visa Vignette or Temporary Travel Vignette is stamped with your entry date at the Immigration Desk, at a UK Border.

If your Vignette is not stamped with your entry date, Student Immigration may not be able to determine your Right to Study, which could lead to delays in your enrolment, or, temporary withdrawal from your course.

If you find that your TTV was not stamped on arrival (for example, because you are eligible to use the e-Gate), please keep your Boarding Pass, or Flight Ticket safe as you will need to provide this during the in-person document checking event.

EEA nationals with digital status will not require anything to be stamped. You must ensure you keep your boarding pass or travel itinerary as evidence of the date you entered the UK. You will need to present this evidence during the enrolment Right to Study event. The entry evidence is proof of the date you entered the UK, which should be after the start date of your digital status, so that your Student Visa is activated.

You can travel to the UK once you have successfully obtained your Student Visa decision and collected your passport from the Visa Application Centre. Your passport will have a 90 day Temporary Travel Vignette. You must travel after the start date on your vignette (within its validity) and before your latest start date, as stated on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

If you are an EEA national who used the UK Immigration: IDV App to apply for your visa, you will not receive a vignette in your passport. Your Digital Status is evidence of your visa. If you have received the digital Student Visa, you can travel after the start date on the digital visa.

If your permission to enter the UK is 6 months or less you will receive a visa vignette for the whole duration. Your Visa Vignette, once activated, will allow you to exit and enter the UK as many times as you wish, subject to the visa conditions, and the visa validity.

Your Visa Vignette must be stamped with the date of entry by the immigration officer, on arrival at a UK border, to activate your Leave. Your Visa Vignette will also be your proof of leave once it has been activated with your stamp of entry.

If you are an EEA national who used the UK Immigration: IDV App to apply for your visa, you will not receive a vignette in your passport. Your Digital Status is evidence of your visa, and the immigration officer at the border will not need to stamp anything. You should keep your boarding pass or travel itinerary as evidence of the date you entered the UK.

From 15 July 2025 you may not get a vignette if you apply for a study or work visa. Instead, you will need to create a UKVI account and get access to your eVisa before you travel to the UK. You’ll be told what to do when you apply.

 You’ll still get a vignette if you apply as a dependant for any other visa or as a main applicant for visas other than study or work.

If you applied for a Student Visa, and your course is over 6 months long, you will be issued a digital immigration status known as the eVisa. This will contain information about your visa and it is your proof of Right to Study, Right to Enter the UK, and Right to Remain for the purposes of the grant of leave.

Your UKVI decision email will also contain information about your visa, you should keep this email safe for future reference.

To prove your right to study, you will need to generate a share code and provide this to us during your enrolment.

To start the course, you need to complete all of the following;

• complete the online course registration
• enter the UK on Student Visa before the course start date or at least before the latest course start date
• attend the in-person right to study check event. You can book an appointment via the welcome week timetable

A visa vignette looks like the sample image below:

e-Visa Frequently Asked Questions

In-person & Online Support with e-Visas

If you would like support with setting up your UKVI Account and/or accessing your e-Visa, you can drop into the Student Opportunity HubLink opens in a new window during the following dates and times:

• In-person Monday to Friday: 1.30PM to 3.00PM
• Book an Online appointment via MyAdvantageLink opens in a new window.

1. How do I create my UKVI Account, linking the identification documents, and accessing the e-Visa?

The Home Office provides detailed guidance on their webpageLink opens in a new window on how to apply for your UKVI account and access your e-Visa. There is additional guidance on how to use the UK Immigration: ID Check appLink opens in a new window to successfully scan your Passport.

2. What document is the best to use to create a UKVI account?

You can create an UKVI account using a valid passport and your visa application number.

3. How long does it take to receive confirmation that my UKVI account has been created?

You will get a confirmation via an email, that your UKVI account has been created and you can Sign in, this usually takes 24-48 hours.

