EU/EEA/Swiss Students and Immigration

From 1st January 2021 it will be mandatory for new arrivals to the UK to apply for immigration to either come to, or remain, in the UK. The UKVI have produced a leaflet to help explain the new process for EU students under their incoming PBS Immigration System.

 UKVI PBS EU Overview

Please note: if you need to quarantine on arrival as per the gov.wales information here, please ensure that you are visiting the University's FAQs regarding quarantine (towards the bottom of the page). That is the central information point and will be updated as and when necessary. 

We recommend that all students get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if they can. Having that document may impact on your smoothly accessing UK healthcare, future eligibility under some UK immigration routes (e.g. Citizenship) and aiding eligibility for a  refund of any Immigration Health Surcharge fees paid under the Student Route.

Current/continuing students who have not yet done so. should be able to apply for the FREE EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) from their home country or after you arrive back in the UK (this application should be made as soon as pssible and by 30th June 2021 at the very latest). You can now download a Student Statement from your GradIntelligence account to include as University evidence. 

We have a bespoke information page relating to continuing students (pre September 2020 entrants) for your information. 

We also have bespoke pages for September 2020 and January/February 2021 entrants.

Full guidance around the EUSS and the application process can be found on our EUSS pages.

If you are a new student please see the information below dependent on when you course is due to start.

Immigration status

If you are due to start your course (or an exchange or visit programme) before 31st December 2020, and come to the UK before that date, you will be able to enter the UK without any form of prior immigration and can take advantage of applying for the EU Settlement Scheme after you have arrived. You need to make sure that you have made this application before 30th June 2021, although we recommend you do it as soon as possible.

You will find comprehensive guidance on the Scheme and how you can apply on our EUSS pages.

If you did not come into the UK before the 31st December 2020 please see our bespoke information for either continuing students (pre August 2020) or September 2020 starters to help you work out the best course of action for your individual situation.

If you need additional support the International@CampusLife team will be there to help.

Fees and Funding 

EU students
As of 31st May 2019, the Welsh government confirmed that EU students who start their course in the 2020/21 academic year would be covered by legislation stating that they would be liable for the same fees as UK home students. They will also be eligible to receive grants and/or loans from Student Finance Wales (SFW), subject to existing criteria (you can check the criteria via the UKCISA links below). In a similar way to those who started in 2019/20, this legislation would cover students for their whole course.

EEA/Swiss students
There is no blanket eligibility for EEA and Swiss students to access home fee status/financial support. Though some may be dependant on their individual situation. 

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) hold comprehensive information on Fee Status and Government Student Support which will help you to more fully understand if you are eligible for one or both of those things. You can also contact the University's Money@CampusLife team who will help you to work out your own situation. 

Healthcare

Students who have been granted lstatus under the EUSS will be able to access the National Health Service as a benefit of that scheme.

If you have not yet applied and are planning to apply for the EUSS after arrival in the UK, prompt application is recommended- as you will need either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or private healthcare insurance to cover any time between arrival in the UK and EUSS grant. Students should always get an EHIC/private health insurance as they may need to evidence this, not only to access medical treatment, but also for future eligibility for some immigration routes (e.g. citizenship).

Students who do not have EUSS status or who have come into the UK on a Visitor status (including being stamped in on Entry to the UK) will need an EHIC and/or private healthcare insurance. 

If you are due to start your course (or an exchange or visit programme) in January 2021, please see our bespoke information page January 2021 starters. This will help you to work out whether you may be able to apply for the European Settlement Scheme.

For all students who did not travel to the UK prior to 31st December 2020 (irrespective of future course start date- from 1st January 2021 onwards), your immigration pathway would depend on your course length.

Courses, Exchange or Visit Programme of less than 6 months

If you are studying a course that is 6 months or less, you will be able to enrol as a Standard Visitor (this is what you will be stamped in as if you get immigration as you go through Port of Entry (at the airport). You will need to leave the UK within 6 months of being stamped in and European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or private healthcare insurance to cover any time between arrival in the UK and EUSS grant. Students should always get an EHIC/private health insurance as they may need to evidence this, not only to access medical treatment, but also for future eligibility for some immigration routes (e.g. citizenship).

