Request a Visa Letter/CAS for Tier 4 Visa
Current Students who are continuing with the same Programme of Study
If you require an extension of an existing student Visa for a continued programme of study at SOAS (not a new programme of study), then you will require a new Tier 4 Adult/General Student Visa. To qualify for a Tier 4 Adult/General Student Visa you will need to provide a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number from SOAS. To request a CAS number please complete the Request an Official Certification Letter form, selecting "CAS Application" under the section "type of certification letter required". You will be sent an email to your SOAS account once the CAS has been assigned to you, with all of the information you require.
Make sure that you make your application well in advance of your permission running out – we would recommend you make your application at least 2 months before the date of expiry.
Please note: If you are commencing a new course at SOAS, you must apply for your CAS through the School's relevant Admissions department. Details can be found towards the bottom of this page.
Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa / Other Visas
If you require a Visa letter for the purposes of Post Study Work (Tier 1), or if you are entering a country outside of the UK, you should use the Request an Official Certification Letter form. Please note the following:
Post Study Work letter for a Tier 1 (Post Study Work) application can only be issued after your final result has been confirmed.
A letter for applying for Visas to countries outside the UK can be requested online through the Request an Official Certification Letter form. In the section headed ‘additional information required in your letter’ please specify the purpose for the Visa letter. Normally Visa letters can be prepared within 3 working days from the receipt of the application, and will be posted to you at your term time address. However, due to the large demand at the start of term, a letter is likely to take at least 5 working days to be processed.
If you have any enquiries concerning your request, please email: registrar@soas.ac.uk
New Students or Current Students Who are Starting a New Programme of Study
New Tier 4 Adult/General Student Visa applications can only be processed when you have accepted an unconditional offer, when you have fulfilled all conditions of your offer, or when you are only required to attend the pre-sessional before your main programme commences. To qualify for a Tier 4 Adult/General Student Visa you will need to provide a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number from SOAS. You should submit your request for a CAS by emailing the relevant Admissions team:
- Undergraduate Admissions: undergradadmissions@soas.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Master’s Admissions: mastersadmissions@soas.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Research Admissions (including VRS): researchadmissions@soas.ac.uk
- Study Abroad/Certificate/Associate Students: associatestudent@soas.ac.uk
Further advice and guidance can be found at the International Student and Welfare Office. If you have any further queries please contact your respective Admissions Team:
Applications to UKBA can only be made three months in advance of your course start date. CAS numbers supplied by SOAS for the purposes of Tier 4 Visa applications are only valid for six months.
