Introduction
Getting an offer from a UK university is an important milestone, but it does not mean the admission process is completely finished. If you need a Student visa, the next major step is obtaining your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or CAS. Your university uses this process to confirm your course details and check that you are ready to move forward with your visa application. Small issues such as an incorrect passport detail, incomplete academic evidence or unsuitable financial documents can delay the process. Preparing your CAS requirements in advance can therefore save valuable time. This checklist explains what to prepare, how the CAS process works and what to check before your university issues your CAS.
What Is a CAS and Why It's the Final Step Before Your Visa
CAS means Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is an electronically generated document from a UK institution that is hold by a Student sponsor licence. In order to apply for a UK Student visa, you will require a CAS. GOV.UK says that the students should have received an unconditional offer from the licensed student sponsor and CAS before applying for the visa.
CAS is not just an alternative form of your offer letter from your university. It is a document which has all the necessary information used by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to prove your sponsorship and course. The information can include your course title, course start and end date, tuition fees, payments made so far and English requirement information.
Your university may not issue the CAS immediately after you accept your offer. Depending on the institution, you may first need to pay a deposit, provide outstanding documents, complete a pre-CAS questionnaire or attend an interview. Some universities also ask for financial evidence before assigning the CAS.
This is why the pre-CAS stage deserves careful attention. A university may have accepted you academically, but it still needs to complete its own checks before confirming sponsorship.
A CAS also does not guarantee that your visa will be approved. It is one of the requirements for a Student visa, while UKVI makes the final decision after assessing the complete visa application.
The Complete Pre-CAS Document Checklist (Academic, Identity, Financial)
The exact documents required for CAS vary between universities and courses. Your university should provide a personalised CAS checklist through its applicant portal or international admissions team. Still, most students should prepare the following documents before beginning the process.
Passport: Your passport should be valid and your personal details must match the information held by your university. Check the spelling of your name, date of birth, nationality and passport number carefully.
Academic documents: Keep your degree certificate, transcripts, mark sheets and other qualifications used to secure your university offer. If your offer was conditional on a particular qualification or grade, you will usually need evidence that the condition has been met.
English language evidence: This could be an IELTS or another accepted test result, depending on your university and circumstances. Some students may qualify through previous education or an English assessment conducted by their university.
Tuition fee payment evidence: If you have paid a deposit or part of your tuition fee, keep the payment receipt or confirmation. Your university may record payments directly on your student account or CAS.
Financial evidence: If your university requires financial documents during its pre-CAS checks, make sure the evidence meets the current Student visa requirements. This is particularly important when you are using personal, parental or other permitted funds.
TB certificate: Depending on your country of residence and circumstances, you may need a tuberculosis test certificate for your Student visa. GOV.UK lists TB results among the documents that may be required.
ATAS certificate: Some postgraduate courses and nationalities require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate. If your course requires ATAS, obtain it before the relevant university or visa deadline.
Sponsorship or loan documents: If your studies are funded through an official financial sponsor or qualifying student loan, you may need evidence showing the source and amount of funding.
You may also be asked for additional documents based on your university, course or immigration history. Do not assume that another student’s CAS checklist will be identical to yours.
Financial Evidence Requirements: Maintenance Funds and the 28-Day Rule
This is one of the topics in which students commit mistakes that can be easily avoided. If you have to satisfy the Student visa financial requirements, your money should satisfy certain UKVI requirements.
According to the existing requirements, students have to show enough money to cover their outstanding tuition fees on their CAS as well as maintenance. The maintenance requirement is £1,570 per month for courses studied in London and £1,203 per month outside London, for a maximum of nine months.
That means the maximum maintenance amount is:
- London: £14,130 for nine months
- Outside London: £10,827 for nine months
The amount will be lower for you based on the duration of your program and other considerations. Tuition fee payments made to your college which are qualified under the criteria may also appear on your CAS.
