This guide is for students applying for a UK Student visa from outside the UK, and for parents or sponsors who are helping to pay. Money is one of the most common reasons Student visa applications go wrong. Usually the student has the money, but the evidence does not show it in the exact way the rules require. Here we explain those rules in plain language.
What you need to show
Unless you are exempt, you must show that you have enough money for two things:
Your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months). GOV.UK says the amount will be shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), the electronic document your university or college gives you.
Your living costs for up to 9 months. The monthly amount is higher for courses in London than elsewhere.
The living cost amounts are set in the Immigration Rules and have changed recently. We do not quote them here because they change. Check the current figures on the GOV.UK Student visa money page on the day you prepare your evidence.
You do not normally need to show this money if you have been living in the UK with a visa for at least 12 months before you apply. Most readers of this guide are applying from abroad, so this exemption will not apply to them.
The 28-day rule, explained
This is the rule that catches the most people. GOV.UK says:
You must have this money for at least 28 days in a row. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.
In practice, this means two separate checks:
The money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row. The balance must not fall below the required amount on any single day in that period. One day below the line can be enough for a refusal.
The evidence must be recent. The last day of your 28-day period must be no more than 31 days before the date you apply. If you wait too long after getting your statement, it becomes too old.
GOV.UK gives this example: if you submit your application on 1 January, you would need to show that the money was in your account for at least the 28-day period ending on 1 December.
A simple way to plan it
Move the full amount into the account at least a few weeks before you need it, and do not touch it.
Get your statement after the 28 days have passed.
Submit your application soon after, well inside 31 days.
If your application date slips, check again that your statement is still recent enough.
Whose money can you use?
The rules on whose account counts are in Appendix Finance of the Immigration Rules. In plain terms, the money can be held in:
Your own account, on your own or jointly with someone else.
Your parent's or legal guardian's account. You must also send proof of your relationship, such as a birth certificate, and a letter from your parent or guardian confirming that they agree to you using the money for your studies.
Your partner's account, but only if your partner is applying with you or already has permission as your partner.
Money in the account of a brother, sister, uncle, aunt, family friend or company does not count in the same way, even if they are happy to help. If a relative wants to support you, talk to an adviser about whether the money can lawfully be moved into an account that counts, and how far in advance.
The person who holds the account must have control of the money. That means it must be available to them, not locked away.
If an organisation is paying for your studies, you may not need bank statements for the money it covers. Appendix Finance defines an official financial sponsor as His Majesty's Government, your home government, the British Council, or any international organisation, international company, university or independent school.
If you have an official sponsor, you will need a letter from them confirming what they are paying for. If the sponsor only covers part of your costs, you must show the rest in the usual way.
A student loan can also count, as long as it comes from a government, a government-sponsored loan company, or a regulated loan scheme. The loan letter has its own requirements and must be recent. Check the details in Appendix Finance before you rely on a loan.
If you are from a country with "differential evidence"
Some nationalities benefit from what the rules call the differential evidence requirement. The list of countries is in Appendix Student. If you are on that list and applying from the country where you live, you do not need to send financial evidence with your application.
This does not mean you do not need the money. GOV.UK says you might be asked to provide this evidence before you get a decision. So prepare it exactly as if you had to send it, and keep it ready. If you are asked and cannot provide it in time, your application can be refused.
What the documents must show
The Home Office guidance on financial evidence for Student applicants lists the accepted documents, such as bank statements, building society passbooks, certificates of deposit and letters from a bank. Whatever you use, it must show:
the account holder's name;
the name of the bank or building society;
how much money is in the account; and
dates that cover the full 28-day period.
Some money does not count. Shares, bonds, credit card limits, overdrafts, cryptocurrency and pension funds you cannot access are all excluded. The Home Office may also refuse to accept money held with a bank where it cannot carry out satisfactory checks, or with a bank that is not properly regulated. The Home Office may contact the bank to verify your statement.
Any document not in English or Welsh must come with a full certified translation from a professional translator or translation company, with the details the guidance asks for.
Common mistakes to avoid
The balance dropped below the required amount for a day or two during the 28 days.
The statement was more than 31 days old by the time the application was submitted.
The money was in a relative's account that does not count, such as an uncle's or a sibling's.
A parent's account was used, but there was no consent letter or no proof of the relationship.
The name on the statement did not match the passport, with no explanation.
Large deposits appeared just before the 28 days, with no explanation of where the money came from.
Money was held in an account that could not be accessed immediately, such as a locked fixed-term deposit.
The figures used were out of date because the required amounts had changed.
Documents were not translated, or the translation was missing the translator's details.
Money is only one part of the application. You also need a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your sponsor, and you may need a tuberculosis test or other documents depending on where you live. Plan the whole timeline together.
Where to check the current rules
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so always check the official pages before you apply.
If you would like someone to check your financial evidence against the current rules before you apply, you can book a consultation with one of our advisers. We will look at your statements and your timeline with you, and tell you plainly if anything needs to change.
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