How to Request and Use a CAS for UK Student Visa (2026): Deadlines, CAS Errors, and Quick Fix Steps

A CAS for UK student visa (2026) is the checkpoint that turns an offer into a visa application. This guide breaks down what a CAS is, when to request it, what deadlines matter most, and how to spot and fix common CAS errors before you submit your visa.

Always confirm prices and policies on the official site, and follow the instructions from your university and UKVI for your specific intake and location.

Quick Answer (Read This First)

• A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is a unique reference number issued by your UK university once you hold an unconditional offer and meet their CAS checks.
• You can usually apply for a Student visa up to 6 months before your course start date, and your CAS must be used within its validity window.
• Most CAS delays come from missing documents, unpaid deposits, or mismatched personal details.
• Check your CAS the same day you receive it, name, passport number, course dates, and fees must match your evidence.
• If any detail is wrong, don’t submit your visa yet, ask your university to correct or reissue the CAS.
• Peak periods (especially autumn intakes) can slow down CAS review, plan for processing time.
• Keep your CAS email, payment receipts, and document files organized because you’ll reuse the same details in the visa form.

1) Know What a CAS Is (and What It Isn’t)

A CAS is not a paper “letter” that replaces your visa documents. It’s a record your university creates in the UKVI sponsorship system, and it comes with a CAS reference number you enter in your Student visa application.

Your CAS ties together your identity, your course, and your sponsor details. If the CAS info doesn’t match your passport or supporting documents, it can cause delays or refusal risks, so accuracy matters as much as speed.

2) Confirm You’re Eligible Before You Request a CAS

Universities usually won’t issue a CAS until your offer is unconditional. That means academic conditions are cleared, English language proof is accepted (if required), and any compliance checks are complete.

Many universities also check your study history and course fit under Student visa rules. This is where genuine student credibility and consistency across documents often matters in practice, especially if you’ve had past refusals or frequent course changes.

3) Collect Your CAS Request Documents (Use This Checklist)

Before you request a CAS for UK student visa (2026), gather your files in the formats your university portal accepts. Missing items are a common reason requests stall.

• Passport bio page scan (and any pages your university asks for)
• Unconditional offer acceptance confirmation
• Tuition deposit payment receipt (or sponsor payment confirmation)
• Academic transcripts and final certificates (as required)
• English language test result or approved alternative evidence (if applicable)
• TB certificate (only if required for your residence country)
• Visa refusal details and documents (if you have any history)
• Funding evidence your university asks to review (bank statements, sponsor letters, loan letters)

For the visa stage, UKVI lists what you must provide based on your situation. Keep that page bookmarked for your document bundle planning: Student visa required documents.

4) Requesting Your CAS (2026) in a Clean, Repeatable Process

Most universities follow a similar flow, even if the portal names differ. The cleanest approach is to treat your CAS request like a compliance submission, not an email thread.

1. Accept your unconditional offer in the university portal.
2. Pay the required tuition deposit (if your course requires one).
3. Upload documents to the CAS or pre-enrolment checklist area.
4. Complete any extra forms (arrival info, accommodation interest, dependants declaration).
5. Wait for the CAS team to review and confirm everything.
6. Receive your CAS number by email or portal notification.
7. Save a PDF copy of the CAS details and your evidence folder.

5) Deadlines That Matter Most for a CAS (and Why People Miss Them)

There are two deadline layers: your university’s CAS cutoffs and UKVI’s visa window. Universities often set internal deadlines weeks before the course start date, especially when they expect high volume.

For the visa side, the usual rule is you can apply up to 6 months before your course start date (outside the UK). That window helps, but it doesn’t protect you if your CAS arrives late or has errors that need reissue.

If your university publishes a CAS request timetable, treat it as a hard schedule. One clear example of how universities frame CAS steps and timing is shown in guidance like SOAS CAS request process.

6) What to Check the Minute You Receive Your CAS

Your first review should be a line-by-line match against your passport and offer details. Don’t assume the record is perfect because your university issued it.

