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UK Student Visa Documents Checklist 2025 —
Complete Guide for Indian Students

Every document required for the UK Student Route visa — CAS letter, financial proof, the 28-day rule, TB test, and IELTS for UKVI — written by EZVZA's SRA-regulated UK solicitor.

🇬🇧 UK Student Visa 👤 Atty. Priya N., UK Immigration Solicitor (SRA-Regulated) 🕐 8 min read 📅 Updated 2025

The UK remains one of the top study destinations for Gujarat students — but a single missing document, a bank statement that is one day too old, or a CAS letter mismatch can result in an immediate refusal. This checklist is written by our UK immigration solicitor and reflects the 2025 requirements including updated maintenance fund thresholds and the April 2025 visa fee increases.

Important 2025 update: UK student visa fees increased by up to 28% from April 9, 2025. The current fee is £524 for applications from outside the UK. Budget approximately ₹1,32,000–₹1,60,000 total for visa-related costs (excluding tuition and living expenses) for a typical one-year Master's programme.

This guide systematically covers every document category — from the CAS letter and IELTS for UKVI, through the 28-day financial proof rule, to the TB test certificate and ATAS requirements. Read every section carefully before submitting your application.

Who This Checklist Is For

🎓 Gujarat students applying to UK universities
📋 First-time UK student visa applicants
❌ Students reapplying after refusal
📍 Applicants from Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot
1

Prerequisites — What You Need Before Applying

You cannot begin a UK student visa application until you have these two things. Without them, no other documents matter:

PrerequisiteWhat It IsCommon Mistake
CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)Unique reference number issued by your UK university after unconditional offerApplying before unconditional offer — conditional offers do not generate a valid CAS
IELTS for UKVI (or approved SELT)IELTS test specifically taken for visa purposes — not standard academic IELTSTaking regular IELTS Academic instead of IELTS for UKVI — not accepted by the Home Office
2

Category 1 — Identity Documents

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Valid Indian Passport

Must be valid for the entire course duration plus at least 6 months. Minimum 2 blank pages. Bring all previous passports — prior UK or international visas strengthen your application.

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Passport-Sized Photographs

2 recent colour photos on white background, 35mm x 45mm. Take new photos — old photos from previous applications are not accepted.

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Previous BRP or Visa Vignette Copies

If you previously held a UK visa, bring your old BRP or visa vignette copies.

3

Category 2 — Academic Documents

Bring originals and photocopies of all academic documents. Every detail must match your CAS exactly.

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Class 10 Certificate + Mark Sheet

Original plus certified photocopy.

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Class 12 Certificate + Mark Sheet

Original plus certified photocopy.

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Bachelor's Degree Certificate + All Semester Mark Sheets

Required if applying for postgraduate. All semester transcripts must be included.

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CAS Letter from UK University

Contains your course details, CAS number, start date, tuition fee amount. Every detail must match your visa application form exactly.

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Gap Year Explanation Letter

Required if there is any gap between your education and the application date.

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Solicitor note on the CAS letter: The information in your visa application must match your CAS exactly. University name, course name, start date, tuition fee, and personal details must be identical. Even small mismatches — a middle name missing, a fee amount that changed — will cause your application to be flagged. If anything has changed since your CAS was issued, contact your university to request an updated CAS before applying.

4

Category 3 — Financial Documents Most Common Failure Point

This is where the majority of Indian student visa rejections happen. The UK Home Office has specific rules on the amount required and how long it must be held in your account.

LocationMaintenance Funds RequiredApproximate INR
London universities£1,334/month × 9 months = £12,006~₹13.2 lakh for living costs alone
Outside London£1,023/month × 9 months = £9,207~₹10.1 lakh for living costs alone
Total requiredLiving costs + full first-year tuition feesE.g. £20,000 tuition + £12,006 = £32,006 (~₹35+ lakh)
⚠️

The 28-Day Rule — the single biggest cause of UK student visa rejections from India. Required funds must be held continuously in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply. The closing balance on your bank statement must not be older than 31 days from the date of application. Moving money in just before applying does not work — the bank statement shows the deposit date and officers will see the funds were not held for 28 days.

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Bank Statements (28+ Consecutive Days)

Must show account holder name, account number, bank name, and dates clearly. Consistent balance throughout the entire 28-day period is required.

