Information about Student Travel Vignette, BRPs & e-Visa
Once you have your visa
Has your visa application been successful?
On this page, we will walk you through the essential steps and preparations that you will need to complete before and after your arrival, whether you are a Warwick Sponsored Student visa holder and/or their dependant.
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When to collect your BRP?
You should collect your actual visa, (known as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)), by whichever date is the latest out of the following:
- the expiry of your 30-day or 90-day entry clearance vignette, or
- 10 days after arriving in the UK.
When you cannot get a BRP
You cannot get a BRP if you have used the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to prove your identity when applying to stay in the UK. You will need to prove your right to study in the UK online insteadLink opens in a new window.
Additional information about collecting your BRP
e-Visas
The UK Home Office is changing the way in which non-UK/Irish nationals prove their immigration status in the UK. The new system will gradually replace physical documents (such as BRPs and visa in passports) with a new digital status known as ‘e-Visa’.
Any student with a BRP expiring on 31 December 2024 can now create a UKVI account and access their eVisa. It is completely free, and most people can apply with a smart phone. Watch this 2-minute video for further information.
Once your eVisa has been created please use the View and Prove service to generate a share code and complete the Upload form. The Student Immigration and Compliance team will update your record.
Replacement BRP's and ceasing of BRP's
Please note, the Home Office will stop issuing new BRP cards on 31st October 2024. The BRP replacement service will close from 26th September 2024, given that customers applying to that service, which has a service level agreement of 6 weeks, would be unlikely to receive their BRP.
If you require any further support and advice about the eVisa, please contact the Immigration team.
Search for your query
On the below FAQs please select the '>>' widget next to the section title to unhide the text so it becomes visible to the screen reader.
If you applied for your visa outside the UK and chose the option for the university to receive your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) under the Alternative Collection Location (ACL) provision, you will be contacted by email with further information on how to collect.
Read more about BRP card collectionLink opens in a new window.
If you applied for your visa outside the UK and chose the option to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the local post office, you will need to collect it within 10 days of arriving in the UK and attend the in-person document check event with your BRP and passport.
The Post Office will not notify you once the BRP has been received, so you should make arrangements to go to the Post Office to enquire about whether they have received your BRP.
If you do not collect your BRP from the Post Office within 10 days of being notified they have it, you may be liable for a fine or cancellation/curtailment of your visa.
Before traveling to the UK:
- Check your UKVI Decision Letter against your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and contact Student ImmigrationLink opens in a new window if you think it contains any errors.
For example:
- Is your name spelt correctly and does it match your Passport?
- Is your nationality correct?
- Does the start date in the letter match your intended travel date that you stated in your application?
- Does the end date in the letter match the expected end date of your visa - CAS end date and UKVI Wrap Up Period?
- Have you understood the visa conditions that are listed and how to comply with them?
- Check your Vignette or Temporary Travel Vignette against your CAS and contact Student ImmigrationLink opens in a new window if you think it contains any errors.
For example:
- Is your name spelt correctly and does it match your Passport?
- Is your nationality correct?
- Does the start date on the vignette match the intended travel date that you stated in your application?
Remember: this date will usually be your declared intended travel date, less 7 days, up to a maximum of one month before your Course Start Date listed in your CAS, or, the application decision date, if your declared intended travel date has passed and the UKVI have not decided your application yet.
- Does the end date on the Vignette or Temporary Travel Vignette match the expected end date of your visa?
Remember: your end date should be CAS end date + UKVI Wrap Up Period if Visa Vignette, or, Intended Travel date and 30/90 days if Temporary Travel Vignette - if your course is longer than 6 months.
- 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, 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 again during the validity of your temporary travel vignette to activate your student visa.
- Check the information on the Government website about entering the UKLink opens in a new window.
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.
You can travel to the UK once you have successfully obtained your Student Visa decision and collected your passport from the Visa Application Centre OR if you have received the digital Student Visa then you can travel after the start date of the visa.
Your passport will have a 90 day Temporary Travel Vignette. You must travel within the validity period of that vignette and before your latest start date, as stated on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
If you applied for your Visa within the UK, your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will be sent to the address listed in your application, and must be signed for on delivery.
If you have not received your BRP within 10 working days of receiving your UKVI Decision Email, please notify the UKVILink opens in a new window.
You will need to provide the University with a copy of your BRP within 5 days of receiving it. You must be signed into your MyWarwick Single Sign On accountLink opens in a new window to use this form. Please click on the top right hand corner “sign in” to do this if you are not already signed in.
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 applied for a Student Visa, and your course is over 6 months long, you will be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). It contains your personal information, your biometric data you submitted with your application, along with other information regarding your leave.
Your BRP is also your primary proof of Right to Study, Right to Enter the UK, and Right to Remain for the purposes of the grant of leave.
Your BRP will be delivered to the address you specified on your visa application form, and it will also be stated on your UKVI Decision Letter.
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 atleast 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 Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) looks like the sample image below:
A visa vignette looks like the sample image below:
e-Visa Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I apply for my UKVI Account, linking the identification documents, and accessing the e-Visa?
The Home Office provides detailed guidance on their webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa 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 app: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app to successfully scan your Passport or BRP card.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. I started creating a UKVI account using my passport without receiving my BRP. How do I change my initial document from passport to BRP?
You should will still be able to continue using your passport to create your UKVI account. You can use your travel document, such as a passport, and your visa application reference number to create your UKVI account if you have not collected your BRP card yet and/or it has been lost or stolen.
5. I am not able to use my passport to create a UKVI account, as it does not have a biometric chip?
You can use your BRP card, and your visa application reference number to create your UKVI account. There is additional guidance on how to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app to successfully scan your Passport or BRP card.
6. Why is my BRP card not scanning while verifying my identity using the apps?
Please remove your phones case and cover and place the BRP on a table, then take a scan using the ID App, (please try not to move while you scan your ID document). You may need to give it a few attempts for it to work.
7. My phone is not compatible to scan my BRP card?
Please check the compatibility of your phone: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app. You may need to use a friend or family members phone if your phone is not compatible.
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. I have lost access to my UKVI account?
You can recover your account online by following the account recovery guidance: https://update-your-details.homeoffice.gov.uk/account-recovery/help.
10. 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.
11. 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 here: https://www.gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp.
12. Do I need to return my BRP card to the Home Office after 31st December 2024?
You may keep your expired BRP card as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK. You may also want it for your personal records.
In-person 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 Opportunities HubLink opens in a new window during the following dates and times:
- 7th October to 11th October: 10 AM to 4PM
- 14th October to 31st October (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays only): 1PM to 4PM
- 23rd October: 1PM to 2.30PM
- 1st November onwards: TBC
Lost or stolen BRP?
We understand it can be a stressful situation if your BRP has been lost or stolen. There is no need to panic, as our expert team is here to provide you with advice to help you navigate these circumstances.
Page Updates
We have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.
Additional Support
Find additional advice on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) websiteLink opens in a new window.