Although the tier 4 visa route officially closed to new applicants on 5 October 2020, the term remains widely used in 2026 by universities, students, and immigration advisers. All new student applications are now made under the Student visa (Appendix Student) or Child Student visa, not the historic tier 4 visa route.
The tier 4 visa and the current student route share similar core requirements, including sponsorship, points-based assessment, and work restrictions during term time. Students must hold a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed education provider before applying for a student visa. Financial maintenance evidence and English language ability must be demonstrated, with applications typically submitted 3 to 6 months before the course start date.
Salam Immigration offers tailored immigration advice and full application support for those searching for guidance on the tier 4 visa or UK student visa application process.
What Is a Tier 4 Visa and What Replaced It?
The tier 4 visa served as the main visa route for international students coming to study in the UK for over a decade. It allowed students aged 16 and above to study full time at licensed colleges and universities, provided they had sponsorship and met specific financial and English language requirements.
In 2026, students searching for “tier 4 visa” actually need to apply under the Student visa or Child Student visa. The old terminology persists because universities, agents, and historic Home Office guidance still reference the tier 4 visa, which can create confusion for applicants unfamiliar with the current immigration rules.
The modern student route is found in Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules and keeps the core features of the tier 4 student visa: sponsorship from an approved education provider, a points-based assessment, and requirements around financial maintenance and English language. Salam Immigration helps students and their families understand this transition, ensuring they apply under the correct category with accurate documentation.
Tier 4 (General) vs Student Visa
Understanding the differences and similarities between the old tier 4 visa (General) and the current student visa helps applicants navigate their options with confidence.
| Feature | Tier 4 Visa (Historic) | Student Visa (Current) |
| Age limit | 16 and above | 16 and above (Child Student for under 18 at independent school) |
| Points required | 40 points (30 CAS + 10 maintenance) | 70 points |
| Course types | Degree level, below degree, English language course | Degree level courses, recognised foundation programme, English language course |
| Sponsorship | Licensed Tier 4 sponsor | Licensed Student sponsor |
| Work rights | Up to 20 hours term time | Up to 20 hours term time for degree level study |
| Post-study options | Limited options | Graduate visa, Skilled Worker, other routes |
Under the tier 4 visa, applicants needed 40 points, with 30 points awarded for holding a valid CAS and 10 points for meeting maintenance requirements. The current student visa operates under a different points system requiring 70 points, though the underlying evidence requirements remain broadly similar.
Terminology like “tier 4 visa” still appears on historic biometric residence permits, uk university websites, and old Home Office guidance. This can confuse applicants, but rest assured that past tier 4 visa holders remain lawfully valid until the expiry date printed on their BRP. If you held a tier 4 visa, your immigration permission continues under the conditions attached to that grant.
Closure of the Tier 4 Visa Route
The tier 4 visa route closed to new applicants on 5 October 2020 as part of the UK’s introduction of the points-based immigration system reforms. Anyone applying from that date onwards must use the student visa or child student visa route instead.
Existing tier 4 visa grants were not cancelled or shortened when the route closed. Holders retained their permission until the printed expiry date on their biometric residence permits. This means some individuals in the UK in 2026 may still technically hold valid tier 4 visa status, though they cannot extend under that route.
If you have an old tier 4 visa and need to extend, switch course, or move into a work route, you must now apply under the relevant modern category. Salam Immigration can review old tier 4 visa histories and advise how they affect options for the Graduate visa, Skilled Worker, or settlement pathways.
Eligibility Requirements (Then and Now)
The core eligibility requirements under the tier 4 visa remain largely mirrored in today’s student visa rules. This continuity helps applicants who previously held a tier 4 visa understand what is expected under the current system.
The main elements are:
- A valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from an approved education provider
- Evidence of sufficient financial maintenance for tuition fees and living costs
- Demonstrated English language ability at the required level
- Genuine student assessment (where applicable)
- An eligible course at the appropriate study level
Salam Immigration checks eligibility against both the tier 4 visa rules (for historic cases) and the current student visa framework, identifying any weaknesses and evidential gaps. Small errors in documents or bank statements are a frequent reason for refusal, making careful preparation essential for a successful visa application and avoiding common reasons for UK visa rejection.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
Both the tier 4 visa and the modern student visa require a CAS reference number issued by a licensed college or university before the visa application can be made. The CAS is a 14-digit reference number that serves as your electronic sponsorship record.
