How long do I need to maintain the required bank balance for a UK student visa?
For a UK student visa, you must hold the required funds continuously for 28 days without the balance dropping even once, ending no more than 31 days before you submit. The minimum is £1,171 per month outside London and £1,529 per month inside London.
You need to keep the required funds sitting in your account for a continuous 28 days before you apply for your UK student visa, and the balance cannot dip below the threshold on even a single one of those days. Get this wrong and it results in a straight visa refusal.
UK Student Visa Bank Balance Rules
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Holding period | 28 consecutive days, with no dip below the required amount |
| Statement deadline | Closing balance date must be within 31 days of your application submission |
| Amount outside London | £1,171 per month (£10,539 for 9 months) |
| Amount inside London | £1,529 per month (£13,761 for 9 months) |
How To Protect Your Application
- The amount covers your unpaid tuition fees plus living costs for up to 9 months, on top of what your CAS shows
- Keep a buffer of an extra £1,000 to £2,000 above the minimum to absorb bank fees or currency exchange fluctuations
- Do not move money in and out of the account during the 28-day window for any reason, even briefly
My Advice
Set a calendar reminder for day 28 of your holding period and screenshot your balance that same day, then submit your visa application within the following 31 days without touching that account again, since that single habit prevents the most common and avoidable refusal reason.
Cash income, business income or no ITR?
See whether your funds and documents will pass the UK visa check.
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