UK guide · Student visa
How to get a UK student visa from Nepal
You apply online for the UK Student visa once your university sends your CAS. The fee is £558 (about Rs 1.13 lakh), plus a health surcharge of £776 a year. You must show your remaining first-year tuition and living costs held for 28 days in a row, pass a TB test in Kathmandu, and give biometrics at VFS. Most decisions come within 3 weeks of biometrics.
Written byKamal Pandey, Senior counsellorHandles UK and Germany files, from shortlist to visa appointment.
Checked byRabindra Joshi, Head of complianceChecks every money and visa page against the official source.
Published · 6 min read
The UK Student visa at a glance
- Visa fee
- £558, about Rs 1.13 lakh (from 8 April 2026)
- Health surcharge
- £776 a year; about £1,164 for a one-year master's
- Living funds
- £1,171 a month outside London, £1,529 in London, up to 9 months
- Funds rule
- Held for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of applying
- TB test
- Required for Nepali applicants, at an approved clinic in Kathmandu
- Decision
- Usually within 3 weeks of biometrics
As of October 2026. Funds rise to £1,203 and £1,570 a month for applications from 30 November 2026. At Rs 202.99 per GBP (Nepal Rastra Bank, 18 October 2026).
UK student visa requirements for Nepali students
The UK Student visa is a points-based visa. You get the points if you have each of these, and the officer refuses if any one is missing.
| Requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| CAS | A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a licensed university. It's issued after you accept an unconditional offer and pay the deposit |
| Money | Your unpaid first-year tuition plus living costs, held for 28 days in a row |
| English | B2 level for a degree. Your university assesses it, often with IELTS. Foundation courses need a UKVI test |
| TB test | A certificate from a UK-approved clinic in Kathmandu, because you've lived in Nepal for the last 6 months |
| Genuine student | You can explain your course, your university and your plans, at interview if asked |
| Fees paid | The £558 visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge |
Nepal isn't on the UK's list of countries whose students can skip sending money and education documents. You must upload full evidence with your application, and the officer checks it.
The 28-day funds rule, explained
This is where most UK files from Nepal go wrong. The rule is strict about dates, names and amounts, and an officer won't round in your favour.
- How much: the first-year tuition still unpaid on your CAS, plus £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, for up to 9 months.
- How long: the full amount must sit in the account for 28 days in a row. One day below the figure restarts the count.
- How recent: the 28-day period must end no more than 31 days before you apply.
- Whose money: yours, or your parent's or legal guardian's, with your birth certificate and a letter of consent from them. An uncle's or sibling's account doesn't count.
- Loans: an education loan from a regulated bank is accepted, with a letter showing the amount and that it's paid to you or the university.
| Item | GBP | In rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition on the CAS | 18,000 | Rs 36.5 lakh |
| Less the deposit already paid | −5,000 | −Rs 10.1 lakh |
| Living costs, 9 months at £1,203 | 10,827 | Rs 22 lakh |
| Money to hold for 28 days | 23,827 | Rs 48.4 lakh |
Nischal, one of our students in Manchester, had been refused through another agent because his money was held for 26 days, not 28. Same money, same course. We counted the days properly and he was approved.
How to apply for a UK student visa from Nepal, step by step
- Get an unconditional offer from a licensed university.
- Get your NOC and pay the deposit. Apply for the NOC first; your bank won't send the deposit without it.
- Receive your CAS. The university emails a CAS number with your course, fees and any deposit paid. Check every detail on it.
- Do the TB test at the UK-approved clinic in Kathmandu. The certificate is valid for 6 months.
- Put the money in place and start counting 28 days.
- Apply online on gov.uk, pay the £558 fee and the health surcharge, and book biometrics.
- Give biometrics at VFS Global in Kathmandu and upload or hand in your documents.
- Answer the interview if UKVI calls you. Know your course, your university and your money.
- Get the decision, usually within 3 weeks. If approved, you get an eVisa linked to your UKVI account, not a card.
You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts. Apply as soon as your 28 days are complete, so a delay doesn't push you past the start date.
UK student visa documents checklist
- Passport
- CAS number, and the documents your CAS lists
- Bank statements or a bank letter covering the 28 days, in your or your parent's name
- Birth certificate and parent's consent letter, if the money is in a parent's name
- Education loan letter, if you use one
- TB test certificate
- Academic certificates and transcripts used for your offer
- English test result, if your university used one
- Certified English translations of anything in Nepali
Bank statements must show your name, the account number, the bank's name and the date. We check each one against the 28-day count before you pay the visa fee.
UK student visa fees from Nepal
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa | £558, about Rs 1.13 lakh | UK Government |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 a year; about £1,164 (Rs 2.36 lakh) for a one-year master's | UK Government |
| TB test | Set by the approved clinic; we give you the current figure | Approved clinic, Kathmandu |
| NOC | Rs 2,000 | Ministry of Education |
| Our fee, if you use us | Rs 20,000 per application file | Prasthan Education, by bank |
The full cost of a UK year is in the cost of studying in the UK guide.
Why UK student visas are refused from Nepal
Last year 15 of our 168 UK files were refused. These are the reasons we see most, in our files and in files other agents sent us after a refusal.
- Funds held for fewer than 28 days, or dipping below the figure for a day
- Money in the wrong name: a relative who isn't a parent or legal guardian
- Statements too old, with the 28 days ending more than 31 days before applying
- A weak interview: a student who can't explain the course, the university or the cost
- Documents that don't match the CAS: different names, dates or qualifications
A refusal is a file problem, not a fate. The refusal letter gives the reason. If you think the officer made a mistake, you can ask for an administrative review within 28 days. If the file itself was wrong, fix that exact reason before applying again.
After your UK student visa is approved
You can work 20 hours a week in term at degree level and full-time in official vacations. Family members can't join you on a taught master's; only postgraduate research students can bring dependants.
After you graduate, the Graduate visa lets you stay and work for 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, and 18 months after that. Our UK page covers part-time jobs, the first week and jobs after study.
