How to apply for your visa
If you’re applying for teacher training as a non-UK citizen, you’ll need a visa or immigration status allowing you to study or work in England.
Most candidates who don’t already have a visa or immigration status allowing them to study or work in England will need to apply for a Student or Skilled Worker visa.
Student visa
Most teacher training courses in England are fee-paying. You’ll need a Student visa if you train on a fee-paying course. Your Student visa must be sponsored by your teacher training provider.
Skilled Worker visa
Some teacher training courses in England are salaried – this means you work and earn a salary while you train. Currently, places on these courses are very limited. You’ll need a Skilled Worker visa if you train on a salaried training course. Your Skilled Worker visa must be sponsored by the school employing you.
What you need to do to apply for your visa
Search for postgraduate teacher training and filter your results by visa sponsorship.
Email your chosen provider to check they can sponsor you, then apply for your teacher training course.
When you have a confirmed offer of a training place, you’ll be able to apply for your visa.
To apply for a Student visa, you’ll also need to:
- have a reference number, called a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS), which your training provider will give you
- have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course
- meet certain standards in speaking, reading, writing and understanding English
For a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll also need to:
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from the school which is paying you, confirming they will sponsor you
- meet certain standards in speaking, reading, writing and understanding English
- check your salary meets the requirement for a Skilled Worker visa
Salary requirement for a Skilled Worker visa
Non-UK salaried trainee teachers must earn a minimum salary to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa – this varies by region, as follows:
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inner London: £25,831
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outer London: £24,415
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London fringe: £23,200
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rest of England: £23,200
Check the region you’ll be working in with your teacher training provider.
You may be able to train part-time, but your part-time salary must be at least £23,200.
Your partner and children
If your course starts after 1 January 2024, you will not be able to bring your partner and children with you on a Student visa.
You may be able to bring your partner and children with you on a Skilled Worker visa.
How a bursary or scholarship can help with your Student visa application
If you’re training to teach physics or languages, you may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship. You can use them in your Student visa application as proof that you have enough money to support yourself.
Check your status
If you’re not sure about your immigration status, you can check if you need a UK visa.
You will not need a visa to train to teach in the UK if you:
- are an Irish citizen
- have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- have indefinite leave to remain
You will not need to be sponsored for a Student or Skilled Worker visa if you have a:
Dependents
You will not need to be sponsored for a Student or Skilled Worker visa if you have permission to live in the UK as a dependent (usually partner) of someone on a visa. You can work or study without a sponsor for the duration of your partner’s visa.
Refugees and asylum seekers
If you have been granted refugee status, you can apply for teacher training – either salaried or fee-paying – and will usually be eligible for financial support to train to teach on a fee-paying course.
If you’re in the process of seeking asylum, you should refer to your immigration bail conditions to see if you have permission to study on a teacher training course.
Learn more about:
Visa fees and other charges
You’ll usually need to show you have enough money to support yourself in England by providing proof of savings or income. You’ll be guided through this process when you apply for your visa.
Visa fees
You’ll also have to pay visa fees.
Immigration Health Surcharge
You may need to pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application – this is called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
However, some students can claim a refund of the IHS if they:
- are a full-time student in UK higher education
- have a visa starting on or after 1 January 2021
- have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in an EU country
- do not work in the UK
Learn more about getting an IHS refund.
Contact
If you have general questions about the information on this page, you can email us at teach.inengland@education.gov.uk.
You can also contact UK Visas and Immigration for help.
You may be eligible for personalised support from a teacher training adviser. They can help with your application to a training provider or school.
To check if you’re eligible for an adviser, you can call us on +44 800 389 2500. Calls will be charged at your country’s standard rate. Or you can contact us using the live chat service at the bottom of this page.
We’re available Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:30pm (UK local time) except on bank holidays in England.