Visas
Documents required for a UK Student visa
In short
GOV.UK requires two documents from every Student visa applicant: "a current passport or other valid travel documentation" and "a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider". Depending on circumstances it adds proof of money for course fees and living costs (£1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside, for up to nine months, rising to £1,570 and £1,203 for applications on or after 30 November 2026, held for 28 consecutive days), a valid ATAS certificate, tuberculosis test results, written consent from a financial sponsor who paid in the last 12 months, and parental consent and proof of relationship for applicants under 18.
The UK list is the shortest of the seven destinations and the most precise about money. Most refusals are about the 28-day rule or an answer in the credibility interview that did not match the file, not about a missing document.
This is one of seven posts on the documents each destination asks for; the [document preparation](/study-abroad-documents) page sets out who produces each document and the order to start them in.
GOV.UK's list, in its own words
From "Student visa: documents you must provide", read on 27 October 2026.
- Always: "a current passport or other valid travel documentation".
- Always: "a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider".
- If it applies: "proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course"; the amount depends on your circumstances.
- If it applies: "a valid ATAS certificate", for courses and nationalities that need one.
- If it applies: "your tuberculosis test results"; GOV.UK's TB test page lists the countries, and India is on it for stays over six months.
- If it applies: "written consent for your application from your financial sponsor", where a sponsor paid your course fees or living costs in the last 12 months.
- Under 18: "proof of parental or other legal guardian consent" covering the application, your care arrangements and your travel, and "proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian".
- The page says you may need other documents depending on your circumstances and points to the full guidance.
The money, precisely
Course fees for the first year, less anything already paid and receipted by the university, plus living costs at the monthly figure for up to nine months. GOV.UK: "You must have this money for at least 28 days in a row" and "The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa." The figures and the 30 November 2026 change are in UK student visa funds. Indian nationals are not on the differential evidence list, so the evidence is shown in full every time.
The documents behind the CAS
The CAS exists because the university already holds your transcripts, your personal statement, your English test and, often, a pre-CAS interview record. The visa caseworker can see what the university saw, and the credibility interview, if called, tests whether the person described in those documents is the person answering. The credibility interview post has the question bank universities publish.
Dependants are a separate question with narrow eligibility; see the dependants rule before assuming a partner can come.
Order and timing
Meet the offer conditions and pay the deposit so the CAS can be issued; universities issue it no earlier than six months before the course. Start the 28-day money clock as soon as the funds are in one account. Book the TB test, which needs an appointment at an approved clinic. Apply once the CAS is issued and the 28 days have run; the application date decides which maintenance figures apply.
Sources
Quoted from GOV.UK on 27 October 2026.
Related questions
Do I need to show money if the university has my fees?
Fees already paid and receipted by the university are deducted from what you show. Living costs still have to be shown at the monthly figure for up to nine months, held for 28 days.
Is a TB test required for Indian applicants?
Yes, for stays of more than six months, from a clinic approved by the Home Office. GOV.UK's TB test page lists the countries and clinics.
What is ATAS and do I need it?
Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance, required for certain postgraduate subjects in science and engineering for certain nationalities, including Indian. The university's offer letter or CAS says whether your course needs it.