The British Government determines the list of visa-national- countries. Your nearest British Council office or British Mission (British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission) will be able to tell you whether or not your country is on the list. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office UK Visas website features a visa enquiry form where you can check if you require a visa: go to www.ukvisas.gov.uk and select 'Do I need a UK visa?'

If you are a visa national, you must apply for entry clearance before travelling to the UK. There is a charge for the application. You must satisfy the ECO at a British Mission that you meet the Immigration Rules. The ECO will then issue you entry clearance (more commonly known as a visa) in the form of a sticker in your passport. The entry clearance should normally be valid for the whole length of your course. When you arrive in the UK, the Immigration Officer at the port of entry (e.g. Heathrow airport) will put a date stamp in your passport to show when you entered the UK. Your permission to be in the UK begins on that date and expires on the date indicated on the entry clearance.