UK Student Visa Application Timeline from Nepal explains when to prepare funds, TB and ATAS evidence, when a CAS can be used, the earliest online application date, biometrics, current decision times and eVisa checks. The earliest Student application is six months before the course start, but preparation should begin earlier because the 28-day finance period, ATAS clearance and document corrections run on separate clocks.
Information checked on 24 July 2026. Visa fees, processing times, eVisa procedures and university deadlines can change, so recheck GOV.UK and the licensed sponsor at every stage.
UK Student visa timeline at a glance
| Item | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Earliest overseas application | 6 months before the course start date on the CAS |
| CAS age | The CAS reference must have been issued no more than 6 months before the application |
| Financial holding period | At least 28 consecutive days when bank evidence is required |
| ATAS processing | At least 30 working days when required, with no fast-track service |
| Current application fee | £558 per Student applicant from outside the UK |
| Usual overseas decision time | 3 weeks after identity and document steps begin processing, with longer times possible |
| Successful application | eVisa accessed through a UKVI account; new vignette issuance stopped on 1 July 2026 |
Start 12 to 18 months before the intake
Shortlist courses by academic fit, entry requirements, tuition, location, sponsor status and realistic career value. Check the university in the current Register of Student Sponsors. Build time for English testing, academic documents, references and scholarship deadlines.
A good timeline begins before visa documents exist. Read the UK university selection guide and compare the actual course content instead of choosing only by ranking or agent recommendation.
Apply to universities 9 to 12 months before
Submit complete applications according to each institution’s intake and scholarship calendar. Use accurate academic, employment and immigration history. Documents not in English may need accepted translations.
Some universities admit later, but an early offer provides time to satisfy conditions, arrange finance and deal with ATAS or credibility checks. It does not guarantee that a CAS or visa will be issued.
Meet offer conditions 6 to 9 months before
An offer can depend on final grades, English ability, references, a deposit or another admissions requirement. Complete only the conditions the university specifies and use its verified payment channels.
Keep every receipt and confirmation. Ask how the university records tuition payments on the CAS because that amount can reduce outstanding tuition for financial evidence.
Check whether ATAS is required
Certain sensitive postgraduate subjects require Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance. The university supplies the CAH3 code and should indicate whether the course is within ATAS.
Current GOV.UK guidance says ATAS takes at least 30 working days, or six weeks, and there is no fast-track service. Demand can be higher from April to August. Start as soon as the course details are stable; read the UK ATAS guide for the complete process.
Build the financial plan before the 28-day period
Calculate outstanding tuition plus maintenance using the current London or outside-London figure. Decide whether the evidence will use the student’s account, an eligible parent’s account, a qualifying loan or official sponsorship.
Resolve account ownership, currency risk and source-of-funds questions before depositing for the final period. A last-minute transfer can create verification and credibility concerns even when the arithmetic looks sufficient.
Complete the 28-day funds period
When bank evidence is required, the full amount must remain available for at least 28 consecutive days. The newest closing evidence must be dated within 31 days before the application.
Maintain a buffer for NPR-to-GBP exchange movement and small charges. The UK bank-statement guide provides calculation examples and account-holder rules.
Book the TB test in time
A typical student who has lived in Nepal and will come to the UK for more than six months needs a certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic. Appointments can be slower during the June-to-October peak, and an unclear x-ray can lead to sputum testing lasting up to eight weeks.
The certificate is normally valid for six months, so balance early preparation against its expiry. Use the UK TB test guide for Nepali students and the live clinic list.
Complete the university’s pre-CAS process
Universities can request document verification, financial review, a deposit, ATAS clearance or a pre-CAS interview before assigning sponsorship. These institutional checks vary and are not a single government form.
Respond through the official portal and resolve discrepancies. A consultant cannot independently create or edit a CAS.
Receive and check the CAS
The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is an electronic sponsor record with a unique reference number. Check personal details, passport, course, dates, location, tuition, recorded payments, English assessment, qualifications and ATAS information.
