UK Visa Financial Evidence: Deposit Requirements, Holding Period & Documents

For a UK Student visa, you must provide clear financial evidence that you have enough money to cover your first year’s course fees and your living costs. As of 2026, the minimum maintenance requirement is £1,334 per month if you are studying in inner London and £1,023 per month if your institution is outside inner London. You need to show funds for up to nine months—the maximum length of an academic year—so a London-based student could need at least £12,006 in living funds alone. The money must be held in an eligible account for a consecutive 28-day period, and the closing balance on your statement must be no more than 31 days old when you submit your online application. These rules are set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and are strictly enforced. This guide explains the deposit requirements, holding period rules and the documents you will need to get it right first time.

Understanding UK Student Visa Financial Requirements

How much money must you show?

The total you need is the sum of your outstanding first-year course fees and your living costs. Always refer to your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for the exact tuition figure UKVI will use.

• Tuition fees: The amount shown on your CAS for the first academic year. If you have already paid a deposit towards tuition, the CAS will note this and you only need to evidence the balance.
• Living costs (maintenance):
  • £1,334 per month for institutions in inner London (check if your campus postcode falls into this category).
  • £1,023 per month for all other UK locations.
  • Multiply the monthly figure by the length of your course, up to a maximum of 9 months.

Example calculation: A student at a university in Edinburgh (outside London) with £16,000 in first-year fees and a 12-month master’s course would need to show: £16,000 + (9 × £1,023) = £25,207. If the CAS shows a £3,000 deposit already paid, the required amount drops to £22,207. These sums must be held in full for the entire 28-day period.

The 28-day holding period

The funds must be continuously held in an acceptable account for a minimum of 28 days in a row. The closing balance on the final day of that 28-day window cannot drop below the required total on any single day. The statement you submit with your application must have been issued within 31 days of the date you pay the visa fee and submit the form online. A common mistake is to use a statement dated 32 or 33 days before the application, leading to a refusal. You can avoid this by timing your application carefully or requesting a fresh interim statement from your bank.

Acceptable Forms of Financial Evidence

Not all accounts or financial products meet UKVI rules. The following are typically accepted when the correct supporting documents are provided.

Personal bank statements

• Must be from your own account in your name.
• Can be a current, savings or fixed deposit account held with a regulated financial institution. The funds must be “immediately accessible” – fixed deposits that can be withdrawn without notice or penalty are acceptable, but you should check with your bank and include a letter confirming this.
• Electronic statements are accepted if they clearly display your name, account number, the bank’s logo or name, and a full transaction history over the 28 days. Some visa application centres prefer stamped and signed printouts; getting physical statements stamped by the branch is a safe approach.
• Joint accounts are only permitted if the other account holder is your parent or legal guardian.
• The account must be held in the UK or in the country where you are lawfully present. If it is held in a foreign currency, UKVI uses the OANDA exchange rate on the date of your application to convert the final balance into GBP. You are strongly advised to hold a buffer above the required amount to account for exchange rate fluctuations.

Parent or legal guardian accounts

If you rely on a parent’s funds, you must submit three extra pieces of evidence, all in English (or certified translated):

1. A letter from your parent(s) confirming the relationship and giving their unconditional consent for you to use the money for your UK studies.
2. A birth certificate showing the names of both you and the parent(s) – or a legal adoption certificate if applicable.
3. The parent’s bank statement meeting the same 28-day and 31-day requirements.

These documents must be originals or certified copies. A simple photocopy of a birth certificate without a translation or notarisation can lead to a rejection.

Official financial sponsorship

If you are fully or partly sponsored by a government, a university, the British Council or an international scholarship body, your sponsor must issue a letter on official letterhead that includes:

• The exact amount of the sponsorship or a statement that all fees and living costs are covered.
• The duration of the sponsorship.
• Your name and the course details.

A CAS that states the sponsor covers all costs will often suffice, but having the sponsor’s letter ready avoids delays.

Education and student loans

A loan letter from a regulated financial institution is acceptable if it states:

• The loan amount approved.
• That the funds are available to you before you travel to the UK.
• That the loan will be disbursed either to you or directly to the university.

You do not need to show the money sitting in a bank account for 28 days if the loan letter meets all UKVI criteria. The loan must be from an institution that is regulated by a national regulatory body; personal loans from family members do not qualify.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even a small oversight can delay your visa or lead to refusal. These are the most frequent issues students encounter:

• Balance dropping during the 28 days: Even if the closing balance is correct, a one-day dip during the period invalidates the entire statement. Keep a comfortable buffer.
• Out-of-date statements: The 31-day rule catches many applicants. If your statement is older than 31 days by the time you submit, request a new one. You do not need to re-start the 28-day period—just get a fresh statement that covers the same eligible window plus any subsequent days.
• Joint accounts with a sibling or friend: These are not accepted. Only joint accounts with a parent or legal guardian qualify.
• Cryptocurrency, shares or property valuations: These are not considered cash savings and will be rejected.
• Missing translations: If your documents are not in English (or Welsh), you must provide a translation that includes the translator’s full name, signature, contact details, a statement confirming accuracy and the date of the translation. Self-translations are not permitted.

Want a personalised shortlist of document checks based on your specific circumstances? An advisor can help you assess your situation and flag potential gaps before you apply.

Evidence for Dependants

If you intend to bring a spouse, civil partner or children under 18, you must show extra maintenance for each dependant:

• Inner London: £845 per dependant, per month (up to 9 months).
• Outside London: £680 per dependant, per month (up to 9 months).

These amounts are in addition to your own maintenance requirement. Evidence of relationship—marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate or child’s birth certificate—must be provided together with the financial documents. The same 28-day holding period and bank statement rules apply to dependant funds, whether held in your name, the dependant’s name or the parent’s name.

FAQ

Q1: What happens if my bank balance falls below the required amount for just one day during the 28-day period?

The 28-day clock resets. You must wait until the balance stays above the required amount for a fresh 28-consecutive-day period and then obtain a statement that complies with the 31-day rule. There is no grace period for a one-day dip.

Q2: Can I use a fixed deposit or savings account that has a maturity date after I travel?

Yes, provided the funds are still immediately accessible—either you can withdraw them early without a penalty or the account conditions allow the money to be released to you on demand. Many students successfully use fixed deposits, but UKVI caseworkers look for a letter from the bank confirming that the funds are accessible. Without this confirmation, the account may be treated as illiquid and rejected.

Q3: Do I need to show my own financial evidence if I am fully sponsored for fees and living costs?

If your sponsor’s letter confirms that it covers all tuition fees and accommodation and gives a maintenance allowance at least equal to UKVI’s living-cost figure, you normally do not need personal bank statements. However, if the sponsorship only partly covers costs, you must show your own funds covering the remainder and still meet the 28-day requirement for your portion.

Q4: My university has been approved for “differential evidence requirements.” Does that change what I need to submit?

Under UKVI’s differentiation arrangements, students from certain low-risk nationalities and those applying from specific countries may not need to submit full financial evidence with their application. However, you must still hold the required funds and retain the documents, as UKVI can ask for them later. Never assume you are exempt without checking the official list and your CAS. The amounts and 28-day rule remain the same.

References

• UK Visas and Immigration, 2026, Student route: caseworker guidance
• UK Government, 2026, Student visa: money you need
• UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), 2026, Financial evidence for students
• British Council, 2026, Visa advice for international students
• OANDA, 2026, Historical exchange rates for currency conversion