Attend your Right to Study check

Overview

If you are a non-UK student studying on campus, you must attend an in-person Right to Study check to have your immigration documents verified before you can register with the University. 

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Booking your appointment

If you're a distance learning student, you don't need to attend an in-person right to study check. You’ll be prompted to upload any immigration documents online as part of your pre-registration steps.

You’ll receive an email from preregistration@sheffield.ac.uk approximately one month before your course start date asking you to book an appointment to attend a Right to Study check. 

Once you have booked an appointment, you will receive a booking confirmation email with further instructions and directions for where to go for your appointment.

If you have limited mobility or you’re a wheelchair user, contact disability.info@sheffield.ac.uk ahead of your appointment so we can assist you with any alternative access arrangements.

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What happens at my appointment?

• We will verify your identity by checking your ID.
• We will take copies of your passport and immigration documents and upload these to your student record. 
• If you have a share code, we will use it to download your electronic visa.
• You will then be able to complete your final registration steps.
• Once you have registered, we will print your student UCard.

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Preparing for your appointment

Ahead of your appointment

• You must have completed all of the online pre-registration tasks.
• You must have uploaded a passport-style photo for your student ID card.
• If the University is sponsoring your visa, you must have submitted your Student Visa before the date of your appointment.

What immigration documents do you need to bring?

The documents you need to bring depend on your visa category.

EU/EEA student

• Your passport (scans or photocopies will not be accepted)
• Or, your National Identity card (if you have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme)
• Your share code to prove your immigration status
• Proof of the date you traveled to the UK (eg flight details) if you applied for a Student visa from outside the UK

Student visa applicant from outside the UK

• Your passport (scans or photocopies will not be accepted)
• Your Home Office decision letter showing the date your visa expires (Example Home Office decision letter, PDF 132KB)
• Your travel vignette showing your entry stamp to the UK (printed in your passport) or flight evidence showing when you entered the UK (if you don't have a travel vignette)
• Your share code (see the webpage for instructions on how to generate one)

Student visa applicant from inside the UK

• Your passport (scans or photocopies will not be accepted)
• Your Home Office decision letter showing the date your visa expires
• Your share code (see the webpage for instructions on how to generate one)

Student visa applicant attending an appointment at a Visa Application Centre

• Your passport (scans or photocopies will not be accepted)
• Your Home Office decision letter (showing the date your visa expires)
• Your share code (see the webpage for instructions on how to generate one)

Student with a pending visa application (applied inside the UK)

• Proof of your pending Student Visa application
• Proof of your previous visa

A non-visa national* studying a course less than six months (entered the UK using an electronic passport gate)

• Your passport (no scans or photocopies)
• Proof of the date you travelled to the UK (your flight ticket or boarding pass)

*A non-visa national means any individual who does not require entry clearance to travel to the UK. If your nationality isn’t listed on the below webpage you are classed as a non-visa national.

GOV:UK: Immigration rules by nationality

Non-visa national studying a course less than six months (entered the UK with a stamp at the border)

• Your passport, including the page with the stamp (no scans or photocopies)

A Visitor Visa to study a course of six months or less

• Your passport (no scans or photocopies)
• Your travel vignette showing your entry stamp to the UK (printed in your passport)
• Or Proof of the date you travelled to the UK (your flight ticket or boarding pass)

Other/none of the above

If none of these categories apply to you, bring all of the following documents that apply to your situation:

• Your passport (no scans or photocopies)
• Your Home Office decision letter showing the date your visa expires (if you have one)
• Your travel vignette showing your entry stamp to the UK (if you applied for your visa outside the UK)
• Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) showing the dates you are permitted to live in the UK. 
• Your share code to prove your immigration status (see the webpage for instructions on how to generate one)

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Share codes and how to generate one

A Share code is a unique nine-digit code which the University requires so that we can access and download a copy of your electronic visa (eVisa), and verify your right to study in the UK. 

You can generate a share code using your online UKVI account. A share code is valid for 90 days from the date it’s generated, and you can generate multiple share codes if you need to. 

To generate a share code, visit the link below;

GOV.UK: How to get a share code

If you aren’t sure if you have an electronic visa, visit the webpage below for further information.

eVisas

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Further questions

If you have questions about your visa or what documents to bring, contact International Student Support, Advice & Compliance (ISSAC).

If you have questions about the Right to Study check process, contact the Registration and Records team.