The UK has listed 63 countries whose citizens do not have to prove they have enough money to support themselves when applying for a student visa, under the UK’s “differential evidence requirement.”
As stated in the UK government’s official student visa guidance, this exemption covers the financial requirement for living costs. Even so, applicants must satisfy the visa’s other requirements, such as having enough money to cover their course fees where this applies.
The UK government noted that applicants from the listed countries and territories might still be asked to supply financial evidence before a decision is reached on their application.
Should evidence be needed, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will get in touch with the applicant once the application has been submitted. The UK government states that the countries and territories included in the differential evidence requirement are as follows:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia
- Republic of 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 of America
Under this provision, the UK guidance also lists British nationals living overseas among those who are not required to prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves.
Generally, applicants who must satisfy the financial requirement need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves while in the UK.
For courses located in London, the required amount is £1,529 per month for a maximum of nine months, whereas for courses outside London, the requirement is £1,171 per month for up to nine months.
As a rule, the funds must have been held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, and the end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the visa application date.
Students might also be required to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their course fees for one academic year, for up to nine months. This amount is specified on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
There are also other situations in which an applicant is not required to prove the financial requirement.
These cover applicants who have lived in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months before applying for a student visa, as well as those applying as student union sabbatical officers.
