Nationalities categorised by the United Kingdom (UK) Home Office as low risk will have a simplified Student visa application process for studying in the UK. Find out if you qualify and what documents you will need.
Low risk requirements
If you meet the requirements below, your visa application process will be simplified and you will submit less documentary evidence to support your application.
You must:
- be sponsored by an institution with a Student Sponsor Licence (Edinburgh Napier University has this licence).
- apply for entry clearance from your country of nationality/residence or from within the UK.
- be a national of one of the following countries:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- The Dominican Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
Where an applicant is a dual national, and only one of their nationalities is listed above, they will be able to apply using the different documentary requirements that apply to these nationals, provided they are applying either for entry clearance in the country or territory where the applicant is living or for leave to remain in the UK.
An applicant will be subject to different documentary requirements under the Student Visa route of the Points Based System where they are the rightful holder of a passport, which has been issued by one of the relevant competent authorities listed below, and where the applicant is applying either for entry clearance in the country or territory where they are living or for leave to remain in the UK.
o British National (Overseas)
o Hong Kong SAR
o Macau SAR
o Taiwan (those who hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes the number of the identification card issued by the official authority in Taiwan).
Where an applicant is the rightful holder of a passport issued by a relevant competent authority listed above and also holds another passport or is the national of a country not listed above, they will be able to apply using the different documentary requirements that apply to rightful holders of those passports listed in this Appendix provided they are applying either for entry clearance in the country or territory where the applicant is living or for leave to remain in the UK.
The list of low risk nationalities is reviewed on an annual basis.
Documentation
If you meet the requirements above, you are exempt from supplying the following documents with your Student visa application:
- Financial evidence
- Academic qualifications
- English Language certificate (SELT)
- Evidence of academic progression (successful completion of a previous course in the UK while holding a Tier 4 visa/Student visa)
Confirmation of requirements
You are required to confirm on the visa application form that you meet the requirements set out in the policy guidance and that you hold the specified documents in the format required. You will also have to be able to provide these documents to the Home Office should they request them as part of the visa decision process. They will usually give you 7-10 working days to provide these documents. Failure to provide this evidence will result in refusal of your visa application.
International Student Welcome Events
Visa and International Support are hosting pre-arrival and welcome events for all new international students. Here you will have the opportunity to learn more about Edinburgh Napier University and tips to prepare yourself for your new academic career, meet fellow international students and take the first steps to embracing your university experience in Edinburgh. The pre-arrival events will take place before the final registration date and the welcome event will take place after, once you have settled in.
The event will run online and dates are as below - all students due to start their studies in September 2023 will be emailed with further information prior to these events:
• Pre-Arrival: 10 August 2023 14:00pm UK time
• Pre-Arrival: 24 August 2023 14:00pm UK time
• Welcome: 28 September 2023 14:00pm UK time
We look forward to seeing you then!