A CAS contains essential information including:
- Course title and level
- Course duration and end dates
- Tuition fees and payments already made
- The sponsor licence number
- Details about your qualifications and English language evidence
A CAS is usually valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Applications for a tier 4 visa in the past, or a student visa now, must be submitted before the CAS expires. Salam Immigration often checks CAS details for accuracy, including start dates and fee amounts, to ensure they match the online application and supporting documents.
A CAS can normally only be used once. Issuing a new CAS after a refusal is at the sponsor’s discretion, so first-time accuracy is vital. If your education provider needs to withdraw and reissue your CAS, this can delay your application timeline significantly.
Financial Maintenance Requirements
Under the tier 4 visa, students had to show funds for tuition fees for the first academic year plus living costs, and this principle still applies to the student visa in 2026. The financial requirements ensure you can support yourself without relying on public funds.
Maintenance calculations differ inside and outside London:
- London: Higher monthly living expenses requirement (currently around £1,334 per month)
- Outside London: Lower monthly rate (currently around £1,023 per month)
- Duration: Funds must cover up to nine months of living costs plus outstanding tuition fees
Acceptable evidence includes:
- Personal bank statements showing required funds
- Parents’ bank account with consent letter and birth certificate
- Official financial sponsorship from a government or international organisation
- Student loans from recognised lenders
The 28-day rule requires that funds must be held in the account for at least 28 consecutive days. Bank statements must be issued no more than 31 days before the date of your online application. Salam Immigration reviews bank statements line by line to ensure they meet Home Office format and timing requirements, helping to avoid refusal on technical grounds.
English Language and Academic Requirements
Both the old tier 4 visa and the current student visa require applicants to meet a minimum English level unless exempt. For degree level courses, this is typically at least B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Common ways to meet the English language requirement include:
- Secure English Language Test (for example IELTS for UKVI)
- An English-taught qualification from a majority English-speaking country
- Nationality from a majority English-speaking country
The chosen course must be at an eligible level. For most non-degree study, this means RQF level 3 and above. For undergraduate degree level study, courses must be at least RQF level 6. Postgraduate level courses are at RQF 7 or 8, including doctoral qualification programmes.
Salam Immigration can help interpret offer letters and CAS information to confirm that the course level and English evidence match what the Home Office expects. Failing to meet English or academic progression rules under either the tier 4 visa or the student visa can lead to refusal or difficulty extending leave.
When and How to Apply (Inside and Outside the UK)
Timing rules under the student visa are similar to the former tier 4 visa rules. Applying at the correct time is critical for students switching courses or sponsors, as well as for new applicants.
Application steps differ slightly depending on whether you are:
- Outside the UK applying for entry clearance
- Inside the UK extending or switching from a previous visa
Both processes involve completing an online application form, paying the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, and providing biometrics. You may need to attend an appointment or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app where available in your country.
Salam Immigration can manage the full process, from checking supporting documents to submitting the online form and preparing clients for biometrics appointments. The firm offers both document-check services and full representation depending on your needs.
Applying from Outside the UK
Students can normally apply for a student visa (replacing the tier 4 visa) up to 6 months before the course start date printed on the CAS if applying from outside the UK.
Typical processing times are around 3 weeks for a standard decision. Priority services may be available in certain countries for an extra fee, potentially reducing the wait to 5 working days. Super priority services, where available, can deliver decisions within 24 hours.
Basic steps for overseas applicants:
- Receive offer and pay any required deposit
- Obtain your CAS from the education provider
- Complete the online visa application
- Pay the fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
- Upload supporting documents
- Attend a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre
- Wait for the decision before travelling
Students must not travel to the UK before the start date on their visa vignette. Entry clearance conditions should be checked carefully before booking flights. Salam Immigration often assists students and parents overseas, coordinating across time zones and managing document collection to reduce the risk of late enrolment.
