UK Student Visa Requirements for Nepali Students — 2026

A complete, accurate guide to the UK Student visa — what you need, what it costs, and how to avoid the refusal reasons that trip up preventable applications.

Updated May 2026 · Visa fee £558 · IHS £776/yr · TB test compulsory

UK Student Visa — What Nepali Students Need to Know

The UK Student visa is the route for Nepali students studying at a licensed UK university or college. It operates on a points-based system: 50 points to be granted the visa, drawn from a valid CAS letter (30 points), an approved English language test (10 points), and financial evidence (10 points). A shortfall on any one results in refusal.

Nepal’s UK student visa grant rate was approximately 93% in 2025 according to Home Office data. The refusals that do occur are almost entirely preventable. They cluster around three issues: financial evidence that doesn’t meet the 28-day rule, English test results that aren’t UKVI-approved, and TB test certificates from non-approved clinics. This page explains all three.

Each year thousands of Nepali students join UK universities — Edupark UK guides every one of them through this process at no charge

Visa Fees — 2026

The UK Student visa involves two separate payments made before your biometrics appointment:

Fee	Amount	Notes
Visa application fee	£558	Updated 8 April 2026. Paid online when you submit your application. Non-refundable if refused.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	£776 per year of study	Paid upfront for the full course duration. A 3-year BSc = £2,328 total. A 1-year MSc = £776 total.

The IHS gives you NHS access

Every student who has paid the IHS can see a GP, attend A&E, and access hospital care without additional charge for the duration of their visa. It is one of the most significant practical benefits of studying in the UK.

Financial Evidence — The 28-Day Rule

Financial evidence is the single most common reason for UK student visa refusal from Nepal. The rule is specific and must be followed precisely.

You must show that you hold in a bank account the sum of your first-year tuition fees (the amount shown on your CAS letter) plus the UKVI maintenance allowance — £10,539 if studying outside London, or £13,761 if in London. These figures apply from 2 January 2026.

The 28-day rule explained

This combined sum must have been present in the account for 28 consecutive calendar days. The final day of those 28 days must be no more than 31 days before your visa application date. Banks must issue a letter confirming the balance on each day — or a dated letter confirming the balance was maintained throughout. Do not move large sums in and out during the 28 days.

Accepted financial evidence

Personal bank account in the student’s name
Parent’s or guardian’s account, with a sponsorship letter
Education loans from Nepal Rastra Bank-regulated institutions
Joint accounts where the student is a named holder

Not accepted

Fixed deposits where funds cannot be immediately withdrawn
Shares, stocks, cryptocurrency, or bonds
Overdraft facilities or credit balances
Property valuations or informal family loans

The TB Test — Compulsory for Nepal

Every Nepali student applying for a UK visa lasting 6 months or longer must be tested at a UKVI-approved clinic and submit the clearance certificate. Results are valid for 6 months from the test date. The IOM in Kathmandu is the most commonly used approved centre.

Always verify the approved clinic list at gov.uk before booking

The UKVI-approved list can change without notice. A TB certificate from a non-listed clinic is rejected without exception — there is no appeal on this basis. Edupark UK confirms the current approved clinics for every student we process.

Approved clinic	Location	Approx. cost
IOM Kathmandu	Kathmandu	NPR 6,000–8,000
CIWEC Hospital	Lazimpat, Kathmandu	NPR 8,000–10,000
Norvic International Hospital	Thapathali, Kathmandu	NPR 8,000–10,000
Birat Medical College	Biratnagar	NPR 7,000–9,000

Documents Checklist

Mandatory at biometrics appointment

Appointment confirmation letter (printed from UKVI portal)
Valid passport — data page plus all previous passports with UK visa stamps
CAS letter from your university (14-character reference number)
TB clearance certificate from a UKVI-approved clinic
English language test certificate — IELTS Academic (UKVI) or PTE Academic (UKVI)
28-day bank balance evidence — statements and dated bank letter
Academic transcripts and certificates for highest qualification cited in CAS
Birth certificate — original in Nepali + certified English translation
IHS payment receipt
Visa application fee payment receipt
Passport-size photographs (35×45mm, plain white background)

If fees are sponsored by parent or guardian

Sponsorship letter from parent/guardian
Sponsor’s birth certificate — original in Nepali + certified English translation
Sponsor’s bank statements showing 28-day balance
Evidence of sponsor’s income — salary slips, tax documents, or business registration

The Six Most Common Refusal Reasons

Refusal reason	How Edupark UK students avoid it
Bank balance not held for 28 consecutive days	We map out the 28-day window in advance with every student and advise on the exact bank letter format to request
English test not UKVI-approved	We confirm only IELTS Academic (UKVI) or PTE Academic (UKVI) — never standard IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo for visa purposes
TB test from non-approved clinic	We verify the current approved clinic list from gov.uk for every intake — not from memory
Credibility interview failed	Every Edupark UK student receives a credibility interview preparation session before their biometrics appointment
Document inconsistencies	We cross-check names, dates of birth, and qualification details across every document in your file before submission
Previous refusal not disclosed	Non-disclosure is treated as deception. We always declare previous refusals accurately and prepare supporting explanation

Step-by-step application process

Receive your CAS. After accepting your university offer and meeting all pre-CAS conditions, your university issues the 14-character CAS letter. Valid for 6 months.
Build your 28-day financial evidence. Ensure the required balance (tuition + UKVI maintenance) has been present for 28 consecutive days. Do not move funds in and out.
Apply online. At gov.uk/student-visa, enter your CAS reference, personal details, and financial information. Pay the visa fee (£558) and IHS online.
Book and attend biometrics. Book at TLScontact Kathmandu. Bring all original documents. Your passport is retained for processing.
Wait for decision. Standard processing: approximately 3 weeks. Priority service (5 working days) available at extra cost. July–August peak periods can extend standard processing.
Collect and travel. Arrive up to one month before your course starts. Collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the UK post office in your CAS letter within 10 days of arrival.

Apply early

Edupark UK advises submitting by 15 July for September 2026 entry. The TLScontact centre in Kathmandu gets exceptionally busy in July and August. We guide all Edupark UK students through every stage of this process at no charge.

September 2026

Apply Before 15 July

Applications open now. Contact Edupark UK today to begin.

Key figures — 2026

Visa application fee
£558
IHS per year
£776
Living — outside London
£10,539 (9 mo)
Living — London
£13,761 (9 mo)
TB test (IOM Kathmandu)
~USD 70
Bank evidence rule
28 consecutive days
Standard processing
~3 weeks
CAS validity
6 months

Visa fee £558 from 8 April 2026. Always verify the current fee at gov.uk/student-visa before applying.

Speak to Edupark UK

UK-specialist counselling from Bagbazar, Kathmandu. We handle only UK applications. Free.

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4th Building, 1st Floor,
Beside Aaradhana Complex,
Bagbazar, Kathmandu
+977 1 5346693 / 5346694

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