The CAS must have been issued no more than six months before the Student visa application. It also normally supports only one granted or refused application. Review the UK CAS letter guide before submitting.
Find the earliest valid application date
For a Student application from Nepal, the earliest date is six months before the course start date stated on the CAS. Applying earlier can fail the date requirement even if every document is ready.
The CAS age creates a second limit: it must have been assigned within six months of the application date. Use both dates, plus certificate expiries, on one calendar.
Final review one to two weeks before submission
Compare the online answers with the passport, CAS, prior visa history, bank evidence, TB certificate, ATAS certificate and university records. Confirm names, dates, fee payments, course details and source of funds.
Do not submit simply to secure an earlier biometrics slot. A material error in the form can be harder to correct after payment. The UK Student visa interview guide explains why consistency matters.
Documents commonly needed
GOV.UK states that a current passport and CAS are required. Depending on circumstances, the applicant may also need:
- Financial evidence for tuition and maintenance
- A valid ATAS certificate
- TB test certificate
- English or qualification evidence identified by the rules and CAS
- Parental consent and relationship evidence for applicants under 18
- Written sponsor consent after certain government or international scholarships
- Certified translations
- Additional evidence requested by the personalised checklist
Do not upload an enormous unsorted bundle when the application asks for specific documents. Do keep the underlying originals ready for verification.
Submit the online Student visa application
Apply through the official GOV.UK Student visa service. Enter the CAS reference, personal and travel history, course details and other answers accurately. The form can be saved and resumed before final submission.
The current application fee from outside the UK is £558 per applicant. Avoid third-party websites that imitate GOV.UK or add unnecessary service charges.
Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge
Most Student applicants for more than six months also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge during the online process. The current student rate is £776 per year, calculated from the full immigration-permission length rather than only the teaching period.
The visa may include time before and after the course, so the final IHS can exceed a simple course-year multiplication. Keep the reference and receipt. The UK Student healthcare guide explains what IHS does and does not cover.
Prove identity and provide biometrics
The application tells the student how to prove identity. Depending on the process, this can involve the UK Immigration: ID Check app and a UKVI account or an appointment at a visa application centre for fingerprints and a photograph.
Follow the individual instruction rather than another applicant’s experience. Take the passport and appointment evidence requested. If a visa application centre keeps or returns the passport, wait for its direct message about collection.
Upload supporting documents
Use the official upload or appointment process shown in the application. Check that every page is readable, correctly oriented and associated with the right category. Preserve unedited files and certified translations.
Do not submit fake bank statements, altered medical certificates or generic templates. UKVI can contact institutions, banks, clinics and sponsors to verify evidence.
When does processing time start?
For applications outside the UK, processing starts after the applicant proves identity and submits documents through the route instructed, such as completing the visa application centre appointment or using the identity app.
The date the university issued the offer or CAS is not the processing start. Neither is the date a draft form was first opened.
How long does the decision usually take?
GOV.UK currently lists three weeks for a Student application outside the UK. This is a service standard, not a guaranteed deadline for every applicant. UK working days and current demand can affect expectations.
Use the official processing-time checker. UKVI advises that it cannot provide a status update while an application remains within the current processing period.
Why can a Student visa take longer?
Published reasons include inaccurate information requiring further consideration, additional financial evidence, document verification, an interview, criminality or another personal circumstance, high demand and technical outages.
Monitor the email address and spam folder. Respond within the deadline using the requested method. Do not pay a third party who claims to see a secret UKVI queue.
Priority and super-priority services
A faster service may be offered depending on the application and location. The 8 April 2026 fee table lists £500 for a non-settlement priority service and £1,000 for super priority, but availability and the actual service standard must be confirmed during the application.
Paying for speed does not reduce the evidence requirements or guarantee approval. A complex case can still take longer.