Applying from Inside the UK
Students already in the UK, often on a previous student visa or an old tier 4 visa, can usually apply to extend or switch up to 3 months before the new course begins.
The new course must normally start no more than 28 days after the current immigration permission expires. This echoes the old tier 4 visa rules and remains important for planning your application timeline.
Key steps for in-country applications:
- Obtain a new CAS from your education provider
- Check academic progression requirements
- Confirm financial evidence meets current rules
- Submit the online form before current leave expires
- Attend a UKVCAS biometrics appointment if required
Many students choose to remain in the UK while the application is pending. They retain their existing conditions under section 3C leave where applicable, allowing them to continue studying and working within their permitted hours.
Salam Immigration provides document-check and full-representation services for immigration applications inside the UK with support from our immigration solicitors in Birmingham. This support is particularly valuable where previous tier 4 visa or student visa refusals exist in the immigration history.
How Long It Takes and Priority Options
Current decision times for student visa applications broadly match what tier 4 visa applicants experienced before 2020. Standard processing outside the UK takes around 3 weeks, while in-country applications typically take 8 weeks.
Priority and super priority services cost extra and availability depends on your country and local visa centre capacity. Not all visa application centres offer these services.
Planning advice:
- Build in extra time for document collection and translation
- Account for biometrics appointment availability
- Allow buffer time during peak months (July to September)
- Consider that additional checks can delay decisions
Salam Immigration can help plan timelines around academic start dates, CAS issue dates, and existing visa expiry dates. This reduces the risk of last-minute problems that could affect your enrolment or immigration status.
How Long You Can Stay and What You Can Do
The period of stay and conditions attached under the student visa are very similar to those under the old tier 4 visa. This helps former tier 4 visa holders understand their rights when extending or switching to the current route.
Length of stay is linked to:
- Course level (degree level, postgraduate level, or other doctoral qualification)
- Course duration
- Additional time before and after the course
Both systems set out what students studying in the UK can and cannot do, including rules on working hours, self-employment, access to public funds, and studying at different institutions. Salam Immigration can review a student’s full immigration history to calculate whether they are approaching any study caps or work restrictions.
Length of Stay by Course Type
For degree level courses, students usually receive immigration permission covering the full course length plus several extra months at the end. This mirrors the tier 4 visa practice that allowed students a short period after course completion to prepare for departure or apply to switch routes.
For courses below degree level, the grant of leave is normally shorter. There may be stricter limits on how long a person can study at those levels overall.
Examples:
- A 3-year undergraduate degree typically leads to a visa lasting just over 3 years, including extra time at the end
- A 1-year master’s degree usually grants permission for around 16 months total
- Part time courses at postgraduate level may have different calculations
Where students progress from one course to another, they may need to show academic progression. This was an important feature under the tier 4 visa and remains central to the student route. Salam Immigration checks proposed study plans against these limits before clients commit to new tuition fees or deposits.
Work Rights During Study
Students on degree level courses at recognised institutions are usually allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during vacation periods. This reflects the rules that applied under the tier 4 visa.
The 20-hour limit is a maximum amount in any single week and cannot be averaged over a longer period. It includes paid and unpaid work, and work for one or more organisations.
Prohibited work includes:
- Self-employment or running a business
- Working as a professional sportsperson
- Working as an entertainer
- Student union sabbatical officer roles (with limited exceptions)
Below-degree students tend to have more limited work rights. Some courses and sponsors do not allow work at all, which must be checked on the BRP or digital immigration status.
Salam Immigration often advises UK employer HR teams on how to check and record work rights for students who still refer to their permission as a tier 4 visa, through our London immigration solicitors for employers and students. Breaching work conditions can affect future immigration applications, including the Graduate visa and Skilled Worker visa.
Bringing Dependants (Partner and Children)
Rules about bringing a partner or children as dependants have changed several times since the tier 4 visa era. Readers should not rely on old guidance alone when planning family applications.
Student visa holders may be able to bring dependants in connection with:
- Certain postgraduate courses lasting 9 months or more
- Government-sponsored study
- PhD and other doctoral qualification programmes
Dependants have their own visa application process, visa fees, and Immigration Health Surcharge requirements. They often have permission to work full time in the UK, unlike the main student applicant who faces term time restrictions.
