Edinburgh Napier University

How do I show evidence of my funds?

If you are a national of one of the exempt countries listed here, the Home Office specifies that you can be considered under the differential evidence requirement.

This means that you do not need to send points-scoring evidence (financial and educational qualification documents) with your visa application.  Even if you are a differential evidence national, we strongly recommend that you ensure you have this evidence as the Home Office can request it as part of their decision process and they will refuse your application if you are unable to provide it within the specified timeframe.

If you are making your visa application in the UK, and have been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or more on the date of application, you will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

If you are applying for entry clearance or permission to stay and have been in the UK with permission for less than 12 months, you must have the following funds:

You can show that you have enough funds in one or more of four ways:

• Your bank statements
• Parental/legal guardian(s) bank statements
• Official financial sponsorship
• Student loans

Further information regarding this can be found in Student Route Policy Guidance, which explains these documents and what they should contain.

If you use your own money, or your parents’/legal guardian’s money as evidence of maintenance, you must provide a document from your bank which confirms that you have held the required amount for one month (at least 28 days).

The most commonly accepted documents are an official bank statement or a purpose written letter from the bank. An official statement must cover a period of at least 28 days that ends within the month prior to your visa application date.

Alternatively, a purpose-written letter from your bank (on letter-headed paper) should confirm that the minimum balance on the account has been above the required amount over a period of at least 28 days. The letter should be dated within the month prior to your visa application date.

The statement or letter from the bank must show:

• That you have had at least the required amount of money (outstanding tuition fees + living costs) in your bank account for every day of a 28 day period. The balance must not fall below the required amount during the 28 day period, otherwise your application will be refused;
• The date of the statement or letter. This date must be within one month of your date of application;
• Your name/your parents’/legal guardian’s name(s);
• The account number;
• The financial institution’s name and logo.

Salary, stocks, shares portfolios, property value or other non-cash assets such as government pension schemes are not considered as evidence.

The evidence you provide can be issued from a bank in your home country or from the UK. There are restrictions on the acceptability of some banks’ statements. You can find more information on which banks can provide evidence of your funds online.

2. Parental/legal guardian(s) bank statements

If you are using your parents’/legal guardian’s bank accounts, you must also send:

• Your original birth certificate or an adoption certificate or official court document confirming legal guardian status
• A brief, signed letter from your parents/legal guardian which confirms your relationship to them, and that the funds can be used for your UK education
• Official translations of all documents that are not in English

Only biological parents or legal guardians (through a court of law or adoption procedures in your country) are eligible to be considered for ‘parental’ sponsorship. You cannot use financial evidence which belongs to other family relatives.

3. Official financial sponsorship

Sponsored students

If you receive sponsorship from an official financial sponsor – such as the UK government, your national government, an international scholarship organisation, an international university or international company – you must provide an original letter which details:

• Your name
• The name and contact details of your official financial sponsor
• The date of the letter (this must be less than six months old on the date of your application)
• The length of your sponsorship
• The amount of money the sponsor is giving to you, or a statement that your official financial sponsor will cover all of your fees and living costs

Edinburgh Napier University sponsorship

If you receive sponsorship from the University, it must be stated on your CAS at the time you apply. When you request your CAS, make sure the details of your sponsorship are included. Without it, your University sponsorship cannot be considered and an Immigration Officer will expect to see any required funds through other evidence such as your bank account.

4. Student loans

If you receive student loans from a student loan organisation or bank in your country, you need to provide a letter which confirms the details of the loan. The Student Route Visa Policy Guidance provides detailed information on the information your letter should contain.

5. Immigration Health Surcharge

This is an additional payment you will have to make at the time of your visa application and further information regarding this can be found here.