Visa Information

Our London centre is accredited by Accreditation UK. This means we can support your entry to the UK to learn English for courses with a maximum duration of 11 months. There are different requirements depending on where you come from (your nationality), how long the English language course is, and your personal circumstances. You may need:

• A letter from us to show border control officials that you are coming to the UK to learn English for fewer than 6 months, or
• A Standard Visitor visa, or
• A Short-term study visa 

Find out if you need a visa here.

Do you need a visa?

For English language courses lasting from 1 week to 6 months

• If you are a EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: you can stay in the UK as a student at an accredited institution for up to 6 months without a visa. When you arrive in the UK, you need to show evidence that you will be learning with us. We can supply a letter on official headed paper to show border control officials. If you have a criminal record or you have previously been refused entry to the UK, you may need a Standard Visitor visa.
• If you are from outside the EU or the EEA: you need a Standard Visitor visa. Find out how to apply for a Standard Visitor visa here. We can supply a letter on official headed paper with the necessary details to prove you will be learning English with us.
• Some nationalities from outside the EU or the EEA can enter the UK to learn English for up to 6 months without a visa. Check if your nationality is on this list using the UK Government visa checker tool here. If your nationality is on this list, you need a letter from our school to show border control officials that you will be learning with us. If you have a criminal record or you have previously been refused entry to the UK, you may need a Standard Visitor visa.

For English language courses lasting between 6 and 11 months

There is no difference in this process based on nationality or country of origin, therefore:

• If you are a EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: you need a Short-term study visa. With a Short-term study visa you can stay in the UK for the length of your course, plus an extra 30 days, as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months. We can supply a letter on official headed paper with the necessary details to prove you will be learning English with us.
• If you are from outside the EU or the EEA: you need a Short-term study visa. With a Short-term study visa you can stay in the UK for the length of your course plus an extra 30 days as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months. We can supply a letter on official headed paper with the necessary details to prove you will be learning English with us. Here are the steps you need to take to apply for a Short-term study visa.

For English language courses lasting longer than 11 months

You need a Student visa. This type of visa used to be called Tier 4 (General) Student visa. We are unable to support Student visa applications.

Registering with the police

If you have a stamp in your passport which tells you to register your arrival in the UK, you will first need to register with The Overseas Visitors Records Office, and then attend an appointment at Brandon House.

We can supply a letter on official headed paper with the details to prove that you are studying with us.

For a complete list of the paperwork needed, and how to register, please see here.

Brandon House is open from 09.00 - 16.00 Monday to Friday. The telephone number is 020 7230 1208. The address is 323 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1JL

The nearest tube station is Borough, which is on the Northern Line. When you exit the station turn left, cross the road and Brandon House is in front of you.

From Holland Park take the Central line to Bank station and then change onto the Northern line to Borough. The journey takes about 30 minutes on the underground.

If you have classes all day you may need to miss some class time for your appointment. Please tell your trainer why you can't come to class and they will explain any work you will miss.

Last updated 8th June 2021