Salam Immigration prepares linked applications for main applicants and dependants, ensuring financial and relationship evidence meets Home Office expectations, with dedicated support from our immigration solicitors in Manchester. Former tier 4 visa students who are now on work or family routes may be able to sponsor dependants under different parts of the immigration rules.
Post-Study Options for Former Tier 4 and Current Students
Many people still search for “tier 4 visa” when they are close to finishing a UK degree and want to stay on for work, further study, or family reasons. Understanding the available routes is essential for planning your next steps.
Today’s main post-study options include:
- Graduate visa
- Skilled Worker visa
- Further study under the student route
- Global Talent route
- Family routes
Choice of route depends on your qualifications, type of job offer, salary level, family circumstances, and long-term plans such as settlement or citizenship. Salam Immigration offers strategic consultations to map out options from final-year study to long-term relocation and settlement in the UK, taking into account any previous tier 4 visa periods.
Graduate Visa
The Graduate visa, introduced in July 2021, allows eligible graduates to stay in the UK for up to two years after most degrees and 3 years after a PhD or other doctoral qualification.
Key eligibility requirements:
- Successfully completed an eligible course with a licensed sponsor
- Last held permission as a student visa holder or tier 4 visa holder at the time of application
- Applied from inside the UK
- Course must have been studied primarily in the UK
There is no requirement for sponsorship or a minimum salary on the Graduate visa. However, it cannot usually be extended beyond the initial grant, so planning your next move is important.
Salam Immigration assists graduates with checking eligibility, timing the application around course completion and BRP expiry date, and planning a later move into Skilled Worker or other UK work visa routes. Time spent on the Graduate route does not normally count towards settlement on its own.
Skilled Worker and Other Work Routes
Many former tier 4 visa and current student visa holders move into the Skilled Worker visa once they secure a qualifying job offer from a Home Office-licensed uk employer.
Key features of the Skilled Worker route:
- Job must be at appropriate skill level
- Minimum salary thresholds apply
- English language requirement must be met
- Employer must hold a valid sponsor licence
Alternative work routes include the Health and Care Worker visa (for postgraduate doctors, nurses, and care workers), Scale-up visa, or Global Talent route for highly skilled graduates in research, arts, or technology.
Salam Immigration regularly advises both employers and graduates on sponsorship duties, Certificates of Sponsorship, and long-term paths to Indefinite Leave to Remain. Maintaining a clean immigration history during tier 4 visa or student visa periods helps when applying for work routes later.
Further Study and Other Immigration Categories
Some students choose to progress to a higher-level course, such as moving from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s or from a master’s to a PhD. This requires a new student visa rather than a tier 4 visa application.
They will again need:
- A CAS from the education provider
- Financial evidence meeting current requirements
- Proof of academic progression
Others may qualify for family routes based on relationships with British or settled partners, or for the Global Talent route in academic or research fields. Some may explore the Academic Technology Approval Scheme if studying certain sensitive subjects at postgraduate level.
Salam Immigration reviews each case individually, particularly where there are gaps or complex histories involving earlier tier 4 visa refusals or overstays. Seeking advice before leaving the UK or changing immigration category can affect future eligibility for settlement.
How Salam Immigration Can Help with Tier 4 and Student Visa Issues
We, at Salam Immigration, focus on clear, practical support for students, graduates, and their families navigating the UK visa system. We provide up-to-date guidance on the student route and related categories, translating historic terminology into current requirements.
Typical services for students include:
- Eligibility assessments for student visa and Graduate visa applications
- Document checks and preparation
- Full representation for visa application submissions
- Immigration advice on switching to work or family routes
- Review of immigration history including previous tier 4 visa periods
- Strategic planning for settlement and long residence
We offer remote consultations via video and telephone to clients inside and outside the UK, with clear fixed-fee structures where appropriate. This makes professional student immigration support accessible regardless of your location.
If you are unsure about your tier 4 visa position or student visa plans, contact Salam Immigration for tailored immigration advice. Our team can review your circumstances and provide evidence on the best route forward.
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