UK CAS Number Guide and Student Visa Checklist
Understand your CAS, check if your documents are complete, and see exactly what is still missing before you apply.
This tool does not check real CAS records. It guides you through the requirements based on Home Office rules. Always verify at gov.uk.
A. CAS Status
Your university must hold a valid Tier 4 (Student) sponsor licence. Check the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors. The offer must be unconditional — all grades, English scores, and qualification conditions must be met before the CAS can be issued.
Your university sends the CAS reference by email, usually through an official portal. It should be 14 characters. You need this number to complete the online visa application on gov.uk. Without it, the application cannot be submitted.
A CAS is typically valid for 6 months from the date it was assigned. If your CAS expires before you submit the application, it becomes unusable and your university must issue a new one. Check the issue date on your CAS letter.
Cross-check every field on the CAS against your passport name, offer letter, and course details. Common errors: misspelt name, wrong course dates, wrong tuition fee amount. Any mismatch can cause visa refusal. Fix errors with your university before applying.
B. Identity and Travel Documents
Your Nigerian passport must be valid beyond your expected course end date. Most advisers recommend at least 6 months beyond. Renew before applying if needed. Nigerian passports can take 8 to 16 weeks to renew at NIS offices.
The photo must be: 45mm x 35mm, taken within the last 6 months, white or off-white background, full face visible with no glasses, no head covering (except religious), and not digitally altered. Studio photos from professional photographers are safest.
C. Financial Evidence
The required balance is £1,334/month (London) or £1,023/month (outside London), capped at 9 months. This is the amount that must show on every single day in the 28-day window ending on your application date. Statements must be official bank documents, not screenshots.
You must have either paid the first year’s tuition in full or have a confirmed payment arrangement accepted by the university. A letter from the university confirming the arrangement is acceptable. Scholarships must also be documented with an official award letter.
D. Academic and English Evidence
Certified copies of all relevant degree certificates and academic transcripts. Nigerian degrees must be officially transcribed. Some UK universities require NYSC discharge or exemption certificates for Nigerian applicants. Official translations required if documents are not in English.
Required unless you have a degree from a majority English-speaking country, a UK degree, or another exemption applies. Most UK universities require IELTS Academic: 6.0 to 7.0 overall depending on the programme. The test must be taken at an approved test centre. Results are valid for 2 years.
E. Application Steps
The IHS is paid at £1,035/year for the full course length before the visa fee payment. You receive an IHS reference number that must be entered in the visa application. Pay via the IHS portal at gov.uk. Do not pay IHS before you have your CAS, as the IHS is tied to your application.
The Student visa fee is £490 per person when applying from outside the UK. This is paid during the online application on the gov.uk portal. It is non-refundable on refusal. Do not pay until you have your CAS, IHS reference, and all supporting documents ready to submit.
After submitting the online application, you must book a biometric appointment at a VFS Global visa application centre in Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja, or other cities). Bring your passport, photo, and application reference. Biometric appointment slots can fill up quickly; book as early as possible after applying online.
CAS and Application Mistakes That Cause Delays
Paying IHS and visa fee before getting the CAS
Several Nigerian students pay fees while still waiting for the CAS, then the CAS arrives late or with errors, causing the already-paid application to be delayed or abandoned. Wait for your CAS before paying anything.
Not checking that the name on the CAS matches the passport exactly
Any discrepancy between the CAS name and passport name (including middle names, hyphens, or abbreviations) can cause a refusal. If your passport says Oluwatobiloba and the CAS says Tobiloba, contact your university to correct it.
Booking the VFS appointment too late
VFS Global appointment slots in Lagos and Abuja fill up weeks in advance during peak periods (July to September). Apply at least 8 to 12 weeks before your course start date. Many students miss their intake because they could not get an appointment in time.
Applying before the 28-day bank statement window is complete
Some students start the application process before the 28-day period is complete, then rush to apply and the statements submitted do not cover a full clean 28 days. Set a specific application date 29 days after you park the maintenance funds.
What Is a CAS Number and Why Does It Matter?
CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is a 14-character alphanumeric reference that a UK university issues to an international student through the Home Office’s sponsorship management system. The CAS number is what links your visa application to your university, your course, and the institution’s licence to sponsor overseas students.
Without a CAS, the online Student visa application cannot be submitted. The field is mandatory. You cannot buy one, arrange one through an agent, or create one yourself. It can only come from the university, and only after you have an unconditional offer and have met all admission conditions.
What Information Does the CAS Contain?
| CAS field | What it contains | Why it matters for your visa |
|---|---|---|
| CAS reference number | 14-character unique code | Mandatory field in visa application |
| Institution name and licence number | Your university’s UKVI licence | Verifies the sponsor is licensed |
| Course title and level | e.g. MSc Data Science, postgraduate | Determines visa duration and Graduate Route eligibility |
| Course start and end dates | Official dates from the university | Determines visa validity period requested |
| Tuition fee stated | Amount the university is charging you | Affects the financial evidence requirement |
| Maintenance assessment (sometimes) | Whether university covers accommodation or costs | May reduce bank balance requirement |
| Your full name | Must match passport exactly | Any mismatch can cause refusal |
When Will My University Issue the CAS?
Most UK universities issue CAS letters between 3 and 6 months before the course start date. They will not issue a CAS until you have an unconditional offer. An unconditional offer means all academic conditions, English language requirements, and any other stated conditions have been cleared. For Nigerian applicants, the most common outstanding conditions at this stage are the IELTS result, final year transcripts, and tuition deposit payment.
The CAS Application Timeline for Nigerians
A typical sequence from offer to arrival looks like this. These are indicative ranges, not guarantees.
| Stage | Typical timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Conditional offer received | Any time | Start clearing conditions immediately |
| All conditions cleared | Varies | IELTS, transcripts, deposit usually the last items |
| CAS issued | 6 to 12 weeks after unconditional | Varies by university; some issue faster |
| 28-day bank statement window starts | After CAS received | Park funds and leave untouched for 28 days |
| Visa application submitted online | Day 29 or later | Must be within 6 months of CAS issue date |
| VFS biometric appointment | 1 to 3 weeks after submission | Book immediately; slots fill fast in peak periods |
| Visa decision | 3 to 8 weeks after biometrics | Priority service (paid extra) is faster |
| Travel and arrival in UK | Up to 1 month before course start | Check earliest permitted travel date on visa |
