UK Visa Categories and types

Guide:

Example: Biometric Residency permit (Issued in-country)

Example: Visa Vignette (Issued out of country)

Tier 1

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

Evidence of business operation/setup/investment portfolio. i.e. HMRC or

Company house letters (Entrepreneurial/investor)

Recent confirmation of employment/self-employment. i.e. HMRC or payslips.

(General)

Tier 1 General

Tier 1 Investor

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

Tier 1 Post Study

-Tier 1 (Exceptional talent- No Picture Available)

Tier 2 (Work permit)

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

Copy of certificate of sponsorship or most recent payslip or letter of

employment. (General, Inter-company transfer)

Tier 2 General

Tier 2 Inter Company Transfer

-Tier 2 (Minister of Religion – no picture available)

-Tier 2 (Sportsperson – no picture available)

Tier 4 (Student visa) and Study Visas

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

If CAS issued by another sponsor, student must present CAS letter and a

statement that their studies will not adversely affect the course for which

they were issued the CAS.

Tier 4 Child

Tier 4 General Student

Student visitor visa

Doctoral Extension Team

Tier 5

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

Tier 5 (Government authorized exchange)

Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme)

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – creative and sporting)

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement)

Tier 5 (Religious Migrant)

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Charity Worker)

Family Visas

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

Spouse/civil Partner’s/Family member’s British Passport or non-British passport and

Settlement visa. (Spousal, Dependent)

Marriage/fiancé

Spouse

Dependent

UK Ancestry

- Unmarried Partners (No Picture Available)

Visitor Visas

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette , Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or Immigration entry stamp (for

visa nationals – individuals who do not require a visa in advance to enter the UK)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

A signed statement from the student that their main activities in the UK is as a

business visitor, and study will not become the main purpose for staying in the UK.

(Business Visitor)

Letter from UK family member in support. (Family visitor)

Business Visitor visa

Child Visitor visa

General Visitor visa

Family Visitor visa

-Marriage Visitor visa (No Picture Available)

-Parent of a Child at School visa (No Picture Available)

-Permitted Paid Engagement visa (No Picture Available)

-Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa (No Picture Available)

-Prospective Entrepreneur visa (No Picture Available)

-Sports Visitor visa (No Picture Available)

-Student Visitor visa (Also see tier 4 study visas)

-Visit the UK in a Chinese tour group (No Picture Available)

-Entertainer Visitor visa (No Picture Available)

Settlement Visas

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

Ink stamp on current or previous passport stating ‘No Time limit on holder’s stay in

the UK’.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

UK Settlement

Right of Abode

EEA Settlement visa

Refugee and Asylum

General Right to Study Guidelines for refugee and asylum visas:

Current travel document or Passport, or Valid photo ID

Previous passport – only if it was used to obtain the immigration status

Immigration status document confirming 5 year visa as a refugee or humanitarian

protection or original letter from the home office confirming limited leave to remain

as a refugee. (Refugee)

Application registration Card and Letter from the home office confirming application

for asylum. (Asylum)

Refugee

Asylum

Other Visas:

General Right to Study Guidelines:

Current Passport

Visa Vignette or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Previous passport – only if it was used for the current visa vignette or BRP

Copy of certificate of sponsorship or most recent payslip or letter of employment or

evidence or recent business operation. i.e. HMRC Company’s House letters.

A signed statement from the student confirming that they will immediately notify

the school if they cease employment as a domestic worker. Also to confirm that their

study will not affect their main activity as a domestic worker. (Domestic worker in a

private household).

Turkish Worker visa

-Turkish Businessperson visa (No Picture Available)

-Domestic workers in a private household visa (No Picture Available)

Stamps and documents:

In some cases UKVI use ink stamps in place of vignettes. These are some examples

of the most common. These give individuals the same rights and responsibilities as

the vignettes.

Visa stamp for non-visa national Settlement visa

Limited Leave to Remain Visa Stamp (General)

Settlement Stamp

UKVI Settlement Letter

Status Document/Vignettes (Common for refugees with no passport or individuals with

expired passports)