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Parents' Bank Statements + Sponsorship Letter

If parents are funding: their statements plus a signed sponsorship letter. Joint accounts require both parents to sign.

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Education Loan Sanction Letter

Must clearly state the approved amount covering tuition plus living expenses.

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Scholarship Letter (if applicable)

Must clearly state amount, duration, and whether it covers dependants.

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ITR of Sponsor/Parents (Last 2 Years)

Establishes the source of funds is legitimate income, not a sudden windfall.

5

Category 4 — Health and Medical Documents

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TB (Tuberculosis) Test Certificate

Mandatory for all Indian applicants. Must be done at a UK Home Office-approved clinic in India. Cost: ₹6,000–₹9,500. Results take 3–5 days. Certificate valid for 6 months only.

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ATAS Certificate (if required)

Required only if your course involves certain sensitive subjects (specific engineering, physical sciences, medicine). Check gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme.

6

Category 5 — English Language Proof

TestMinimum ScoreNotes
IELTS for UKVI Academic6.0 overall (UG) / 6.5 (PG)Must be the UKVI version — standard IELTS Academic is NOT accepted for UK visa purposes
PTE Academic for UKVIPer university requirementAccepted as an alternative to IELTS for UKVI
English-medium degreeExemption may applyA letter from institution confirming English medium required — check with EZVZA's UK solicitor before skipping
7

Category 6 — Additional Documents

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Parental Consent Letter

Mandatory if you are 16 or 17 years old.

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Previous UK Visa/BRP Copies

If you have ever held a UK visa — bring copies of all previous visas and BRPs.

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Travel History Documentation

Any prior international travel stamps help show you have returned from previous visits.

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Accommodation Proof

University accommodation offer letter, or lease agreement if arranging private accommodation.

⚠️ Avoid These

5 Mistakes That Get UK Student Visas Rejected

Our UK solicitor sees the same errors repeatedly in rejected applications from Gujarat students.

Mistake 1

Funds not held for 28 consecutive days

The Home Office can see the deposit date — recent lump sum deposits are flagged. Plan finances 5–6 weeks before applying so the 28-day period is complete before you apply.

Mistake 2

CAS details don't match the application form

Even a minor mismatch triggers manual review or refusal. Double-check every field against your CAS — name spelling, course name, start date, and tuition amount.

Mistake 3

Regular IELTS instead of IELTS for UKVI

The Home Office only accepts UKVI-approved SELTs. If you have standard IELTS Academic, you must re-take it specifically as 'IELTS for UKVI Academic' at an approved centre.

Mistake 4

TB test not done or certificate expired

The certificate must be less than 6 months old on the date of application. Book your TB test 4–6 weeks before applying. Missing this document results in automatic refusal.

Mistake 5

Bank statement older than 31 days

The Home Office will not accept statements outside the 31-day window. Request fresh statements from your bank within days of applying.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

UK Student Visa Documents — FAQ

How much money do I need to show for UK student visa from India?

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You need to show your first year's tuition fees plus living costs (£1,334/month for London, £1,023/month outside London) for up to 9 months. These funds must be held in your account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying. For a London Master's with £20,000 tuition, you need approximately £32,000 (~₹35+ lakh) total.

Is TB test mandatory for UK student visa from India?

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Yes. All Indian applicants must provide a tuberculosis test certificate from a UK Home Office-approved clinic. The certificate must be less than 6 months old on the application date. Missing this results in automatic refusal. Cost is approximately ₹6,000–₹9,500 and results take 3–5 days.

What is the CAS letter and why is it so important?

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The CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is a unique reference number issued by your UK university. Without it, you cannot apply. Every detail on your visa application must match your CAS exactly — name, course, start date, and tuition amount. Even small discrepancies trigger a manual review or refusal.

Can I use standard IELTS Academic for a UK student visa?

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No. The UK Home Office requires IELTS for UKVI — a specific version taken at UKVI-approved centres. Standard IELTS Academic, even with a high score, is not accepted for UK visa purposes. In Ahmedabad, UKVI IELTS is available at British Council and select IDP centres.

How long does UK student visa processing take from India?

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Typically 3–8 weeks from India. You can apply up to 6 months before your course start date. EZVZA recommends applying 2–3 months before your start date to allow adequate processing time. You cannot apply earlier than 6 months before the course start date on your CAS.

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