4. Once I have created my UKVI account, do I need inform the university?

No, you do not need to inform the university once you have created your UKVI account. Once you receive confirmation that your account has been created, you can then ‘Sign in’ and generate a share code. Please use the View and Prove service to generate a share code and complete the Upload form. The university will update your student record.  

5. How will I know if I already have a UKVI account?

You will have a UKVI account if you have ever:

• applied to the EU Settlement Scheme
• used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to prove your identity when applying for a visa
• created one when applying for a visa (you will have received a UKVI account confirmation email)
• created one to get access to an eVisa (an online record of immigration status).
• If unsure whether you already have a UKVI account, you can attempt to sign in at: Get access to your eVisa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If a UKVI account exists, entering your details during the sign in process will take you to your existing UKVI account.

6. I have lost access to my UKVI account?

You can recover your account online by following the account recovery guidance.

7. The UKVI ID App cannot read the biometric chip of my document?

If the app cannot read the chip in your document, you can choose to confirm your identity another way. you choose to confirm your identity another way, you’ll need to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. You must travel to the UK within 90 days after receiving a decision of proven identity at a VAC.

HKSAR passports with a document number starting with ‘K’ may have chips that are harder to read. If you scan your HKSAR passport but the app cannot read the chip, you can restart the ‘confirm identity’ task on the application dashboard and use another BNO or EEA passport with a biometric chip if you have one.

You can travel to the UK on a different passport as long as it’s valid.

8. I do not have a last name, what should I do?

You may leave the first name column empty and complete the last name column with your given name. This should allow you to proceed to the next step.

9. How do I keep my personal details up to date in my UKVI account?

You can update your personal information in your UKVI account, such as your contact details. Your eVisa will be linked to your passport in your UKVI account. You must keep your passport or ID card details up to date in your UKVI account and tell the Home Office about any changes, so that your immigration status can be easily identified at the UK border. You’ll still need to carry your current passport with you. 

10. Do I need to notify the Home Office if I have a change of circumstance?

Yes, you will need to update your details and notify the Home Office. Further guidance can be found hereLink opens in a new window.

11. What documents are required when traveling to the UK as a student returning from your home country?

When traveling back to the UK as a student, you’ll need to present the following documents based on whether you have a physical or digital visa:

• Valid Passport: You must have a valid passport or travel document to establish your identity and nationality.
• Visa or Immigration permission:
  • If you have a physical visa vignette in your passport, ensure it is valid and matches your passport details. You don’t need to worry about the specific purpose of the visa (e.g., "Student" or "Visit").
  • If you hold a digital e-Visa or have a digital immigration status (e.g., settled or pre-settled status), you won’t have a physical visa.
• Share code for e-Visa or Immigration Status:
  • If an airline carrier does not receive automatic confirmation of a passenger’s permission to travel, they can check using valid physical documents (where these are still being carried), and/or by using the ’'View and Prove’ service.
  • If you hold a digital e-Visa or immigration status, you may be required to provide a share code. You can generate this from your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account via the "View and Prove" service: https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status. You may print a copy of your eVisa and carry this with you when you travel.
• Supporting Documents (optional but recommended): It is helpful to carry supporting documentation such as visa confirmation emails, proof of student status, or accommodation details in the UK, in case further verification is needed.
• Check if your eVisa is correct before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-sure-your-evisa-is-correct-before-you-travel.

Watch the following guidance video from the Home Office, for further information: How to travel with your e-VisaLink opens in a new window.

12. What should I do if I encounter an issue with my eVisa or if I think the information on their eVisa is wrong?

If your information is out of date, use Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details: Update your UKVI account details - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) to update your personal information.

If you believe the Home Office has made a mistake, report an error with your eVisa here within 10 days of receiving your UKVI account details: What is the problem with your eVisa? - Report an error with your eVisa; GOV.UK (homeoffice.gov.uk) The UK Visas and Immigration Resolution Centre can assist with technical issues, and verify a person’s status through alternative means if necessary.