UK guide · Student visa · 4 min read
UK student visa from Nepal: requirements, the 28-day rule and every fee in 2026.
For a UK Student visa from Nepal you need a CAS from your university, money for your unpaid tuition plus £1,171 a month outside London (£1,529 in London) for up to 9 months, held for 28 days in a row, a TB test from an approved clinic in Kathmandu, and an English level your university confirms. The visa costs £558, plus a health surcharge of £776 a year. Decisions usually come within 3 weeks of biometrics.
The short version
- Money to show: unpaid first-year tuition + £1,171 a month (London £1,529) for up to 9 months, held 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
- From 30 November 2026 the monthly figures rise to £1,203 and £1,570 for new applications.
- Fees: £558 visa, £776 a year health surcharge, and the TB test (USD 60 at IOM or NPR 7,800 at Norvic).
- The UK refusal rate for Nepali students was 4.1% in the year to June 2026, but 15.8% in early 2025. Funds and credibility drive most refusals.
- A balance that dips below the amount for one day breaks the 28-day rule. It's the most common avoidable refusal we see.
Official data
UK study visa refusal rate for Nepali applicants, by quarter
See the numbers
| Period | Refusal rate | Decisions |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Q1 | 0.3% | 1,133 issued, 3 refused |
| 22 Q2 | 0.6% | 337 issued, 2 refused |
| 22 Q3 | 0.3% | 1,893 issued, 5 refused |
| 22 Q4 | 0.4% | 1,301 issued, 5 refused |
| 23 Q1 | 0.1% | 1,761 issued, 2 refused |
| 23 Q2 | 0.9% | 797 issued, 7 refused |
| 23 Q3 | 0.4% | 3,979 issued, 15 refused |
| 23 Q4 | 1.6% | 1,978 issued, 32 refused |
| 24 Q1 | 1.4% | 2,229 issued, 31 refused |
| 24 Q2 | 1.6% | 1,160 issued, 19 refused |
| 24 Q3 | 2.7% | 5,545 issued, 153 refused |
| 24 Q4 | 4.4% | 3,289 issued, 150 refused |
| 25 Q1 | 15.8% | 4,415 issued, 827 refused |
| 25 Q2 | 5.3% | 4,549 issued, 254 refused |
| 25 Q3 | 2.8% | 8,272 issued, 237 refused |
| 25 Q4 | 6.3% | 2,257 issued, 153 refused |
| 26 Q1 | 3.4% | 3,638 issued, 128 refused |
| 26 Q2 | 7.5% | 2,133 issued, 173 refused |
What you need, in one table
| Requirement | In plain words |
|---|---|
| CAS | Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies: a reference number your university issues once you’ve accepted the offer, paid any deposit and passed its checks |
| Money | Unpaid first-year tuition, plus living costs for up to 9 months, held for 28 days in a row |
| English | Usually confirmed by your university on the CAS (IELTS for UKVI or the university’s own assessment) |
| TB test | From a Home Office-approved clinic in Kathmandu, for stays of 6 months or more |
| Fees | £558 visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge |
| Credibility | Your university’s interview, and any questions from UKVI |
The funds rule, in rupees
At Rs 202.99 per GBP (18 Oct 2026), for a one-year master’s at £18,000 with a £5,000 deposit already paid:
| Item | GBP | Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid tuition (£18,000 − £5,000 deposit) | 13,000 | about Rs 26.4 lakh |
| Living costs outside London, 9 × £1,171 | 10,539 | about Rs 21.4 lakh |
| To hold for 28 days | 23,539 | about Rs 47.8 lakh |
| Same course in London (9 × £1,529) | 26,761 | about Rs 54.3 lakh |
For applications from 30 November 2026, the living figures rise to £1,203 a month outside London and £1,570 in London: £10,827 and £14,130 for 9 months.
The 28-day rule, step by step
- Pick the account. Yours, or a parent’s with your birth certificate and the parent’s consent letter.
- Put the full amount in, then don’t touch it. Not for one day.
- Count 28 consecutive days. The closing balance must stay at or above the required amount every day.
- Apply within 31 days of the 28th day. The statement or bank letter must cover the whole period.
- Use a bank statement or letter that shows your name or your parent’s, the account number, the bank’s name and logo, the dates, and the balance on each day of the period.
An education loan from a regulated lender is accepted instead, with a loan letter that meets the GOV.UK conditions.
From our files. Anish K.C. from Butwal was refused once through another consultancy: his money sat in the bank for 23 days, not 28. We went through the refusal letter with him and set a calendar so the 28 days ended before the application date, not after. His second visa came in 19 days.
The order of steps
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Offer | Conditional or unconditional, from the university | Median 17 days from complete documents |
| 2. Credibility interview | The university’s own check of your course choice, money and plans | 1 to 3 weeks |
| 3. Deposit and NOC | NOC from the Ministry of Education, then the deposit by bank transfer | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 4. Funds held 28 days | Can run alongside steps 2 and 3 if you plan it | 28 days plus |
| 5. TB test | IOM or Norvic in Kathmandu; the certificate is valid for 6 months | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 6. CAS | The university issues it | Days |
| 7. Apply online | Pay the visa fee and surcharge, book biometrics at the visa centre in Kathmandu | 1 day, then the appointment |
| 8. Decision | Usually within 3 weeks of biometrics | 3 weeks |
| 9. eVisa | Set up your UKVI account; your status is digital |
Every fee, in rupees
| Fee | Amount | In rupees (18 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa | £558 | about Rs 1.13 lakh |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 a year (a 1-year master’s visa often needs about 1.5 years) | about Rs 1.6 lakh a year |
| TB test | USD 60 at IOM, or NPR 7,800 at Norvic | about Rs 9,100 or Rs 7,800 |
| CAS deposit | Set by the university, often £3,000 to £6,000 | counts towards tuition |
| NOC | Rs 2,000 |
Why Nepali UK files get refused
The chart above shows the refusal rate for Nepali main applicants by quarter. It was under 1% through 2022 and 2023, jumped to 15.8% in early 2025, and was 4.1% across the year to June 2026, with 7.5% in the latest quarter (April to June 2026). In our files, the reasons are almost always one of four:
- Funds that broke the 28-day rule, even for a day, or a statement that didn’t show the full period.
- A sponsor who isn’t a parent: uncles and relatives can’t be used for the funds requirement.
- Credibility: answers about the course or university that don’t match the documents, or a course that doesn’t follow from your past.
- Undeclared refusals from other countries.
After the visa is granted
- Work: up to 20 hours a week in term at degree level, full-time in official vacations.
- Study: attend, and keep your university informed. Missed attendance is reported.
- eVisa: your status is digital; check your UKVI account shows the right course dates before you fly.
- Arrive no earlier than your visa allows, usually a week or so before the course for short courses and up to a month for longer ones.
Next: the CAS and credibility interview, the TB test, and working while you study.
