The United Kingdom has revised its financial requirements for Student and Child Student visa applicants, retaining strict proof-of-funds rules for most African countries while granting limited exemptions to nationals of Botswana, Mauritius and Tunisia.
The updated guidance, published by the UK government on Monday, July 27, sets out which nationalities may apply without submitting financial evidence upfront. Alongside the three African countries, the exemption list includes Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and several European nations such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as the UAE and Qatar.
Exemption Does Not Remove Financial Obligation
The UK government was clear, however, that being on the exemption list does not remove the underlying financial obligation. According to the official statement: “You must meet the financial requirements for this route when you apply; however, you may not need to submit evidence upfront as part of your application. In these circumstances, the decision maker may still request the evidence from you during the application process to prove you meet the financial requirements.”
This means that even applicants from exempted countries must be prepared to show their financial documents if asked during processing.
What Nigerian Applicants Must Show
Nigerian applicants, along with those from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt, must submit financial documents as part of their applications. The required amount depends on where a student intends to study:
- Students at institutions outside London: £1,171 per month for up to nine months of the course.
- Students in London: £1,529 per month for up to nine months.
- Dependants: £680 per month outside London and £845 per month in London, for up to nine months each.
Tuition fees, as shown on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), must also be covered in full.
Accepted and Rejected Sources of Funds
Acceptable sources include government-backed student loans, official financial sponsorship, personal savings and funds provided by parents or eligible partners. The guidance rules out overdrafts, cryptocurrency holdings, stocks and shares, pensions and money held in unregulated financial institutions.
Applicants relying on personal or family savings must show the required amount has remained in their account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying. Bank statements or equivalent financial records must be dated no more than 31 days before the application is submitted.
Other Exemptions and Child Student Visa Rules
The guidance maintains certain exemptions from financial evidence requirements for applicants who have already spent at least 12 months in the UK on a valid visa, Student Union Sabbatical Officers, and doctors and dentists in training. Child Student visa applicants face separate maintenance fund requirements, which vary depending on their living arrangements—whether in boarding school, with parents or legal guardians, in foster care, or living independently for those aged 16 and 17.
The UK government also recently expanded the official list of employers authorised to recruit overseas talent, with the total number of licensed sponsor organisations now standing at 142,459. This register covers employers approved to issue Certificates of Sponsorship under both the Skilled Worker and Temporary Worker immigration routes. A Certificate of Sponsorship is a mandatory requirement for any foreign national applying for a UK work visa, and only organisations that have met the government's strict sponsorship criteria are permitted to appear on the list.
