Quick Read
- CAS letter processing time in the UK ranges from 5 working days to 4 weeks.
- A CAS number stays valid for exactly 6 months from its issue date.
- London maintenance funds required are Rs.17,94,159 (£13,761) for 9 months.
- The UK student visa fee is Rs.72,752 (£558), effective since April 8, 2026.
- A combined CAS covers a pre-sessional English course and the main degree.
- CAS letters cannot be reused for a second visa application once refused.
What Is a CAS Letter for UK Student Visa Applications?
A CAS letter is not a physical letter. It is an electronic reference number, called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), issued by a UK university once you have accepted an unconditional offer. The Student visa course requirements page on GOV.UK confirms that your education provider sends this reference number after offering you a place, and you need it before you can apply for your visa.
A CAS letter is different from your offer letter. The offer letter is the university inviting you onto a course. The CAS is the university formally telling UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that it is sponsoring your visa application. Your CAS carries a unique 14-digit reference number, and every detail on it (your name, passport number, course dates, and fees) must match your visa application exactly, or your application can be delayed or refused.
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CAS Letter UK Sample: What It Looks Like When You Receive It
Your CAS is not posted to you. Your university registers it in the UKVI Sponsorship Management System and sends you an email containing your 14-digit CAS number and a PDF statement. The PDF is what most students refer to as the CAS letter.
Here is a sample showing every field an Indian student should verify on arrival:
The format above varies slightly between universities, but every CAS in the UK will contain these core fields. As long as all the information matches your passport and supporting documents, there is nothing further to do before submitting your visa application.
Counselor insight: The most common error I see is students submitting a visa application with a CAS that has an old passport number. Indian students frequently renew passports between receiving an offer and applying for a visa. If your passport number has changed since you registered with the university, do not submit your visa application until the CAS has been updated. The CAS and passport must match exactly.
How to Get a CAS Letter for UK Universities in 2026-27: The CAS Process UK
Getting your CAS letter UK follows a fixed sequence for nearly every UK university. Here is the CAS process in UK in the order it actually happens:
- Accept your unconditional offer. You must have met all academic and English language conditions first.
- Pay your tuition deposit. Most universities ask for Rs.2,60,760 to Rs.6,51,900 (£2,000 to £5,000) before they will proceed.
- Complete pre-CAS checks. You will confirm your personal details, immigration history, and how you plan to fund your studies.
- Submit your documents. Passport, transcripts, English test scores, and financial evidence go to the admissions or visa compliance team.
- Sit a credibility interview, if required. Many universities, including the University of York, conduct a short video interview to confirm your intention to study is genuine.
- Receive your CAS statement. The document typically arrives as a PDF by email once the university is satisfied.
Counselor insight: Universities using a platform like CAS Shield, such as Kingston University, often issue the CAS within 3 to 5 working days once every item on your checklist is marked complete. The bottleneck is usually something other than the university's turnaround. It is almost always a document sitting incomplete in the portal for days before a student notices.
CAS Letter UK Requirements for Indian Students
Each university has small variations, but the main requirements for the CAS letter in the UK are consistent. Submit these well before your intake deadline.
| Document | What It Confirms | India-Specific Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Identity, nationality | Name must match every other document exactly, including middle names |
| Academic transcripts | Qualification held | Include Class 12 marksheet, provisional certificate, and final degree marksheet where applicable |
| English test score | Language proficiency | IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL accepted by your course; check UKVI-approved English test requirements for your specific route |
| Financial evidence | Funds for fees and living costs | Bank statement or loan sanction letter from a UKVI-recognised financial institution, held for 28 consecutive days |
| TB test certificate | Medical clearance | Mandatory for applicants from India, issued only by a Home Office-approved clinic |
| ATAS certificate (if applicable) | Security clearance for sensitive subjects | Required for select postgraduate science and technology courses; apply the moment you accept your offer, as it takes a minimum of 6 weeks |
UK CAS Letter Sample for Indian Students 2026-27
Here is a UK CAS letter sample showing the fields a real CAS statement contains, updated to reflect current 2026-27 intake figures.
| Field | Sample Entry |
|---|---|
| University Name | University of London, Senate House, London, WC1E 7HU |
| Date of Issue | 15 August 2026 |
| CAS Reference Number | A1234567890 |
| Full Name | As shown on passport |
| Course Title | MSc Data Science |
| Course Level | RQF Level 7 (Postgraduate) |
| Course Start Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Course End Date | 24 September 2027 |
| Tuition Fees for Course | Rs.26,07,600 (£20,000) |
| Tuition Fees Already Paid | Rs.6,51,900 (£5,000 deposit) |
| Outstanding Balance | Rs.19,55,700 (£15,000) |
| ATAS Requirement | Course-dependent; confirmed on the CAS |
Counselor insight: The day your CAS arrives, check every field against your passport and your original application, not from memory. A misspelled name or a passport number typed one digit wrong forces the university to reissue the CAS, and that resets your entire processing timeline at the exact moment you can least afford a delay.
