UK Visas · checked 28 October 2026
UK Visas for Nepali Students: Student, Graduate and Skilled Worker (2026)
Most Nepali students use three visas in turn: a Student visa to study, a Graduate visa to work after the degree, and a Skilled Worker visa to stay longer. Here is what each costs and needs.
Which UK Visa Do Nepali Students Need?
Nepali students need a Student visa: a £558 fee, a health surcharge of £776 a year, a CAS and the money for tuition plus nine months of living costs. After the degree, the Graduate visa gives 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027. A Skilled Worker job usually needs £41,700 or the going rate.
A Student visa first. Apply up to 6 months before your course starts; decisions from Nepal usually take about 3 weeks. New visa holders get an eVisa, not a BRP card.
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 28 October 2026.
- Student visa fee
- £558 from outside the UKGOV.UK, Student visa
- Health surcharge (students)
- £776 a year; about £1,164 for a one-year master’sGOV.UK
- Money to show
- Tuition still owed plus £1,203 a month outside London or £1,570 in London, up to 9 months (applications from 30 November 2026)UKVI; HC 584
- Dependants
- Only on PhD and other research courses, or government-sponsored courses longer than 6 monthsGOV.UK
- Graduate visa
- £937 fee; 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 (2 years if by 31 December 2026; 3 after a PhD)GOV.UK, Graduate visa
- Skilled Worker visa
- £41,700 or the going rate (from £33,400 for many new entrants); fees from £819GOV.UK
- Before you apply
- NOC from MoEST (NPR 2,000) and a TB test at a Home Office-approved clinicMoEST; GOV.UK
UK Visas Compared: Cost, Length and Who Needs Them
| Visa | Fee | Health surcharge | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | £558 | £776 a year | Course length plus a few months |
| Graduate visa | £937 | £1,035 a year | 18 months from 1 Jan 2027 (2 years before; 3 after a PhD) |
| Skilled Worker visa | £819 to £1,865 | £1,035 a year | Up to 5 years, renewable |
What Do You Need for a UK Student Visa?
- A CAS from a licensed university. See the CAS guide.
- Money for 28 days: tuition still owed plus up to nine months of living costs. All 20 of Nepal’s Class A commercial banks meet UKVI’s financial evidence requirements. See the bank balance guide.
- English at the level your university requires (B2 for degree-level study). See IELTS and studying without IELTS.
- A TB certificate from IOM Kathmandu, IOM Damak or Norvic International Hospital, Kathmandu.
- An NOC from MoEST, before you send tuition abroad.
If you are refused, see visa refusal. For credibility interviews, see the UKVI interview guide.
Can You Bring Your Family?
Only if your course is a PhD or other research degree, or a government-sponsored course longer than 6 months. Students on taught master’s and bachelor’s courses cannot bring dependants. A partner or child on a dependant visa needs £680 a month outside London or £845 in London, for up to 9 months, in addition to your own funds.
What Happens After Your Degree?
The Graduate visa lets you work without a sponsor: 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027, which will apply to anyone finishing a course that starts in 2026 or 2027. To stay longer you usually need a Skilled Worker job paying £41,700 or the going rate (from £33,400 for many new entrants). Graduate visa time does not count towards settlement.
From Offer to Visa: A Realistic Timeline
| Step | Typical timing | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Accept the offer and pay the deposit | As soon as conditions are met | Your CAS records what you have paid |
| Receive your CAS | Days to a few weeks after the deposit | Check every detail matches your passport |
| Get your NOC | 1 to 5 working days on the MoEST portal | Needed before sending money abroad |
| Hold the money | 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before you apply | One dip below the amount restarts the clock |
| TB test | At an approved clinic in Kathmandu | Certificate valid for 6 months |
| Apply online and give biometrics | Up to 6 months before the course starts | Pay the visa fee and health surcharge |
| Decision | Usually within 3 weeks | Answer any credibility interview honestly |
Most refusals come from money that was not held for the full 28 days, documents that do not match, or weak answers about the course. See visa refusals, the 28-day bank balance and free mock interviews.
How to Get a UK Student Visa from Nepal
Get an unconditional offer and pay any deposit
Then the university can issue your CAS.
Get your NOC
Apply on noc.moest.gov.np (NPR 2,000; usually 1 to 5 working days).
Hold the money for 28 days
In your name or a parent’s, at a Class A commercial bank.
Take the TB test
At a Home Office-approved clinic in Nepal.
Apply online and give biometrics
Pay £558 and the health surcharge, then attend the visa centre in Kathmandu.
Get your eVisa
Usually within about 3 weeks. Set up your UKVI account before you fly.
Frequently Asked Questions
£558, plus the health surcharge of £776 a year. For a one-year master’s that is about £1,722 in total.
Tuition still owed plus up to nine months of living costs: £1,203 a month outside London or £1,570 in London for applications from 30 November 2026 (£1,171 and £1,529 before).
Usually about 3 weeks after your biometrics appointment.
Only on a PhD or other research course, or a government-sponsored course longer than 6 months.
18 months for applications from 1 January 2027; 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026; 3 years after a PhD.
£937, plus a health surcharge of £1,035 a year.
The higher of £41,700 or the going rate; many new entrants can qualify from £33,400.
No. HOA’s admissions and visa guidance is free. It is admissions guidance, not immigration advice.
Up to 6 months before your course starts, once you have your CAS.
Money not held for the full 28 days, documents that do not match, and weak answers at a credibility interview.
Key Terms
- CAS
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies: the reference a licensed university issues so you can apply for a Student visa.
- 28-day rule
- Visa money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
- Immigration Health Surcharge
- A fee for NHS care paid with a visa application: £776 a year for students, £1,035 a year for most other visas.
- Graduate visa
- Lets you stay and work after a UK degree without a sponsor: 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- The reference a licensed employer assigns so you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
- NOC
- No Objection Certificate from Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, needed before studying abroad.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 28 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- GOV.UK, Student visa
- UK Visas and Immigration, Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
- Home Office, Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584
- GOV.UK, Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
- GOV.UK, Student visa: your partner and children
- GOV.UK, Graduate visa
- GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: your job
- GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs
- GOV.UK, Tuberculosis testing in Nepal
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Nepal), No Objection Certificate portal
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related Guides
Preparing a UK Visa Application?
A counsellor can check your documents and your 28-day money before you apply. HOA’s guidance is free.