UK visas: Showing sufficient funds for 28 days

Why do you have to show money in your bank account?

When applying for a UK visa, you are required to demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the UK. This is to ensure that you will not become a burden on the UK government or require public funds to support your stay.

The 28-day period is used to make sure that the funds you are showing are genuinely available to you and not just a temporary deposit to meet the visa requirements. This means that you cannot simply deposit a large sum of money into your account just before applying for the visa, as this will not demonstrate that you have a consistent source of funds over a period of time.

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What exactly needs to show on the Proof of Maintenance document (bank statement) to meet the criteria?

Account details 🏦

Details on the bank statement must include:

• Full name
• Home address
• Bank name
• Account details (eg. account number and branch identification number)
• Account type (account funds should be accessible via an ATM card) USE THIS AS IT'S OWN SECTION
• Dates (within 31 days from the date of your application).

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Funds showing for 28 days 💷

• Funds above the stated amount (visa specific)
• The funds have been in your account for no less than 28 days
• The funds have not gone below the required amount during the 28 days
• The 28 day period where the funds remain above the stated amount is within 31 days of the visa application

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Producing the Proof of Maintenance document (bank statement)

When submitting the proof of maintenance document, your document must meet certain criteria.

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Owner of bank statement 🧑‍💻

Your name must be on the bank account statement. You can not use a bank account statement for an account that doesn't belong to you. Joint accounts run the risk of being rejected.

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Age of bank statement 📑

The last transaction has to be no older than 31 days from the date you submitted your online application.

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Bank account type 💳

You must use a personal bank account where the funds are technically accessible via a regular debit bank card. For example, an everyday current or savings account that can withdraw money from an ATM.

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Credit card statements 🙅

Credit card statements are not bank account statements and won't be accepted. Submitting a credit card statement will cause your visa application to be rejected.

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Currency exchange 💱

You do not have to have the money converted to GBP (£), you can have the equivalent in your local currency. When assessing the funds during your application, the amount showing in your account will be converted to GBP. The application review will use a currency exchange such as Odana to assess.

Application examples

These graphs visualise reasons applications will be approved or rejected.

Approved ✅

Applications will be approved if the required funds are shown for a consistent 28 day period that is within 31 days of the visa application being submitted.

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Rejected ❌

Applications will be rejected if the required funds go below the stated amount within the 28 day period.

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Applications will be rejected if the 28 day period containing the required funds isn't within 31 days of the visa application being submitted.

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Which visas require you to show sufficient funds in your bank account?

The amount of funds in your bank account you need to show for 28 days will be determined by the visa you are applying for.

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Youth mobility visa ⚡️

You’ll need to show you have £2,530 in your bank account.

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UK Ancestry visa 🇬🇧

You’ll need to show you have £3,310 in your bank account.

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Student visa 👨‍🎓

You’ll need to show you have £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) in your bank account.

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High Potential Individual visa 🌱

You’ll need to show you have £1,270 in your bank account.

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Start-up visa 🚀

You’ll need to show you have £1,270 in your bank account.

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