Being European, will I now need a visa to study English in London?

You are Spanish, French, German or maybe Hungarian? As a European citizen you used to travel to the UK freely. Following the Brexit, will you now need a visa to study English in London?

You are quite confused with the post-Brexit UK visa regulations? You don’t know what documents you will need to study English in London? Here is everything you should know to prepare your journey to the UK!

A visa to study English in London? Some case studies to better understand the new rules

“Do I need a visa to study English in the UK following the Brexit?” is probably one of the most frequently asked question we receive. The answer is yes and no! This actually depends on the length of the course you will take in the UK.

Giorgio, an Italian CEO, wonders if he will need a visa to attend a language school in London

If you would like to come for an English course lasting less than 6 months, you will not need a visa as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

But be careful! Starting 1 October 2021, your ID will not be enough anymore to enter the UK. You will need valid EU, EEA or Swiss passport.

To have a better understanding of this new rule, take the case of Giorgio for instance, an Italian CEO of a company in Milan, Italy. He would like to take an intensive English course in London for two weeks in order to develop his vocabulary and his skills in English. Since he is European and only wants to come for 2 weeks (so less than 6 months), Giorgio will not need a visa, he will only need his valid passport!

If you are under 18, keep in mind that your parents must explicitly agree with your travel. You can visit our FAQ for minor students to prepare your stay in the UK to study English in London as a minor.

Sara, a Spanish student, plans to study English in London for about 8 months

If you intend to stay between 6 and 11 months in the UK, then you will need a Short-term study visa  to enter the country.

It means that Sara, a Spanish girl who would like to learn English in London for 8 months during her gap year, will need a visa as she plans on staying more than 6 months in the UK.

Simon will study at a British University : does he need a visa?

If you intend to stay for more than 11 months in the UK, you will need a Student visa.

Your French friend Simon would like to study at a British university for a whole year; he will thus need a student visa to do so, since he will stay more than 11 months in the UK.

Keep in mind that with these visas, you will not be able to work while in the UK.

To learn more about UK visas to study English in the London, we have prepared an entire FAQs page on visas for you! On this page you will find everything you need to know on the visa application process and the requirements you will need to meet to get a UK visa.

In need of a visa to study English in London? Keep calm and don’t panic!

If you would like to take a short-term English course (less than 4 weeks) like most of our students here at Nacel English School London, you will not need a visa to visit us.

But don’t worry if you do need a visa! It might seem like a long and difficult administrative procedure, but it is not if you take it step by step! The application process for a UK visa is actually very simple and you can find a variety of online resources to help you!

Of course, you can always contact us in case something remains unclear for you! Feel also free to reach out to your local UK embassy or to visit the official UK government website.