The first and most crucial thing to keep in mind is the 28-day rule. For situations where financial proof is needed, usually the individual will be required to own that particular amount for a minimum of 28 days continuously. The last day in that 28-day period should generally be within 31 days of submitting your Student visa application.
In addition, the bank statement or document will have to adhere to the financial proof guidelines. Your name and balance in the bank account should be clearly stated.
In case you are using money owned by your parents or qualified partner, ensure that your document is in order according to the UKVI requirements. If it is a student loan or sponsorship, you are required to submit the specified document.
Don’t wait until your CAS is nearly complete before you examine your finances. If your university spots any issues in your financial proof, you will require more time to fix it.
English Language Proof Needed Before CAS Is Issued
Evidence of English language proficiency is also a critical component of your preparation prior to the CAS process. This evidence will depend on your course, university, and the pathway by which you show your English.
For the Student visa purposes, English at the degree level requires B2 and below degree level requires B1 under the CEFR scale. Depending on your individual situation, you will either use the approved test, a degree taught in English or another permissible pathway.
Students taking studies at degree level or above can also have their English tested directly by a higher education institution that satisfies certain requirements in this regard. The details of this evidence will be included in the CAS form.
It means you should not think that all students are required to prove their English language knowledge using IELTS. You will have to consider both admission criteria of your university and the Student visa rules.
Prior to the CAS generation, check your English condition status in your university portal. In case it is outstanding, identify what kind of evidence is required and submit it in time.
Step-by-Step: How the CAS Process Works From Offer to Issue
- Receive your offer You first receive an offer for your chosen course. If it is conditional, you need to complete the conditions before the university can normally move you towards CAS issuance.
- Meet all offer conditions Submit your final academic documents, English evidence or any other documents requested in your offer letter. Do not assume that an application submitted earlier means these conditions have been cleared.
- Accept your offer Accept the offer through the university’s designated portal or process. Check whether there is a deadline for accepting it.
- Pay the required deposit Many universities require an international tuition fee deposit before beginning the CAS process. The amount and deadline vary, so follow your university’s instructions rather than using a general figure.
- Complete pre-CAS checks Your university may ask you to complete a CAS questionnaire, upload financial evidence or attend a credibility interview. The purpose and format of these checks vary between institutions.
- Submit outstanding documents Upload the documents requested by the university. Make sure scans are clear and information matches across all documents.
- University verifies your information The university checks your academic, financial and personal information before assigning the CAS. If something is missing or unclear, it may contact you for clarification.
- Receive your CAS If the university feels that all the requirements have been fulfilled, it gives your CAS along with the CAS information. The next step is to use the CAS details in your Student visa application form. GOV.UK states that you must apply for your Student visa within six months of receiving your CAS.
How Long CAS Takes to Process (and What Speeds It Up)
There is no universal UK-wide processing period of CAS. Each university has its own procedure, and the processing may differ depending on the intake, number of applications, verification of documents, etc.
CAS is issued by some universities within a few working days after all requirements are fulfilled. However, it may take longer in other cases, especially during peak times of admissions. For instance, according to UCL, it takes about 5-10 working days to receive CAS after the offer becomes unconditional and qualifications verified.
The main tip on how to get CAS quickly is not to contact the university frequently but to make your application easily processed.
Submit every requested document together where possible. Use clear file names, check that scans are readable and ensure your name, date of birth, passport number and academic information match across documents.
Respond quickly if the university asks for clarification. If a financial document is requested, send the correct version rather than submitting several unclear documents and waiting for the university to ask again.
Most importantly, do not wait until the last possible date. Your CAS is needed before your Student visa application, so any delay at the university stage affects everything that follows.
Common Reasons CAS Requests Get Rejected or Delayed
The CAS application process may be delayed in case the university cannot finish its verification process due to:
Incomplete documents: Missing transcript, certificate, passport copy or English test results will block your application process.
Unfulfilled offer conditions: In case your offer letter is conditional, then the university might not be able to make your CAS.
Financial evidence problems: The balance might not be enough, the 28-day period is not finished or the evidence is in the wrong format.