Financial Evidence for Your CAS Letter: What Indian Students Must Show
Your CAS confirms your outstanding tuition fees. Separately, UKVI requires proof of living expenses, known as the maintenance requirement, and this is where most Indian applicants underestimate the number. Per the UKCISA student update on the 2025-26 rule changes, the maintenance requirement rose to £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 a month outside London for applications made on or after 11 November 2025.
For a course lasting 9 months or more, that amounts to:
- London: Rs.1,99,351 (£1,529) per month, Rs.17,94,159 (£13,761) total
- Outside London: Rs.1,52,675 (£1,171) per month, Rs.13,74,075 (£10,539) total
These funds must sit in your account (or a parent's, with a consent letter) for 28 consecutive days without dropping below the required balance even once, a rule the University of Westminster's financial requirements guidance explains in detail. If your university provides accommodation, you can deduct what you've already paid for it, up to the full monthly maintenance figure.
A scholarship letter from your university confirming the award amount can also reduce the maintenance funds you need to show separately.
Exchange rate: Rs.130.38 per GBP (locked for this edition). Verify the current rate before finalizing your own budget.
Counselor insight: A common mistake among Indian applicants is consolidating money from multiple family accounts into one just before the 28-day window opens. UKVI caseworkers are specifically trained to flag sudden large deposits. Start building the balance 35 to 40 days before your intended visa application date, so your 28-day window shows a clean, undisturbed history.
Combined CAS Letter UK: When You Get One Number for Two Programmes
A CAS letter UK situation that trips up many students is the combined CAS. If you are enrolled in a pre-sessional English course followed immediately by your main degree at the same university, you will typically receive a single combined CAS. This one 14-digit reference covers both programs and their full combined duration.
This matters in two concrete ways. First, your visa is granted for the entire combined period, pre-sessional included. Second, the financial evidence you must show is calculated on the total combined duration, not just your main degree, so your maintenance fund figure will be higher than a student going straight into their main course.
CAS Letter Processing Time and Validity for the UK in 2026
The CAS letter processing time in UK typically runs from 5 working days to 3-4 weeks once you've submitted every required document and cleared any pre-CAS checks. The UK CAS letter processing time for 2026 stretches toward the longer end between June and August, which is peak season for the September intake, as admissions teams process CAS requests for thousands of students simultaneously.
For the January intake, the equivalent peak runs from late October through December.
Planning calendar for Indian students (September 2026 intake):
| Month | What to Do |
|---|---|
| February to April | Accept your unconditional offer, pay your deposit |
| April to May | Book English test if not already cleared; start planning your TB test |
| May to June | Submit financial evidence; begin building your 28-day fund balance |
| June to August | Peak CAS issuance window: expect the longer end of the timeline |
| August to September | Apply for your Student visa immediately on receiving your CAS |
A CAS number remains valid for exactly 6 months from its date of issue, and it can only be used for one visa application. If that application is refused, you cannot reuse the same CAS. You will need your university to issue you a fresh one before you can apply again.
What to Do When Your CAS Letter Has an Error or Is Delayed
If your CAS has an incorrect detail: Contact your university's admissions or visa compliance team the same day you spot it. Do not submit your visa application with a known error. Corrections require the university to reissue the CAS, which restarts your processing clock, so flagging it early protects the time you have left before your intake.
If your CAS is delayed past 20 working days: Email the admissions team directly, referencing your submission date and confirming all documents are complete. Most delays at this stage trace back to one missing or unclear document sitting unnoticed in the portal rather than any issue with your application itself.
If your visa application is refused after your CAS was issued: You cannot use the same CAS again. Contact your university immediately to discuss a new CAS request, and be prepared to address the reasons cited for the refusal, which are most commonly weak or inconsistent financial evidence.
After Your CAS Letter UK: Next Steps for Your UK Student Visa
Once your CAS arrives, you can begin your UK Student visa application, entering your CAS number so the portal can pull in your course and sponsor details automatically.
Since April 8, 2026, the visa fee stands at Rs.72,752 (£558), up from Rs.68,319 (£524), and you'll pay the Immigration Health Surcharge separately at Rs.1,01,175 (£776) per year of your visa. Most decisions are made within 3 weeks for applications submitted from outside the UK.
Looking further ahead, it's worth understanding the Graduate Route post-study work visa while you're already thinking through your UK timeline, since the rules for how long you can stay and work after graduating are changing for students starting from 2026 onward.
