Travelling in Europe
Do I need a visa to travel around Europe?
Check the website for the UK-based embassy of the country you wish to visit (there is a list of these on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website). The embassy's website will tell you if people of your nationality need to apply for a visa before travelling to that country.
If you wish to travel to more than one European Country you may wish to consider applying for a Schengen visa, this allows multiple visits to 26 countries and is valid for up to three months.
UKCISA provides a FAQ section on Schengen visas.
Travelling abroad
If you are leaving the UK but are planning to return, you will have to satisfy the immigration officer at the port of entry that you meet the necessary requirements for entry into the UK as a student. Before you travel abroad you should:
- check that your passport is not going to expire while you are away. If it is, you should apply for a new one in plenty of time before the trip
- check that you have evidence that you are a student enrolled on a full-time course (eg a letter from the the Student Progress and Assessment Office) and evidence that you have enough money to support yourself
- check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for the UK embassy of the particular country you want to visit (choose the 'London Diplomatic List' on that webpage for a list of websites). The website will tell you whether people of your nationality need to apply for visas before travelling to that country. If the website says that you need a Schengen Visa, see above
We deal with an increasing number of cases where passports and visas have been lost/stolen both in the UK and overseas. It is known that thieves operate in European capital cities and target tourists. We therefore recommend that you do not carry your passport/visa with you unless absolutely necessary. It is much safer to leave it in a secure place in your home, or perhaps in the hotel safe of where you are staying. Remember that if you do lose you visa when overseas, in most cases you will need to apply for a replacement before you can re-enter the UK, and this can take a number of weeks. It is also recommended that you have a good travel insurance policy which may cover you for costs incurred should you run into problems. See our lost and stolen section for more information on this.
You should seek advice from an International Student Adviser about re-entering the UK if you have finished your course but still have time left on your visa.