UK Student Visa Financial Requirement: What You Must Prove

To extend or apply for a UK Student visa, you must prove you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course, but the exact amount depends on your circumstances and where you apply from. The financial requirement is not a single fixed figure published on the main GOV.UK Student visa pages; you must check the specific guidance for your situation. If you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you will need to prove you have enough money to support yourself in the UK. Your course provider will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and you must also meet the other eligibility conditions, including the academic progress requirement, before you can extend.

The Student visa replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa, and the same financial rules apply to extensions and switches made from inside the UK. The fee for extending or switching is £558 per person, plus the healthcare surcharge, and you must also have your biometric information taken at no extra cost.

Who must show the financial requirement

The financial requirement applies to you if you are applying for a Student visa from outside the UK, or if you are extending or switching from inside the UK and you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months. If you have held a valid visa for 12 months or more, the GOV.UK extension guidance does not state that you must re-prove your finances, but you should still check the full guidance because your circumstances may differ.

The key eligibility conditions for an extension are that you must:

• be in the UK on a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa
• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor, shown by your CAS
• show that your studies are at a higher academic level than your current course, unless an exception applies

If you are 16 or 17, you also need consent from your parents, with evidence of that consent when you apply.

What counts as proof of funds

The GOV.UK pages do not list the specific documents that count as proof of funds for the Student visa. They state that you must have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course, and that the amount will vary depending on your circumstances. The extension page adds that if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you will need to prove you have enough money to support yourself in the UK.

Because the official guidance does not specify the exact bank statements, the length of time the money must be held, or the source of the funds, you must check the detailed guidance on the GOV.UK Student visa page under “Check what documents you can use as evidence”. That page is the authoritative place to confirm what evidence the Home Office will accept.

The academic progress requirement

When you extend your Student visa, you will usually need to show that your new course is at a higher academic level than your current course. This is called the academic progress requirement. Your new course must be one of the following:

• at a higher academic level than your current course
• at the same level and related to your previous course or career aspirations, provided it is degree level or above at a Higher Education Provider (HEP)
• intercalated to a medicine, dentistry or medical science course you started studying under your Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)

There are exceptions where you do not need to show higher-level study. These include resitting exams or repeating modules, applying to a new institution to complete a course started at a sponsor that lost its licence, applying after working as a student union sabbatical officer, completing a PhD or other doctorate started under your last Student visa, continuing a medical degree after an intercalated course, and extending to complete studies because of a work placement or study abroad programme.

When to apply and timing rules

The timing rules for an extension are strict. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts. You must apply before your current visa expires, and your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring. For example, if your visa expires on 1 December, you must apply before 1 December and your new course must begin by 29 December.

You must also apply within 6 months of getting your CAS. If you apply for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision. You can stay in the UK until you get your decision on the extension application itself.

Fees, processing times and the healthcare surcharge

For each person applying, you will need to pay £558 to extend the visa, plus the healthcare surcharge. The amount of the healthcare surcharge depends on how long your visa lasts. There is no fee for having your fingerprints and photo taken, but you must attend a UKVCAS service point if you cannot use the UK Immigration: ID Check app.

A decision on an extension made from inside the UK is usually made within 8 weeks. You may be able to pay for a faster decision, and you will be told if you can when you apply. If your application is complex, it may take longer, for example if your supporting documents need to be verified, you need to attend an interview, or your personal circumstances require further consideration.

What you cannot do while your application is pending

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. If you do, your application will be withdrawn. You also cannot claim public funds or benefits, work in certain jobs such as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, be self-employed, or study at an academy or local authority-funded school.

Switching to a Graduate visa

If you successfully complete your course, you may be able to switch to a Graduate visa. This allows you to stay in the UK for 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. If you completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification, you can stay for 3 years.

What to do next and what to verify

Before you apply, confirm the exact financial amount you must show by reading the GOV.UK Student visa guidance on documents you can use as evidence. Check the amount for your course length, your location, and whether you have dependants. Also verify the healthcare surcharge amount for your visa length, and confirm whether you can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or must attend a UKVCAS appointment.

Check the CAS you have been issued, confirm your course start date falls within 28 days of your current visa expiry, and ensure you apply within 6 months of receiving the CAS. If you are unsure about any part of the financial requirement, the official GOV.UK guidance is the only reliable source to confirm what you need to prove.