Do not book travel before approval
GOV.UK states that applicants are not required to book travel before applying and must not travel to the UK before the visa is approved. Use refundable arrangements when booking after a decision and check any transit visa requirement.
A university deadline or cheap fare does not authorise travel. Inform the sponsor early if the decision may affect enrolment.
Receive the decision and access the eVisa
A successful new applicant receives an eVisa, the digital record of identity and immigration status. UKVI stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026. A form for accompanying an eVisa may be issued in some cases and can require collection.
Sign in to the UKVI account, view the eVisa and check name, passport, visa type, start and end dates and conditions. Report an error through the official service.
Link the passport to the UKVI account
The passport used for travel must be correctly linked to the UKVI account. Update the account after a passport change using the official process. Airlines use digital checks to confirm permission.
Do not arrive at the airport without first confirming that the eVisa is visible and the travel document is current. Keep the decision communication and university details available offline.
When can a student travel to the UK?
GOV.UK says a Student can generally arrive up to one month before a course lasting more than six months, or up to one week before a course of six months or less. The person must not travel before the permission start date shown in the visa record.
Use the eVisa start date, not the date the decision email arrived. Read the UK pre-departure checklist before leaving Nepal.
If the decision is delayed near enrolment
Check the current processing-time service and any UKVI message. Contact the university’s international team with the application timeline and ask about its latest arrival policy. The sponsor, not the student or airline, controls academic registration arrangements.
Do not withdraw and reapply without understanding the CAS, fee and immigration consequences. Obtain regulated advice for a complex case.
If the application is refused
The refusal notice explains the reasons and whether administrative review is available. Read it against the submitted evidence and current rules. A new application normally requires a new CAS after a refusal.
Administrative review examines permitted caseworking errors and has a deadline. Do not rush into a second application with the same unresolved problem.
A sample September-intake schedule
This is a planning example, not a universal deadline:
- Previous October to January: research and university applications
- January to April: offer conditions, English and scholarship work
- March to May: ATAS where required and finance arrangement
- April to June: 28-day funds, TB test and pre-CAS checks
- March onward: the six-month visa window can open, depending on exact course start
- June to August: application, identity steps, decision and eVisa checks
- Permission start onward: travel, enrolment and arrival tasks
Each university, course start, CAS date and applicant creates a different calendar. Build the schedule from fixed official dates rather than copying this example blindly.
Common timeline mistakes
- Waiting for the CAS before starting ATAS or financial preparation
- Submitting more than six months before the course start
- Using a CAS assigned over six months earlier
- Breaking the 28-day funds period to pay another cost
- Booking the TB test too late for possible sputum testing
- Assuming three weeks is a guaranteed maximum
- Buying a flight before approval
- Failing to monitor email for a document or interview request
- Travelling before the eVisa start date
- Ignoring a passport-link or eVisa error
Frequently asked questions
How early can I apply for a UK Student visa from Nepal?
The earliest date is six months before the course start shown on the CAS. The CAS itself must also have been issued no more than six months before the application.
How long does a UK Student visa decision take?
The current usual processing time outside the UK is three weeks after identity and document steps, but verification, interviews or other complexity can take longer.
How much is the Student visa fee?
The current outside-UK application fee is £558 per applicant, plus the applicable Immigration Health Surcharge and any optional service charges.
Will I receive a visa sticker?
Successful new applicants receive an eVisa. UKVI stopped issuing vignette stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026, although a form accompanying an eVisa may be issued in some cases.
Can I travel while the Student visa is pending?
You must not travel to the UK before the application is approved. After approval, travel only from the permission start date with the correct passport linked to the eVisa.
Related guidance in Nepal
For a visible second review of the CAS, evidence and application calendar, use the MKS Education UK visa timeline. Students preparing for IELTS, PTE, GRE, GMAT or SAT can compare courses at MKS Prep. UKVI and the licensed sponsor remain the final authorities for immigration and enrolment timing.