Introduction: What You Need to Know About UK Student Visa Financial Requirements in 2025
If you’re planning to study in the UK, you must understand the UK student visa financial requirements 2025 before you submit your application. The Home Office increased the maintenance amounts in late 2025, and every new applicant must show higher monthly funds unless they meet one of the exceptions. Because of this change, many students are confused about how much money they need, how long it must stay in their bank account, and whether dependants require extra proof.
This guide breaks everything down in a clear and simple way. You’ll find updated numbers, examples, tables, and practical advice based on the official rules for 2025.
1. What Counts as Financial Requirements for a UK Student Visa?
The Home Office requires students to show money for:
- Course fees
- Living costs (maintenance)
- Dependants (if you are bringing family members)
These rules exist to make sure you can study and support yourself without needing public funds while in the UK.
2. Your Course Fee Requirements
You must show enough money to pay your first academic year of course fees or all outstanding fees if your course is shorter than nine months.
- The exact amount is written on your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).
- If you’ve lived in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months or longer, you do not need to show this money again.
Example:
If your CAS states your first-year fee is £13,500, you must show this full amount unless you already paid part of it. Any payments listed on your CAS reduce the required amount.
3. Living Costs: Updated Maintenance Funds for 2025
The UK student visa financial requirements 2025 introduced higher maintenance amounts. The amount depends on where you study.
Maintenance Required (Up to 9 Months)
| Location | Monthly Amount Required | Maximum (9 Months) |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 per month | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 per month | £10,539 |
London includes the City of London and all 32 London boroughs.
Boarding Schools
If you’re studying at a residential independent school, you need enough money for boarding fees, not the London/outside London amounts. The exact figure is on your CAS.
4. The 28-Day Money Rule (Critical Requirement)
You must hold the required money for at least 28 consecutive days in your bank account.
The final day of the 28-day period must be within 31 days before your visa application date.
Example
If you apply on 1 January, your bank statement must show the funds were held for the 28-day period ending on 1 December.
This rule is one of the most common reasons for visa refusals, so check your dates carefully.
5. Do Dependants Need Financial Proof?
Yes. Each dependant (partner or child) needs additional maintenance funds.
Although amounts for dependants are not listed in your provided material, the official rule continues to apply:
- Partner: £845 per month (London) / £680 per month (outside London)
- Child: Same amounts as partner
These funds must also meet the 28-day rule.
6. When You Don’t Need to Show Money
You do not need to show financial evidence if:
- You’ve lived in the UK for 12 months or more with a valid visa on the date of your new application
- You’re applying as a student union sabbatical officer
- You’re from a country listed under the differential evidence requirement
However, UKVI may still request documents at any time. Because of this, keep your financial evidence ready even if you don’t need to submit it initially.
7. Countries Under the Differential Evidence Requirement
If you’re a British national overseas or from one of these countries, you don’t need to show proof of funds unless UKVI asks:
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United States.
Even so, always stay prepared because UKVI can still request evidence after submission.
8. What Counts as Acceptable Financial Evidence?
You can provide:
- Bank statements
- Fixed deposits (must be accessible)
- Student loan letters
- Official financial sponsorship letters
However, evidence must follow strict format rules. This is where many students make mistakes, especially with:
- Joint accounts
- Temporary balances
- Third-party funds
If you’re unsure, get your documents reviewed before applying.
9. Common Mistakes That Lead to Visa Refusals
Students often lose visas for simple errors. Here are the most common:
- Funds held for only 27 days
- Using business accounts instead of personal accounts
- Using loan letters without required details
- Incorrect currency conversions
- Not updating CAS payments
- Paying deposits but CAS not reflecting it
- Submitting screenshots instead of statements
Because refusal rates often rise during peak intakes, double-check every document before uploading.
10. Tips to Meet the UK Student Visa Financial Requirements Smoothly
Here are some practical ways to avoid stress:
- Start preparing funds 3 months before applying
- Keep money in one account to avoid confusion
- Ask your university to update any payments on your CAS
- Download your bank statements directly from the bank portal
- Use a conversion tool like OANDA if needed
- Check your timeline to meet the 28-day rule
- Keep a backup financial document if possible
These steps reduce the chances of refusal and speed up your approval.
11. How UKVICAS Can Support You With the Process
Understanding the UK student visa financial requirements 2025 can be stressful, especially with the recent increase. You must follow strict Home Office rules, and any small mistake can delay your plans or lead to a refusal.
At UKVICAS, we help students and sponsors understand:
- Financial documentation
- CAS updates
- Sponsor records
- Home Office compliance
- Visa process timelines
📌 Register for a Free Consultation
Get your financial documents reviewed and avoid costly visa mistakes.
👉 Click here to register for your free session.
Conclusion
Meeting the updated UK student visa financial requirements 2025 is one of the most important steps in your application. You need to show money for your course, your living costs, and any dependants. The Home Office expects you to hold these funds for 28 days, and your documents must follow specific rules.
If you take the time to prepare your financial evidence properly, your visa application becomes much smoother and far less stressful. Always rely on trusted sources like GOV.UK and seek expert help if you’re unsure about your documents.
External Source
🔗 Official guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money