1. Make sure you can travel
If you want to travel during term time you will need to seek permission from your tutor before you make any plans.
2. Find out if you need a visa
Contact the embassy of the country that you are visiting to find out if you need a visa. Some countries require students to have between 2 & 6 months remaining on their student visa.
Request a status letter to support your visa application
If you do require a visa, request a Student Status Letter to confirm that you are student.
Travelling to multiple countries in Europe
You may be eligible for a Schengen visa.
3. Prepare to re-enter the UK
Request a Student Status Letter to confirm that you are a student - you will need to present this letter to the immigration official when you re-enter the UK.
When you re-enter the UK, you may also need to show:
- That you still have enough money to pay your tuition fees and living expenses
- That your tutor has given you permission to travel
If you are a national from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA and have a Visitor Visa stamp in your passport DO NOT USE THE E-GATE when you return to the UK. You will need to see an immigration official to get a new Visitor Visa stamp in your passport.
What to do if you lose your documents overseas
Applying for a replacement passport outside of the UK
If you either lose, or have your passport stolen, you will need to report this to the police in the country where the loss or theft occurred and make an application for a replacement passport. You should contact your country's embassy, consulate, or high commission or passport office in the country where the loss or theft occurred for information on how to obtain a replacement passport. It is possible that there may be a considerable wait to obtain a replacement passport or travel document.
Applying for a replacement BRP outside the UK
You should report the loss or theft of the BRP to the police and obtain a police report, then report your lost or stolen BRP to: https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/lost-stolen-damaged
You will not be able to use your BRP if you find it after you report it lost or stolen.
You should then apply for a replacement BRP visa single entry costing £154 to re-enter the UK by applying online at: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/country-selection
Once you have returned to the UK you should apply for a replacement BRP card within 1 month: https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/lost-stolen-damaged
UKVI Visa Application Centres
UKVI Visa Application Centres offer a variety of chargeable value added services in addition to ordinary application services. You should check the availability of any such services at the Visa Application Centre you intend to apply at as this may enable quicker processing of their application.
For an alphabetical list of the Visa Application Centres outside the UK and their contact details, click on the link: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre
4. Travelling at the end of your studies
You can travel outside of the UK at the end of your studies once you have submitted everything, (if you have any referral / deferral modules, these will need to have been submitted or exams sat before you can travel) as you should be in your wrap up period. (If you are unsure of this please contact us on sitadvice@herts.ac.uk for clarification.) The Home Office has confirmed that you should be able to travel during this wrap up period. But please be aware that you will be stopped and asked questions on your re-entry to the UK. This is part of the border forces job to ensure you are entering for the purposes of your current visa.
If you are questioned, you must be clear that you have returned to the UK to complete one of the following activities as detailed in the policy guidance.
- Work full-time in the UK on a temporary contract, if your conditions of leave permit you to work and your course has ended
- Study in the UK
- Study-related activities including graduation
- Visit areas in the UK
- Apply to remain in the UK under an appropriate alternative route (eg Graduate Immigration Route, or Skilled Worker route)
Ensure that you have the appropriate documents to demonstrate your answer, such as student status letter, your CAS letter. The Border Official should then allow you to enter the UK.