Indian students submitting UK Student visa applications from 30 November 2026 must meet higher maintenance requirements where the financial requirement applies. The change concerns living costs, alongside unpaid tuition fees shown on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or CAS.
The application date decides which maintenance figures apply. An offer letter or CAS issued before the increase does not preserve the earlier requirement for an application submitted afterwards.
Key Highlights
- Monthly maintenance requirements increase for London and the rest of the UK.
- The living-cost calculation still covers a maximum of nine months.
- Unpaid tuition fees remain separate from maintenance funds.
- Indian applicants generally need financial evidence unless an exemption applies.
New Maintenance Amounts And The Application-Date Cut-Off
The Home Office’s Statement of Changes HC 584, published on 3 September 2026, schedules the increase for applications made on or after 30 November. Earlier applications remain subject to the rules in force on 29 November.
The revised UK student visa financial requirements are:
| Study Location | Current Monthly Amount | From 30 November 2026 | New Nine-Month Total |
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 | £10,827 |
For the maximum nine-month period, London applicants need £369 more than before, while those outside London need £288 more. These are minimum visa-evidence figures, rather than estimates of what every student will actually spend.
The Home Office’s explanatory memorandum links the uplift to maintenance loans available to domestic students for the 2026–27 academic year.
Add Unpaid Tuition Before Checking Your Balance
The maintenance total alone will not cover the financial requirement when course fees remain unpaid. Applicants generally need outstanding fees for the first academic year, or the whole course if shorter, in addition to living costs.
For illustration, assume an applicant needs nine months of maintenance and has £16,000 in unpaid tuition:
- Studying in London: £16,000 tuition plus £14,130 maintenance gives £30,130.
- Studying outside London: £16,000 tuition plus £10,827 maintenance gives £26,827.
These examples assume no qualifying accommodation offset or other funding arrangement. Fees already paid must appear on the CAS or an official receipt from the student sponsor. Eligible dependants need separate funds; visa fees and the immigration health surcharge are additional charges.
The 28-Day Holding Period Still Applies
For applicants relying on bank funds, the required amount must remain available throughout 28 consecutive days. The closing date of that evidence must fall within 31 days before the application date.
A late top-up can therefore affect the submission timetable. If an account has held only the old minimum, adding the difference just before applying does not demonstrate that the higher required balance was available throughout the preceding period.
UKVI permits qualifying student loans and official financial sponsorship, with their own evidence requirements, instead of requiring those funds to sit in a personal account for 28 days. An education loan still needs the prescribed lender letter; a general borrowing offer is not automatically sufficient.
For rupee accounts, leave room for exchange-rate movement. UKVI uses the OANDA spot rate on the application date, so a rupee amount calculated weeks earlier may no longer cover the sterling requirement.
Evidence Indian Applicants Should Prepare
India does not appear on the differential-evidence nationality list in Appendix Student. Applicants applying from India should normally prepare financial documents rather than assuming UKVI will request them later.
The evidence should establish:
- The account holder’s name, bank details and available balance.
- The full required holding period, where bank funds are used.
- Immediate access to money in an eligible, regulated financial institution.
- A qualifying loan letter or sponsorship confirmation when relying on those routes.
Shares, cryptocurrency and overdrafts do not substitute for acceptable funds. A promised future contribution from a relative also does not establish that the required money is available.
Calculate the amount from your CAS and intended application date before arranging evidence. Ask your university’s international-student adviser to review any uncertainty about account ownership, paid fees or funding documents before submission.
FAQs
Can I use my parents’ bank account?
Yes. Appendix Finance permits a parent’s or legal guardian’s account. Provide evidence of the relationship and written consent allowing you to use the funds for your application.
Does a shorter course require nine months of maintenance?
No. Maintenance follows the relevant course length, capped at nine months. Any part-month counts as a full month, so four months and one week requires five months.
Does the biometric appointment date decide the maintenance rate?
For a standard online application without a fee-waiver request, the application date is when you submit online. A later biometric appointment does not determine the applicable maintenance rate.
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