Travelling to the UK

See our studying for less than six months page.

If you already have your visa you can either see a Border official or some nationalities can go through the e-Gates (EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States of America). If you don't get a stamp in your passport, you will need to provide evidence of the date you arrived in the UK, e.g. boarding pass.

The Border Force Officers may talk to you to check that your English language level is good enough, and ask questions about why you are coming to the UK, your studies and how much money you are paying to study in the UK. You will need to be able to answer these questions without an interpreter, even if they say you can have one.

Make sure you have these documents in your hand luggage:

• Your valid passport with your entry clearance visa sticker.
• Your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) that we sent you by email. This is particularly important if your current visa doesn't cover the full length of your course and you will be extending your visa in the UK.
• Copies of the documents you used for your visa (electronic or paper), e.g. bank statements or official sponsorship letters, TB certificate if you needed one.

In this situation, it is best to apply for your visa for Oxford Brookes before you travel so you can enter the UK on this visa.

However, if this is not possible to do and ISAT have advised that you can travel into the UK on your current visa, you must carry your Oxford Brookes CAS letter with you. You will have to apply for a new Student route visa in the UK before you can enrol with us.

If you have any questions, contact ISAT before your travel.

European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals who have Pre Settled or Settled status through the EU settlement scheme need to show a valid passport or national identity card. If you have a new passport or National Identity Card since you made your application, you must add a new document on the government view and prove your immigration status before travelling into the UK. See our visa and immigration advice for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals page for information on how do I prove your pre-settled or settled status when travelling into the UK.

Otherwise, EEA and Swiss nationals need a Visitor visa or Student visa as detailed above. If you are unsure what you should show, please contact ISAT.

After going through immigration, you will go through customs. There are rules about bringing goods into the UK.

• Using the red or green exit. The green exit is for those with nothing to declare, the red exit is for travellers with goods to declare. Even if you choose the green gate, the customs officer may still ask to check your luggage. Go through the red gate if you have bought any goods tax free outside, or on the journey to the UK; or, you are carrying more than the allowed amount of alcoholic drinks, perfume or tobacco.
• Money. You must declare if you are carrying the value of 10,000€ or more in cash, bankers draft or cheque by completing a form when you arrive. The customs officer will give you a copy of your form. Keep this with you to show that you have made a declaration. If you do not declare the money correctly, you may have to pay up to £5,000. The Gov.UK website has more information about taking cash in and out of the UK.