Staying in the UK as a student

Last modified: 21 December 2020

The information contained in this page will no longer be relevant from 11pm on 31 December 2020, (except to explain some terminology which is referred to in the Brexit – immigration and Brexit - EU Settlement Scheme pages). Please see Brexit - immigration and Brexit - EU settlement Scheme.

You are entitled to enter the UK freely and have an automatic right of residence for up to three months without needing to demonstrate that you are exercising a right of free movement (or right to reside), for example, to study or work. Thereafter, you must be in the UK exercising a right to reside. Once you are enrolled onto a course of study at an institution which meets the criteria below and you meet the conditions as set out below (which include having comprehensive sickness insurance), you have the right of residence in the UK. 

The UK has left the European Union, but is in transition period, during which free movement and all European laws relating to citizens' rights still apply. Therefore, if you meet the criteria highlighted on this page you still have a right to reside on this basis. We have provided some information about the UK's position since the EU referendum.

You do not have to register or apply for any particular documents in order to stay in the UK. However, you can choose to apply for a registration certificate which confirms that you have a right of residence as a student. You might want to apply for a registration certificate if you have family members who are not themselves EEA or Swiss nationals, as this can make it easier for your family to apply for an EEA family permit or residence card. Also, it may help in making an application for the right of permanent residence.

You can apply for a student registration certificate using form EEA(QP). Since 1 October 2016, there has been a European passport return service for those applying under the EEA(QP) route or under the EEA(PR) route. 

You will need to enclose the following with your application:

  • your passport or national identity card
  • evidence of your studies, for example, a current letter from your institution confirming your enrolment on a course. You must be studying, either part-time or full-time, at an institution which is:
    • publicly-funded OR
    • is 'otherwise recognised by the Secretary of State as an establishment which has been accredited for the purpose of providing such courses or training within the law or administrative practice of the part of the United Kingdom in which the establishment is located'
  • evidence that you can support yourself (and any family members) financially. This can be a bank statement, a document confirming the receipt of a grant or scholarship, or a declaration of sufficient funds. Any requirement that you  produce specific documents to demonstrate this criteria is not in compliance with EU or domestic legislation and can be challenged if necessary
  • evidence of comprehensive sickness insurance for you and your dependants
  • two passport photographs of yourself

Your place of study

Last modified: 21 December 2020

The information contained in this page will no longer be relevant from 11pm on 31 December 2020, (except to explain some terminology which is referred to in the Brexit – immigration and Brexit - EU Settlement Scheme pages). Please see Brexit - immigration and Brexit - EU settlement Scheme.

In order for the educational institution to be acceptable, the institution must be publicly funded or otherwise accredited.

Where an institution is not included on the current Tier 4 register of sponsors, you will need to provide evidence to the Home Office that the institution is either publicly funded or otherwise accredited if applying to certify your right to reside as a student.

Registration certificates can be issued immediately if you apply in person at the Home Office's Croydon premium service centre. You must make an appointment in advance. However, there are very few slots available for EEA applications. Alternatively, you can apply by post. The fee for either application is £65. 

You can ask the Home Office to return your passport if you need to travel, but make sure that you allow plenty of time (at least two weeks) for the passport to be located and sent back to you before your trip.

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Publicly funded

Otherwise accredited

Comprehensive sickness insurance

Last modified: 21 December 2020

The information contained in this page will no longer be relevant from 11pm on 31 December 2020, (except to explain some terminology which is referred to in the Brexit – immigration and Brexit - EU Settlement Scheme pages). Please see Brexit - immigration and Brexit - EU settlement Scheme.

In order to have a right of residence in the UK as a student you have to have comprehensive sickness insurance (CSI).

The European heath insurance card (EHIC) obtained from your country of residence is acceptable evidence of CSI, if your stay in the UK is to be temporary. If your stay is to be permanent, or you are unable to get an EHIC card from your country of residence, you will need to obtain separate insurance.

Home Office guidance contains detailed information (on pages 30 - 38) on what the UK government considers acceptable evidence of CSI.

If you are applying to have your right to reside confirmed on form EEA(QP) and are using the EHIC (because your stay is not intended to be permanent), you will also need to send a letter (called a 'statement of intent’ in the application form) confirming that you do not intend to stay in the UK permanently.

The UK government does not accept entitlement to the National Health Service as sufficient evidence, so you will need to get the EHIC before you leave your country of residence, or obtain the adequate insurance. The government has produced a leaflet about EHIC and access to medical treatment while in the UK.

Every member state of the European Economic Area provides information about how to apply for an EHIC in that country.

Family members of students are now also required to obtain CSI. The Home Office has required dependants of students to have comprehensive sickness insurance since 22 June 2015. Information about the requirement for family members to obtain CSI and the transitional measures the government introduced are contained in Home Office guidance.

The Free Movement blog has published a post containing useful information about comprehensive sickness insurance following the UKs EU referendum result.

© 2023 UK Council for International Student Affairs

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