Students who do not have EUSS status or who have come into the UK on a Visitor status (including being stamped in on Entry to the UK) will need an EHIC and/or private healthcare insurance. 

There are some companies that offer specific insurance plans for international students and families so it may be worth having a look at those. Two of these are Insure2Study Overseas or Endsleigh Insurance though you can use any provider you wish. You should also be aware that you cannot work as a Standard Visitor (that includes work placements and work experience).

Courses, Exchange or Visit Programme of more than 6 months

If you are coming to study a course of more than 6 months, you will need to apply for a Student Route visa. We have comprehensive information on Making a Student Visa application from overseas to help you with this.  This route is subject to the compulsory Immigration Health Surcharge, which allows access to the National Health Service and so students should not need private health insurance. Students are usually eligible to work part time (20 hours per week).

Fees and Funding

EU students
As of 31st May 2019, the Welsh government confirmed that EU students who start their course in the 2020/21 academic year would be covered by legislation stating that they would be liable for the same fees as UK home students. They will also be eligible to receive grants and/or loans from Student Finance Wales (SFW), subject to existing criteria (you can check the criteria via the UKCISA links below). In a similar way to those who started in 2019/20, this legislation would cover students for their whole course.

On 21st January 2021, Student Finance Wales released an information notice regarding EU Exit which outlines intention for fees and funding going forward (post 20/21). As an information notice can be subject to change, we have a responsibility to wait for formal regulations to put in place before University advice can be offered with any certainty. We shall update the information here, including where you can access further specialist help, as soon as the regulations are in place. We are hopeful these will be available shortly and appreciate your patience. 

EEA/Swiss students
There is no blanket eligibility for EEA and Swiss students to access home fee status/financial support. Though some may be dependant on their individual situation. 

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) hold comprehensive information on Fee Status and Government Student Support which will help you to more fully understand if you are eligible for one or both of those things. You can also contact the University's Money@CampusLife team who will help you to work out your own situation. 

This section has information regarding the family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

Remember that anyone who is an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and who is in the UK before the 31st December 2020 is eligible to apply for the European Settlement Scheme in their own right. This is not dependant on them being a family member.

However, close family members that are not living in the UK by 31 December 2020 will still be able to join their EU family member in the UK in the future, as long as the relationship still exists and that family member has been granted settled or pre settled status under the EUSS. Children born or adopted after 31 December 2020 and future dependants, will also have their rights protected. For further information about family members under the EUSS scheme please see the information here. 

Family members for non EUSS status holders

If you do not have EUSS status, your ability to bring dependants to the UK will depend on what immigration you do have. 

If you will be studying on a Tier 4 visa, we understand that you will be eligible to bring dependants with your based on current requirements and should see our Information for Families to help guide you.

If you will be studying on a Short Term Student visa or a Standard Visit visa you will not be eligible to bring dependants with you and they would have to apply for immigration under their own route (potentially as a Standard visitor- this does not allow work, access to the National Health Service or schooling).

If you will be entering/remaining in the UK on another immigration category please email International@CampusLife to see whether they can help you. 

Information for those already holding Permanent Residency or Indefinite Leave to Enter/Remain (ILE/R)

What you must do

For those with Permanent Residency (to check whether your immigration status is classed as permanent residency, please see the relevant section on the Gov.uk website).

To continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021 you must either:

• apply to the EU Settlement Scheme - you will not have to prove you have 5 years’ continuous residence
• apply for citizenship before 30 June 2021 

For those with Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain

You will usually have applied for indefinite leave to enter or remain. You’ll have a stamp in your passport or a letter from the Home Office. You could also have a ‘vignette’ (sticker) or a biometric residence permit (visa card).

You can continue to live in the UK without applying to the EU Settlement Scheme if you have indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK. However, if you choose to apply (and meet all the other conditions), you’ll get ‘indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme’ - also known as settled status.

This means you should be able to spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status (instead of 2 years with the indefinite leave to enter or remain you have now).

Further information can be found on the Gov.uk website.