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Summer Boarding Courses

Visa Information

Immigration and Visa Information for SBC Students

Visa information

Do You Need a Visa?

Determining whether you need a visa to attend one of our summer courses is quick and simple. Visit the UK Government’s official visa checker here to find out the requirements for your nationality.

From 2025, most people will require either an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or visa to come to the UK for short-term visits.  If you do require a visa, the appropriate type for attending our courses is the Standard Visitor Visa.

For EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, you can travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without a visa. This policy remains unchanged following Brexit.

You may also be able to apply for and receive a digital eVisa for your trip to the UK. Learn more about eVisas and check if you are eligible on the UK Government website here. 

Electronic Travel Authorisation

If you do not require a visa for a short trip to the UK, Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are now available to all eligible non-European visitors and will be required to enter the UK from 8th January 2025. 

ETAs will then be made available to all eligible Europeans, who will be able to apply from 5th March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2nd April 2025. 

From April 2025, all visitors to the UK who do not need a visa for short stays and who do not already have a UK immigration status will need an ETA.

It costs £10 to apply for an ETA and processing times are typically 3 days, however, please ensure you apply in good time as some applications may take longer. Please note that the price is due to rise to £16 in the next few months.

For more information about ETAs, please visit the UK government website here. To check your eligibility and apply for an ETA to visit the UK, please visit the UK government application page here.

Who needs an ETA? 

At present nationals from the following countries require an ETA: 

Antigua and Barbuda / Argentina / Australia / The Bahamas / Bahrain / Barbados / Belize / Botswana / Brazil / Brunei / Canada / Chile / Costa Rica / Grenada / Guatemala / Guyana / Hong Kong / Israel / Japan / Kiribati / Kuwait / Macao / Malaysia / Maldives / Marshall Islands / Mauritius / Mexico / Federated States of Micronesia / Nauru / New Zealand / Nicaragua / Oman / Palau / Panama / Papua New Guinea / Paraguay / Peru / Qatar / Samoa / Saudi Arabia / Seychelles / Singapore / Solomon Islands / South Korea / St Kitts and Nevis / St Lucia / St Vincent and the Grenadines / Taiwan / Tonga / Trinidad and Tobago / Tuvalu / United Arab Emirates / United States / Uruguay For travel from 02 April 2025, nationals from the following countries will need an ETA: Andorra / Austria / Belgium / Bulgaria / Croatia / Cyprus / Czechia / Denmark / Estonia / Finland / France / Germany / Greece / Hungary / Iceland / Italy / Latvia / Liechtenstein / Lithuania / Luxembourg / Malta / Monaco / Netherlands / Norway / Poland / Portugal / Romania / San Marino / Slovakia / Slovenia / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland /Vatican City After the full roll-out, from

02 April 2025, everybody who is not British or Irish will need either a visa OR an ETA. 

To find out if you need an ETA or a visa, please visit the UK government website 

Check If You Need A UK Visa

Applying for a Visa

After we have received your deposit or full payment we are able to provide a Visa Support Letter to assist with your application.  Please provide your child’s passport details to your Admissions Manager. They will then issue a Visa Support Letter to assist with your visa application.

Visa Processing Timeline

Visa processing times vary by country, but applications generally take around 20 working days (3-4 weeks) to be processed. We strongly recommend starting your application as early as possible to avoid delays.

A UK Standard Visitor Visa will typically cost £115 per person. However, it is always advisable to check exactly how much your visa will cost before applying. You can check this on the UK Government website here.

Once your visa is granted, kindly send us a scanned copy of both your child’s passport and visa via email. SBC reserves the right to cancel a booking if these documents are not received four weeks prior to the course start date.

Parent/Guardian Travel Information

If parents or guardians plan to accompany their children to the UK, they must also ensure they meet the UK’s visa requirements. Typically, parents and guardians can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa if their stay is short-term and aligned with the course dates.

Parents should prepare supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of accommodation arrangements.
  • Their child’s SBC course confirmation details.
  • A return travel itinerary.

If assistance is required, our team can provide confirmation of the child’s enrolment to facilitate the visa application process.

Arrival in the UK

When arriving in the UK, students and accompanying guardians should be prepared to present the following at border control:

  • A valid passport (with the visa, if applicable).
  • A printed copy of the SBC Visa Support Letter.
  • Details of their course enrolment, including the Booking Confirmation Email.
  • Proof of accommodation and return travel.

Border officers may ask questions about the purpose of your trip. Being prepared with clear answers and all necessary documentation will ensure a smooth entry.

Links to Further Resources

For additional information about UK visas and travel, please refer to the following trusted resources:

For specific queries or concerns, you may also reach out to our Admissions Team, who are happy to assist.

Additional Support

For assistance with the visa application process, you are encouraged to contact your local UK embassy. They can provide accurate guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to our team at admissions@summerboardingcourses.co.uk or give us a call on +44 (0) 1943 878 518.

Arrival in the UK

When arriving in the UK, students and accompanying guardians should be prepared to present the following at border control:

  • A valid passport (with the visa, if applicable).
  • A printed copy of the SBC Visa Support Letter.
  • Details of their course enrolment, including the Booking Confirmation Email.
  • Proof of accommodation and return travel.

Border officers may ask questions about the purpose of your trip. Being prepared with clear answers and all necessary documentation will ensure a smooth entry.

Links to Further Resources

For additional information about UK visas and travel, please refer to the following trusted resources:

For specific queries or concerns, you may also reach out to our Admissions Team, who are happy to assist.

Additional Support

For assistance with the visa application process, you are encouraged to contact your local UK embassy. They can provide accurate guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to our team at admissions@summerboardingcourses.co.uk or give us a call on +44 (0) 1943 878 518.