Use this quick verification list:

• Full name matches passport spelling and order
• Date of birth matches passport
• Passport number matches the current passport you’ll use
• Course title, level, and dates match your offer
• Tuition fees and payments recorded match your receipts
• Sponsor details and campus location look correct
• Any scholarship or official sponsorship details are correctly described

Image suggestion: A simple checklist screenshot-style graphic showing “CAS details to verify” (name, passport number, course dates, fees, payments).

7) The Most Common CAS Errors (Personal Details)

Personal detail errors are common because they’re often copied from earlier records. They’re also the easiest to overlook until the visa form forces an exact match.

Typical issues include:

• Name mismatch due to spacing, middle names, or transliteration differences
• Wrong date of birth due to formatting or data entry
• Incorrect passport number because a new passport was issued after application

Fix impact is usually simple, but timing matters. If you submit your visa with incorrect CAS personal details, you may lose time fixing the application later, and you may need to reapply depending on the error type.

8) The Most Common CAS Errors (Course Dates, Course Details, and Fees)

Course errors are higher risk because they directly link to visa eligibility. Even small date differences can raise problems when your evidence shows something else.

Watch for:

• Wrong course start date or end date
• Wrong course length or mode (full-time vs part-time)
• Tuition fee mismatch (total fee, deposit paid, or scholarship amount)
• Incorrect academic progression notes (especially for students switching levels)

If any of these are wrong, a university often needs to amend the record or reissue a new CAS. That can change your CAS reference number, so it’s safer to fix first, then complete the visa application once the final CAS is confirmed.

9) Quick Fix Steps When Your CAS Has an Error

When something’s wrong, speed and clarity win. Universities deal with hundreds of similar fixes, so your message should be short, evidence-based, and complete.

1. Screenshot or copy the exact line that’s wrong.
2. Gather proof (passport scan, updated offer letter, fee receipt).
3. Email the university CAS or compliance team using your student ID and application number.
4. List corrections in bullets, one per line, with the “current” value and “correct” value.
5. Ask whether they will amend the CAS record or issue a new CAS.
6. Wait for written confirmation that the corrected CAS is live before you submit your visa.

This approach reduces back-and-forth. It also helps avoid a common mistake where students fix one field but miss another linked field (like fees and payments).

10) Using Your CAS in the UK Student Visa Application (2026)

Once your CAS is correct, you enter the CAS reference number in the Student visa application, then you answer the course and fee questions to match the CAS exactly. Treat your CAS as the “source of truth” for wording and dates.

You’ll still need your supporting documents for the visa stage, and your exact evidence list depends on your circumstances and where you apply from. For course eligibility basics, UKVI outlines the Student visa course requirement rules here: Student visa course requirements.

FAQs

Can I request a CAS before my offer is unconditional?
Most universities won’t issue a CAS until conditions are cleared. Some may let you start a pre-CAS checklist, but issuance usually waits for unconditional status.

Do I need to pay full tuition before getting a CAS?
Policies vary by university. Many require a deposit first, then record it on the CAS. What matters is that the CAS fee and payment fields match your receipts.

How long does a CAS take to be issued?
Processing time depends on intake volume and your document readiness. Plan for review time, and expect slower service during peak intake months.

What happens if my CAS expires?
An expired CAS can’t be reused. You usually need a new CAS issued, which can also shift your visa timeline.

If my visa is refused, can I reuse the same CAS?
Often no, especially if time has passed or details must change. Universities typically advise whether a new CAS is required for reapplication.

Can I bring dependants using my CAS?
Dependant eligibility depends on your course level and current UKVI rules. Your CAS itself may reference dependants, but the final assessment is part of the visa application.

Conclusion

A CAS for UK student visa (2026) is the bridge between admission and immigration. Getting it fast is good, getting it correct is better, because CAS errors can force rework at the exact moment your timeline is tight.

The reliable path is consistent: meet conditions early, request the CAS with a complete document set, verify every field immediately, and fix issues before the visa form is submitted.