It's one of the biggest worries for students booking a room from abroad: what if I pay for accommodation and then my visa is refused? The good news is that many student residences plan for exactly this. The important part is checking the terms before you pay.
Visa-refusal cancellation, in short
Many purpose-built student residences offer flexible cancellation if your visa is refused or you don't get your university place. If that happens, you can usually cancel and get back most or all of what you paid, as long as you follow their process. In the UK this is often called a "no visa, no pay" policy.
These policies are offered by each property, not guaranteed by law, and the details vary. That's why reading them before you book matters more than anything else in this guide.
What to check before you book
- Is visa refusal covered? Look for it by name in the cancellation terms.
- Is a missed university place covered? Not getting the grades you needed is a separate situation from a visa refusal; some policies cover both.
- What proof do they need? Usually the official refusal letter, or the university's decision.
- Is there a deadline? Most policies only apply if you cancel before your move-in date, sometimes by a set number of days.
- What do you get back? Check whether the deposit, any advance rent and the booking or admin fee are each refundable.
- What if you appeal or reapply? Some properties let you move your booking to a later start date instead of cancelling.
If any of this isn't clear in the terms, ask before you pay, and get the answer in writing.
If your visa is refused
- Tell the property straight away, in writing. The sooner they know, the easier it is to cancel and re-let the room.
- Send the evidence they ask for, usually a copy of your refusal letter.
- Ask for written confirmation of the cancellation and the amount being refunded.
- Keep copies of your contract, payment receipts and every email.
- If you're appealing or reapplying, ask whether your booking can be moved to the next intake rather than cancelled.
Refunds go back through the original payment method, so they can take a few weeks to arrive, especially for international payments.
How GoDorm helps
When we shortlist rooms for you, we show you each property's cancellation terms before you book, and you can ask us to include only rooms that offer visa-refusal cancellation. If your visa is refused, message us: we'll help you send the property what they need and follow up until it's resolved.
Related guides
Have a question about a specific property's terms? Ask our team before you pay anything.