3 Takeaways on CAS Letter UK
Getting your CAS letter UK right comes down to three things.
- First, check every field on your CAS the same day it arrives, since even a small error forces a reissue that costs you 1 to 2 weeks you may not have.
- Second, start building your maintenance fund balance 35 to 40 days before you plan to apply, so your 28-day window shows a clean, undisturbed history that UKVI won't flag.
- Third, apply for your visa as soon as your CAS is issued, since it's valid for only 6 months and can be used for just one application.
Verified by: LeapScholar's UK counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through the CAS process, pre-CAS interviews, and UKVI Student visa applications for the 2026-27 intake.
Have questions about your CAS letter UK or your visa application? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About CAS Letter UK for Indian Students
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How long does the CAS letter in UK take to process?
It depends on the university and when you apply. Outside of peak season, most universities get the CAS letter UK for Indian students out within 5 to 20 working days once all your documents are verified. Between June and August, when everyone is scrambling for the September intake, that can stretch to 3 to 4 weeks. If you are aiming for September 2026, have your documents ready to submit by early July at the latest.
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Is the CAS letter in UK the same as my offer letter?
No, and this is one of the most common points of confusion. Your offer letter is the university telling you that you have a place. The CAS letter UK for Indian students is a completely separate document that the university generates in the UKVI system to formally sponsor your visa application. You cannot apply for a student visa using just your offer letter.
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What is the CAS full form in the UK?
CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is an electronic record, not a physical letter you receive in the post. Your university enters your details into the UKVI system, which generates a unique 14-digit CAS number. That number is what you enter on your application form for a student visa.
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How much money do I need in my bank account to get the CAS letter in UK?
Your university checks your financials before issuing the CAS. For the 2026-2027 intake, UKVI requires living costs of £13,761 (Rs.17,83,160) for London or £10,539 (Rs.13,64,733) outside London, calculated over 9 months. On top of that, you need to show any outstanding tuition fees as stated in your CAS. All of it must sit in your account for 28 consecutive days.
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Can I use my parents' bank account instead of my own?
Yes, that is completely fine. Many Indian families do this type of transaction. You will need to provide a signed consent letter from your parent and your birth certificate to show the relationship. The 28-day rule applies to their account the same way it applies to yours, so plan the timing accordingly.
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What is a pre-CAS interview, and do Indian students have to do it?
The Pre-CAS interview is a short video call, usually 10 to 20 minutes, where someone from your university's admissions or visa compliance team checks that you are a genuine student. Not every university requires it, but it is increasingly common for Indian applicants, especially for postgraduate courses. You will be asked why you chose the course, how it connects to your previous studies, your career plans, and how your education is funded. Be specific and honest. Vague answers are a common warning sign.
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What happens if my university refuses to issue the CAS letter in UK?
They are required to give you a reason. The most common grounds are insufficient financial evidence, a credibility interview that did not go well, or documents that were incomplete or inconsistent. You can usually address the issue and resubmit. If the refusal stands after that, you can apply to a different UKVI-licensed university, though the delay will put pressure on your September 2026 timeline depending on where you are in the calendar.
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My CAS letter in UK has expired. Can I get a new one?
Yes. Get in touch with your university's international admissions or visa compliance team and ask them to issue a new CAS. They will withdraw the old one and generate a fresh one. One important point: if you already submitted a visa application using that CAS number, the number is spent even if your visa was rejected. You need a new CAS before you can reapply.
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Does getting the CAS letter in UK mean my visa is guaranteed?
No. The CAS letter UK for Indian students is a mandatory part of your application, but it does not secure the visa on its own. UKVI will still independently review your bank statements, English proficiency, immigration history, and whether they believe your primary purpose is to study. Students with a valid CAS letter are refused every year, most often because their financial documents do not meet the 28-day rule or because the visa officer is not satisfied with their genuine-student case.
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What is the CAS letter UK deadline for Indian students?
There is no single fixed deadline set by UKVI. The deadline is driven by your intake date and visa processing time. For September 2026, your CAS documents should be with your university by early July 2026 at the latest. This gives the university 2 to 4 weeks to issue the CAS, followed by 3 weeks for VFS Global India to process your visa, so you land before your course starts. For January 2027, aim to submit your CAS documents in October 2026. Missing these windows does not make your visa impossible, but it makes your timeline extremely tight.
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What is the CAS letter UK deadline for Indian students?
The CAS letter UK is valid for 6 months from the date your university issues it. Within that window, you can apply for your student visa up to 3 months before your course start date. Once you submit a visa application using your CAS number, that number is spent and cannot be reused, regardless of the outcome. If your visa is refused or your CAS expires before you apply, you must request a new CAS from your university. There is no automatic renewal; the university withdraws the old one and registers a fresh one in the UKVI system.
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