Identify Checks and Proof of your Right to Study in the UK

Required Documentation

You’ll need to bring your original documents along to be checked in person and scanned, before you can start studying with us inside the UK.
It is your responsibility to provide documentation that proves you have the right to study your Essex course in the UK, failure to do so may mean
you are unable to start or continue your course.

UK or Irish nationals

Identity Documents Required UK Immigration documents required

(all documents must be originals unless specified)
British, UK or Irish Citizen passport or Irish passport card or; No additional documents required unless you were born outside the
UK/Ireland, in which case you’ll need to provide a British/Irish passport or
If you were born inside the UK/Ireland and are a British national but don’t proof of your British Citizenship.
have a British, UK or Irish passport, we will require two documents from the
following list:
 Birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of
Man or Ireland including name of parent(s) Note:
 Current UK driving licence If you have a British National Overseas (BNO); British Overseas
 Student Loans Company tuition fee loan confirmation (electronic/good Territories Citizen or British Overseas Citizen passport you’ll need a visa
quality paper copy accepted) or other immigration status documents, read the section for those from
 Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate* outside the UK/Ireland.
 Benefits paperwork issued by HMRC, Job Centre Plus or a UK local
authority* If you have Indefinite leave to enter or remain or settlement and have not
*dated within the last 3 months been granted British Citizenship, we will require evidence of your UK
immigration status, please see the relevant section below.
If you are a British or Irish national but were not born in the UK or Ireland,
you must provide your British Citizen, UK or Irish passport. No alternative
documents can be accepted.
I’m from outside the UK/Ireland

Your UK Immigration Status Identity Documents UK Immigration documents required

(all documents must be originals unless specified)
EU Settlement Scheme Valid EEA/Swiss passport If you have been issued with digital immigration status/e:visa:
Settled or Pre-settled status or national identity card  You’ll need to provide us with a share code that you can obtain via the
(that you used to enter the government website: [Link] Please
UK) note: we cannot accept the right to work or right to rent share code.
If you have been issued with a physical Biometric Residence Permit card (usually
applies to those who do not have a biometric passport):
 You will need to bring the BRP
If you have an application pending:
 You will need to bring a copy of your Certificate of Application confirming you’ve
applied and have right to study whilst awaiting the outcome in the UK.
Student visa Valid passport You’ll need to bring your CAS statement (electronic or paper) and your UK
address/contact details (electronic or paper) and the following immigration
UoE Sponsor Licence Number: If your passport is with documents:
THHCP1YV6 the Home Office, because EEA/Swiss nationals with digital immigration status/e:visa:
you made your student visa  You’ll need to provide us with a share code that you can obtain via the
application in the UK, government website: [Link] Please
we’ll accept a good quality note: we cannot accept the right to work or right to rent share code and;
colour  Airline ticket/booking pass proving you arrived in the UK on or after the date your
photograph/photocopy. Student visa is valid from or date of entry stamp in your passport.
Other nationals who applied overseas:
 Entry Clearance vignette (sticker in your passport) and;
 Airline ticket/booking pass proving you arrived in the UK on or after the valid from
date on your EC vignette (electronic or paper) and;
 Biometric Residence Permit, valid for the duration of your course (you’ll collect
this when you arrive in the UK) or, if your BRP isn’t available, your UKVI letter
showing when and where your BRP is available to collect.
If you applied in the UK:
 Biometric Residence Permit, valid for the duration of your course (this will be sent
to your UK address) or, if you haven’t received your BRP yet;
 Original or copy of previous Biometric Residence Permit and;
 A complete copy of your application form showing fee paid, date submitted to the
Home Office (must be before your last leave expired) and University of Essex as
your sponsor.

Note: If you haven’t applied yet or have a partially completed application, you won’t be
able to study with us.
Visit visa Valid passport If you applied overseas:
 Visitor entry clearance vignette (sticker in your passport) valid for the duration of
Only suitable for short courses your course and;
that are up to six months long in  Airline ticket/booking proving you arrived in the UK on or after the valid from date
total. on your EC vignette (electronic or paper version)

You cannot study a full-time If you were granted entry at the UK Border:
degree course as a visitor.  Visitor stamp in your passport or:
 If you entered the UK via an e:gate you’ll need to show us your airline
ticket/booking proving date you arrived in the UK.
Note: date of entry must be no more than 6 months before the end date of your course.