Conflicting information: Sometimes even minor details like date discrepancy, name or passport number might delay your CAS process.
Inadequate study plans: Some universities hold interviews before issuing the CAS. Therefore, you need to know how to answer questions about your course choice, university choice, your academic history and future plans.
Delayed responses: If the university needs an extra document and you wait some days to send it, you will delay your CAS timeline.
The best thing you can do is to treat all pre-CAS requests as urgent.
What's Inside Your CAS Letter: Reading and Verifying It
Once your CAS is issued, do not immediately move on to the visa application without checking the details.
Your CAS should contain important information about your sponsorship and course. This can include your CAS number, sponsor details, course title, course dates, tuition fees, payments made and information about your English language assessment.
Check the following details against your passport and university offer:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Passport details
- University and sponsor information
- Course title and level
- Course start and end dates
- Tuition fee
- Tuition fee already paid
- Accommodation payment, where relevant
- English language evidence or assessment details
If you find an error, contact the university immediately. Do not submit a visa application with information that you know is incorrect.
A CAS is generally valid for six months from the date it is assigned, and it can only be used for one Student visa application.
Fateh's Pre-CAS Readiness Checklist
- Offer conditions are fully cleared
- Passport details are correct and up to date
- Degree certificates and transcripts are ready
- English language requirement is completed
- Tuition deposit has been paid, if required
- Financial evidence meets the current UKVI rules
- Required funds have been held for 28 days, where applicable
- TB certificate is ready, if required
- ATAS certificate is ready, if required
- Sponsorship or loan documents are available, if applicable
- Pre-CAS questionnaire is completed
- Pre-CAS interview is completed, if required
- All personal details match across documents
- CAS statement is checked carefully after issue
Conclusion
Getting your CAS is a key step between your university admission and the Student visa application process in the UK. Usually, this step does not present any difficulty as long as you have your academic, identification, English and financial documentation before the university needs it.
The most important CAS conditions are not concerned with sending many documents. On the contrary, the main condition is to provide the right documentation in the right format and with matching information.
To find out how to obtain a CAS letter from your university, you should first satisfy all your offer conditions, pay the required deposit and follow all the university instructions regarding the preparation of your CAS.
Your financial documentation is especially important if you need to meet the 28-day requirement.
In order to avoid any trouble in the future, it is recommended that you thoroughly check all your documents before receiving your CAS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The documents required for CAS vary by university and student. Common documents include a valid passport, academic certificates and transcripts, English language evidence, tuition deposit confirmation and financial evidence where requested. Some students may also need a TB certificate, ATAS certificate, sponsorship or loan documents. Your university's pre-CAS checklist should be treated as the final requirement.
There is no standard UK-wide processing time. Some universities can issue CAS within several working days after all conditions and checks are complete, while others take longer during busy periods. For example, UCL states that it aims to issue CAS within five to 10 working days after an offer becomes unconditional and qualifications are verified.
You may receive CAS offers or assignments from more than one university if you have progressed with multiple institutions. However, a CAS is linked to a specific sponsor and course, and you should use the CAS for the university you have decided to attend. Once a CAS has been used in a Student visa application, it cannot be reused.
A Combined CAS can cover an eligible pre-sessional course and the main degree-level course under one CAS. UK immigration rules allow this where the pre-sessional course lasts no longer than three months and the main course starts no more than one month after it ends, subject to the other requirements.
No. A CAS is required for a Student visa, but it does not guarantee approval. UKVI assesses the complete application, including your eligibility, finances, English language requirements and other relevant evidence.
A CAS that has already been used for a visa application cannot simply be reused for another application. If you need to apply again, contact your university about your circumstances and ask whether a new CAS can be assigned. The university may carry out additional checks before issuing another CAS.
Start the CAS process as soon as you have met your university's conditions and are eligible to request it. You should not wait until the course start date is close. GOV.UK allows Student visa applications from outside the UK up to six months before the course begins, but you need the CAS before submitting the visa application.