Visitor visas

If your graduation ceremony takes place before your Student visa expires, or if you have since been granted permission in a different immigration category (such as Graduate or Skilled Worker) then you can use your existing permission to attend your graduation ceremony.

However, if you will no longer have a valid visa on the date of your graduation, then you're expected to leave the UK and return on a Standard Visitor visa for your ceremony.

If attending your graduation ceremony is the main purpose of your visit to the UK, then we would recommend including a copy of your ceremony invitation as part of your supporting documentation.  This includes carrying a copy in your hand luggage if you are a non-visa national coming to the UK without applying for entry clearance.

If your family members wish to attend your graduation ceremony, and if this the main reason for their visit to the UK, they should apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

The main thing you should provide to assist their application is a letter of invitation.  This letter should come from yourself and be addressed to your family member – it is not written or issued by the University.

You should also provide them with a copy of your invitation to your ceremony, and proof of your UK immigration status (unless you are also outside of the UK when they apply).

If you're a visa national then you must apply for entry clearance as a visitor before you travel to the UK.

For the application, you will need:

• To complete the online application
• A valid travel document
• To pay the visitor visa application fee. Details of current application fees can be found here.  The application will depend on the type and length of visitor visa for which you will be applying.
• Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself while you are in the UK, including accommodation, living expenses and tuition fees (if you are coming to study). 
  • There are no specific requirements which state the amount of money you must show when you apply for a visitor visa, and the amount you show will vary with what you plan to do while in the UK.  If you're coming to study, it would be sensible to make sure that you show at least as much as would be required to meet the financial requirements for a Student visa. 
  • If you'll be staying with friends or family while in the UK, which will decrease your living costs, you can include evidence of this.
  • The Home Office have a guide to supporting evidence for your application.
• If you're coming to study at Bath Spa for an exchange, you'll also need an acceptance letter confirming that you'll be studying with us. 
• If you're coming to Bath Spa as part of a low-residency course which you normally study outside of the UK, you’ll also need a letter of invitation from your academic department.
• If you a're coming to attend your graduation ceremony, you'll need your ceremony invitation from the Graduation Team.

You must submit original documents. You'll also need to provide a translation of any documents which are not already in English. 

Once you've applied online, you must then submit your completed immigration application with your supporting evidence to your nearest UK visa application centre. You do not need to apply in the country where you live.

If you're a non-visa national it isn't compulsory to apply for entry clearance before you travel; instead you can apply to enter the UK as a visitor on arrival to the UK. However, you may still need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation before travelling, depending on your nationality and when you intend to travel to the UK. For full details of who needs an electronic travel authorisation, please visit this page.

Coming to the UK without applying in advance for entry clearance is only recommended for those who do not have either a criminal record or previous UK visa refusals.  If you have either of these, you should apply for entry clearance before travelling.

You should familiarise yourself with all the eligibility requirements of a Standard Visitor visa if you are going to come to the UK without applying for entry clearance first, and you should carry hard copies of all relevant documents (such as documents relating to your studies and finances) in your hand luggage in case required. A useful guide to the supporting documents required can be found here.

If you are from an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA, you have the option of using the eGates instead of applying for entry clearance or permission to enter in advance online or applying with documents at the border. You may still need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation before travelling, depending on your nationality and when you intend to travel to the UK.  For full details of who needs an electronic travel authorisation, please visit this page.

If you use the eGates to enter the UK as a visitor, you won't receive a stamp endorsed in your passport as you do not have to see a Border Force Officer in order to use one. Following using the eGates, you'll be permitted to enter the UK as a visitor for a period of six months.

In order to use an eGate, your passport must have a biometric symbol on the cover and you must be above the age of twelve in order to use one. Visitors between the ages of twelve to seventeen must be accompanied by an adult.

It's important that you retain some form of evidence of your date of arrival in the UK if you use the eGates such as an e-ticket or paper or electronic boarding pass. This will help you to remember the exact duration of your six month stay. If you're coming to the University as a guest or to study, we'll also need to see your boarding pass as evidence of arrival to the UK.

Coming to the UK without applying for entry clearance is only recommended if you have no criminal convictions or previous UK visa refusals.  If you have either of these, you should apply for entry clearance before travelling.

We would recommend familiarising yourself with all the eligibility requirements of a Standard Visitor visa if you are going to come to the UK without applying for entry clearance first, even if you plan to use the eGates.  You should carry hard copies of all relevant documents (such as documents relating to your studies and finances) in your hand luggage in case required. A useful guide to the supporting documents required can be found here.

• Tuesday 11 March, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)
• Tuesday 18 March, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)
• Tuesday 25 March, 1.30pm-4pm, Student Hub Locksbrook
• Tuesday 22 April, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)
• Tuesday 29 April, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)
• Tuesday 6 May, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)
• Tuesday 13 May, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)
• Tuesday 20 May, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)
• Tuesday 27 May, 2pm-4pm, Student Hub Newton Park (Twiverton)