Visa support
from ECS

Visas for English study in the UK

Some people may need a visa to join our residential English summer camp. This depends on your nationality. A visa gives a traveller permission to enter a country, typically for a specific length of time.

You don't need a visa to attend English Country Schools if you are from an EU or EEA country, or if you are from any other country on the ‘non visa national’ list.

Some countries from outside the European Union do need a visa to study in the UK. In this case you need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travel. International students can study in the UK for up to six months as a visitor.

Obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the pupil but we are happy to help however we can. For example, if you require a letter confirming your course booking, we can provide this for you.

If you need a visa you should apply for it before you travel in the UK.

Do I need a visa to attend an English language summer camp in the UK?

You do not need a visa to attend an English summer school in England if you are from an EU country, an EEA country, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the USA and several other countries. 

If your child requires a visa, you should apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. This costs GBP 95 and permits entry to the UK for study up to six months.

Please note! The advice given on this webpage is our understanding of the visa arrangements for children wishing to visit the UK for a short period of study at the time of writing.

This advice is offered in good faith but you should also check with the appropriate authorities. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the above advice or accept any liability if you choose to act on the advice.

Can ECS help me obtain my visa?

We cannot apply for a visa for a pupil, but we can support your application with a Letter of Confirmation. Once we receive your booking and deposit, we will send you a letter that you can use to help obtain your visa.

The letter will contain the following:

  • The full name and date of birth of the child, with passport number if provided.
  • The start and finish dates of the course
  • The full address of the school, where your child will be staying.
  • Confirmation that the course fees include airport transfers, full residential accommodation, travel and medical insurance, 15 hours of English lessons per week and an activity programme.
  • Confirmation that English Country Schools has government-approved accreditation for English language teaching.

Request a Letter of Confirmation from ECS.

When to apply for a visa

The earliest you can apply for a visa is three months before the date of travel. Visa applications can take several weeks to process and longer to correct mistakes. If your child requires a visa you are advised to apply as soon as permitted.