Notifying UKVI of Address, Course and Circumstance Changes on a Student Visa

Holding a Student visa comes with an ongoing duty, not just a one-time application: you and your university must both keep the Home Office informed of changes to your circumstances. Most students never think about this until they move flat mid-term and realise nobody told anyone official.

Note: the old "police registration" requirement

If you have read older guides, you may have seen references to registering with the police as a Student visa condition. This requirement was removed for new applicants from 2022 onward for most nationalities — check your individual visa conditions letter (BRP or eVisa decision letter) for a "police registration" condition, since a small number of older visas or specific circumstances may still carry it. If your letter does not mention it, you do not need to register.

What you must report, and to whom

Why your university's role matters just as much as yours

Universities hold a sponsor licence and have their own separate duty to report changes about you to UKVI — including non-attendance, course changes, interruptions, and successful completion. This is why registering for classes, updating your term-time address with your college or department, and responding to attendance monitoring emails are not just administrative chores — they keep your sponsor's record of you accurate, which protects your visa status.

Changing address specifically

Update your address with UKVI within a reasonable time of moving — there is no fixed statutory number of days for most students, but doing it promptly (within a week or two) is good practice and avoids correspondence going to an old address. Also remember to:

1. Update your address with your university (for post, emergency contact and attendance records).
2. Update your bank if you have a UK account, so statements and cards go to the right place.
3. Update your GP practice if you have moved out of catchment — see our registering with a GP guide.

Changing course or university

If you switch to a different course or a different university partway through your studies, you will typically need a new CAS from the new sponsor, and in many cases a new visa application, since your existing visa is tied to your original CAS and sponsor. Speak to both your current and prospective university's international student offices before making any final decision — timing this incorrectly can create a gap in your permission to study.

Keeping records tidy

Keep a simple folder (digital or physical) with your CAS, visa decision letter, passport photocopies and any UKVI correspondence. When something changes, you will know exactly what needs updating and where, rather than trying to reconstruct your own visa history under time pressure.

For your full visa conditions, see our UK Student Visa complete guide and BRP/eVisa guide. If you are moving accommodation in Oxford and want help with the transition, our accommodation support and arrival packages can help make sure nothing falls through the cracks, with visibility for family through the parent portal.