Other types of limited leave to Valid passport EEA/Swiss nationals with digital immigration status/e:visa:
enter or remain  You’ll need to provide us with a share code that you can obtain via the
government website: [Link] Please
i.e. Skilled Worker/Dependants note: we cannot accept the right to work sharecode.

If you applied overseas:

 Entry Clearance vignette (sticker in your passport) and;
 Airline ticket/booking proving you arrived in the UK on or after the valid from date
on your EC vignette (electronic or paper version) and;
 Biometric Residence Permit (you’ll collect this when you arrive in the UK)

If you applied in the UK:

 Biometric Residence Permit (this will be sent to your UK address) or, if you
haven’t received it yet,
 Original or copy of Biometric Residence Permit and;
 A complete copy of your application form showing fee paid and date submitted to
the Home Office (must be before your last leave expired)
Note: although you may be able to study with us it is important that you maintain your
immigration status and do not breach your conditions. If your leave expires before the
end date of your course you will need to extend it by the expiry date and register at your
own risk.

British National (Overseas) visa Valid passport You will be given digital immigration status/e:visa and will need to provide us with:
– Hong Kong
 a share code that you can obtain via the government website:
[Link] Please note: we cannot
accept the right to work or right to rent share code.
 British National Overseas or; Valid passport Check the Home Office website to see if you need UK immigration permission to study
British Overseas Territories with us. If your parents were born in the UK, you may automatically be a British citizen or
Citizen or; British Overseas be entitled to apply but we’ll need to see a valid document to prove your immigration
Citizen with a Certificate of status.
Entitlement  Certificate of Entitlement to study in the UK
 If you have another type of immigration permission, see the relevant category in
this table.

Indefinite Leave or Permission Passport You’ll need to provide us with:

to Enter or;
For Refugees, a Refugee  Vignette (sticker in your passport) or;
Indefinite Leave or Permission travel document or other  Biometric Residence Permit or, if you don’t have one, a letter from the Home
to Remain or; photographic ID, if you don’t Office confirming the grant of your leave or that you have a pending valid
have a passport. application.
Settlement in the UK (for EU
Settlement see above) or; Note: A refugee convention travel document is not evidence of UK immigration status.

Refugee status
I’ve applied for British Valid passport If you applied overseas:
Citizenship You will need to bring your Certificate of British Citizenship which will be issued after
you’ve attended the ceremony or your UK/British Citizen Passport.

If you applied in the UK:

We’ll need evidence of your current UK Immigration status, for instance, Indefinite Leave
to Remain (see relevant section) and;
 a letter/email from the Home Office confirming your citizenship application was
submitted and is pending.
You’ll need to let us know when you’ve received the outcome to your application, and
we’ll change your nationality to British on your student record.
I’m applying for further leave to Valid passport or; You’ll need to provide us with:
remain/permission to stay in
the UK If your passport is with  Biometric Residence Permit or good quality colour copy;
the Home Office, because Letter/email from the Home Office confirming when your application was submitted.
(not Student route) you made your student visa
application in the UK,
we’ll accept a good quality
colour copy.
This is not an exhaustive list of immigration types as there are many. If you are unsure bring your passport, BRP if you have one and, any letters
you may have from the Home Office.
Frequently asked questions
I have a residence permit for A residence permit for somewhere other than the UK does not give you the right to live and study inside the UK.
another European country, not You’ll need immigration permission to study in the UK. [Link]
the UK, is that ok?

I have dual nationality, European If you entered the UK before 31 December 2020, you should have applied for settlement. If you are entering the UK
plus elsewhere, do I need a visa? on or after 1 January 2021, you’ll need immigration permission to study in the UK.
I was born outside the UK and I If you are unable to locate documents in a reasonable time, we may be able to check your immigration status with
have settled status. However, I the Home Office. You’ll need to contact our International Services Team. You won’t be able to study until we receive
can’t find the evidence. confirmation that you have valid immigration permission that allows you to study with us and we must have that
before the latest date the University requires you to be registered for this academic year.
Can I provide you with a A letter/email from a lawyer or 3rd party is not evidence of your immigration status. You will need to obtain documents
letter/email from my lawyer? as mentioned above. If you are unable to locate documents in a reasonable time, we may be able to check with the
Home Office. You’ll need to contact our International Services Team. You won’t be able to study until we receive
confirmation that you have valid immigration permission that allows you to study with us and we must have that
before the latest date the University requires you to be registered for this academic year.

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