XClose

Students

Menu

Visa document guidance

If you are not from the UK or Ireland we need to check your right to study to complete your enrolment.

To do this you will need to upload your visa documents as part of the pre-enrolment task on Portico.

Select an option and learn more about which documents to upload: 

Need help with uploading documents to Portico?

Learn how to upload your visa documents to Portico. 

I am studying a full-time course (any study level) 

Scroll through the scenarios below for more information on which documents to upload. 

I applied for a Student Visa from outside the UK 

To complete your enrolment, follow these steps.

Upload Required Documents 

To complete your enrolment, upload the following to Portico: 

  • Your entry clearance travel vignette with a UK arrival stamp. This will be a sticker on your passport. When you arrive in the UK, the immigration officer will stamp your vignette. 
  • Your visa decision letter or email, showing the correct visa expiry date. 

Pre-enrolment option 

We understand that you may not have received all your visa documents, but you can start pre-enrolment before arriving in the UK by uploading an unstamped vignette. We cannot complete your enrolment until you provide proof of entry to the UK.  

Update us on your visa documents 

Let us know when you receive your documents by uploading them to Portico.  

Arrival in the UK

Once you arrive in the UK, upload a copy of your stamped vignette or boarding pass if you entered through an e-gate. This will enable us to complete your enrolment. 

Important information 

  • Ensure you enter the UK within the dates specified on your entry clearance vignette. 
  • Your visa must have UCL's Sponsor Licence Number: X3W1RGWT9. 
  • If your entry clearance vignette doesn't have a stamp when you arrive, upload your boarding pass or flight itinerary. 
  • Upon your arrival in the UK, you may also need to collect a Biometric Residence Permit  (BRP). Learn more about the Biometric Residence Permit.  

I received a Digital Immigration Status for my visa 

To verify your immigration status, upload these documents to Portico:  

  • Your share code. UCL will use this code to confirm your immigration status. 
  • An email that you received from UKVI, confirming that your visa has been granted for UCL. 
  • A copy of your boarding pass or flight itinerary displaying your entry into the UK. 

How to generate share code  

Read the guidance on generating a share code. Once generated, your share code is valid for 90 days and consists of letters and numbers. 

Read more on the Digital Immigration Status webpage. 

I am applying for my new visa from within the UK, but I'm still awaiting its approval 

Upload the following to Portico: 

  • A copy of your current visa 

Additionally, provide only one of the following: 

  • A copy of your visa application form. 
  • A copy of your document checklist. 
  • A copy of the payment confirmation from your visa application submission. 

I have pre-settled/settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme 

Upload the following through your Portico account: 

  • Share Code 

Generate and upload your share code. UCL will use this code to confirm your immigration status. 

How to generate share code 

Read the guidance on generating a share code. Once generated, your share code is valid for 90 days and consists of letters and numbers.  

I have another type of visa 

Upload your visa documents to Portico. 

It can be any of the following: 

  • BRP card, 
  • share code, or 
  • passport sticker/stamp 

Provide as much detail as you can. Our enrolment team will review and request more if needed. 

Graduate Route Visa Information 

The Graduate Route visa has strict study limitations. It allows study in select courses not covered by the Student Visa route. 

If you have a Graduate Route visa, you must first get a Student Visa or a full-time study visa. Then, you can enrol in full-time undergraduate, postgraduate taught, or postgraduate research programmes. 

I am studying a course which is 6 months or less

Examples of this kind of study can include UCL Summer School and Affiliates.

I have been given a Standard Visitor Visa 

Upload the following to Portico: 

If you applied for your visa in advance:  

  • A copy of your entry clearance vignette with an entry clearance stamp. This will be a sticker on your passport, please see the example. Your ticket will be stamped when you arrive in the UK - you will not be able to upload a copy until you arrive. 
  • If your entry clearance vignette isn't stamped on arrival, please provide a copy of your boarding pass. 

If you didn't apply for a visa in advance:  

  • A copy of your entry clearance stamp. 

If you entered the UK via the e-gates:  

  • A copy of your boarding pass. 

If your entry clearance vignette isn't stamped on arrival, please provide a copy of your boarding pass. 

I am studying a Part-time, flexible, distance learning course or course jointly run by UCL and a Partner Institution

If you are in the UK, then upload your visa documents to Portico. 

It can be any of the following: 

  • BRP card, 
  • share code, or 
  • passport sticker/stamp 

Provide as much detail as you can. Our UCL Enrolment Team will review and request more if needed. 

Graduate Route Visa Information 

The Graduate Route visa has strict study limitations. It allows study in select courses not covered by the Student Visa route. 

If you have a Graduate Route visa, you must first get a Student Visa or a full-time study visa. Then, you can enrol in full-time undergraduate, postgraduate taught, or postgraduate research programmes. 

Need more information? askUCL

Submit a query to us through askUCL.