Guidance

Financial requirement caseworker guidance (accessible)

Updated 1 December 2023

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Financial requirement

Version 7.0

About this guidance

This guidance is for decision makers and explains how to assess whether an applicant has met the financial requirement under Appendix Finance.

It applies to applications under these routes:

  • Student

  • Short-term Student (English Language)

  • Child Student

  • Parent of a Child Student

  • Skilled Worker

  • Representative of an Overseas Business

  • Start-up

  • Innovator

  • T2 Minister of Religion

  • International Sportsperson

  • UK Ancestry

  • (Temporary Work) Seasonal Worker

  • Youth Mobility Scheme

  • (Temporary Work) Creative Worker

  • (Temporary Work) Religious Worker

  • (Temporary Work) Charity Worker

  • (Temporary Work) International Agreement

  • (Temporary Work) Government Authorised Exchange

  • Domestic Worker in a Private Household

  • Hong Kong British National (Overseas)

  • Global Business mobility routes (Senior or Specialist, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker)

  • High Potential Individual

  • Scale-up (from 22 August 2022)

How the financial requirement is met is set out in Appendix Finance in the Immigration Rules.

The section on Financial Institutions also applies to the following routes:

  • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Migrant and dependants

  • Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant and dependants

  • Appendix FM applications (family)

  • Visitors

Contacts

If you have any questions about the guidance and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the guidance has factual errors, then email the Simplification and Systems Unit.

If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance Rules and Forms team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the guidance was published:

  • version 7.0

  • published for Home Office staff on 01 December 2023

Changes from last version of this guidance

Section on Funds held in foreign currencies added.

The financial requirement

This section tells decision makers where to find the financial requirement for each route in the Immigration Rules.

Applicants in most routes must meet a financial requirement. How they must do that differs from route to route. Applicants must generally show that they either:

  • have sufficient funds for their activity or role (for example, study, work)

  • can maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants without accessing public funds

The rules for the relevant route set out:

  • what type of financial requirement the applicant must meet

  • who must meet the financial requirement – on many routes, applicants who have been living with permission in the UK for the 12 months before the date of application will have met the requirement and do not need to provide further evidence

  • where a specific level of funds is required:

    • the amount

    • the length of time and the period during which the funds must be held

  • if there are different ways the requirement can be met – for example a sponsor can certify maintenance on work routes and an applicant can depend on funds from third parties only on some routes

This guidance contains route-specific sections on:

Applicants must show funds in the manner set out in Appendix Finance.

How to show funds under Appendix Finance is covered in the following sections of this guidance:

The financial requirement for Students, Child Students and Student dependants

This section gives an overview of how the financial requirement can be met by Students, Child Students and Student dependants and where decision makers can find the information required.

The financial requirement can be found in:

Applicants who do not need to show funds

Some Student and Child Student applicants will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

Applicants who have been living in the UK with permission for the last 12 months or longer will meet the financial requirement and do not have to show funds. See: applicants who have lived in the UK for 12 months with permission.

Applicants also meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds:

  • where they are applying for permission as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer

  • where they are applying for permission to study on a recognised foundation programme as a doctor or dentist in training

Applicants do not need to show funds where they meet the requirements for differential arrangements, although they must still meet the financial requirement and may be asked to provide evidence.

See the Student and Child Student guidance for information on how to assess whether these exceptions apply.

Applicants who need to show they meet the financial requirement

Applicants who are applying for entry clearance, or who are applying for permission to stay and have been living in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application or don’t have permission, need to show they meet the financial requirement. See: applicants who have lived in the UK for 12 months with permission.

Students and Child Students need to show they have enough funds to pay their:

  • outstanding course fees for one academic year

  • outstanding accommodation costs or boarding fees for one academic year (where relevant)

  • funds for maintenance and living costs as set out in ST 33.2. and CS 10.2.

You must check the Student or Child Student guidance to see how to calculate the level of funds the applicant must show, for example, how to assess course fees and accommodation costs.

A dependent partner or dependent child of a Student must show that they have enough money to cover their living costs whilst the Student is studying or for the period of permission applied for in the UK. This is in addition to the funds required for the Student to meet the financial requirement and any funds required for any other dependent child who is applying at the same time or is already in the UK as a dependent child of the Student.

The applicant must show they have held the funds for 28 days unless they are relying on a student loan or official financial sponsorship. See: how to calculate the length of time for which funds must be held.

How Students, Child Students and Student dependants can show they meet the financial requirement

The types of funds a Student or Child Student can rely on to show they meet the financial requirement are one, or a combination of, the following:

Where the applicant must show funds, they must meet the requirements in Appendix Finance, using the following sections of this guidance:

Where the student holds less funds than required at the point of decision

The purpose of the financial requirement is to ensure a student has sufficient funds for course fees and living costs, including accommodation. Some costs may reasonably be incurred before the decision, such as course fees, or deposits on accommodation (though the Home Office does not advise students to use their funds before the decision is made).

Verification or other checks may show that at the point of decision, the funds a student has available are less than they held for the 28- day period before the date of application. Under paragraph ST 12.7, where the level of funds held when the application is being considered is substantially below the amount required, you need to confirm with the applicant whether the funds have been spent on course fees or a deposit for accommodation. Under ST 33.6. and ST 37.5, when assessing funds for dependants, you need to confirm whether the funds have been spent on a deposit for accommodation.

If you are satisfied the reduction in funds is because they have been spent, in part, on fees or accommodation costs the financial requirement is met.

If you are not satisfied the reduction in funds is because they have been spent, in part, on fees or accommodation, you must refuse the application.

‘Substantially’ below the level of funds required is not defined in the rules. This is because the amount required for different students can vary, as can the cost of students’ or dependants’ accommodation arrangements. However, it is reasonable for funds equivalent to the first month’s living costs to be spent on accommodation in advance of coming to the UK. This would be, for example, up to:

  • £1,334 for a student based in London

  • £1,023 for a student based outside London

  • £845 each for a dependent partner or child based in London

  • £680 each for a dependent partner or child based outside London Therefore:

  • if the amount required minus the amount available at the point of decision = a sum greater than one month’s accommodation costs and any course fees paid - do further checks

  • if the amount required minus the amount available at the point of decision = a sum less than one month’s costs plus any course fees paid – you do not need to do further checks You can be satisfied this part of the financial requirement is met

What further checks are appropriate will depend on the circumstances. You can confirm whether or not any funds have been spent on course fees or accommodation:

  • in interview with the applicant

  • by checking the CAS

  • by checking with the sponsor

  • by asking the applicant for further information, such as receipts

If refusing the applicant under ST 12.7., ST 33.6. or ST 37.5. you must set out clearly the reasoning as to why you do not believe the difference between funds held on the date of application and the funds held on the date of decision has been used in part to pay for course fees or living costs. You must note in your refusal all of the information provided by the applicant and/or sponsor in response to any request for further information.

You should also consider whether the information provided suggests that the applicant is not a genuine student, or whether they have made false representations or used deception.

For further information, see Assessing the evidence section of this guidance.

Student loans

This section explains how Students and Child Students can show they meet the financial requirement through student loans.

Student loans must meet all the requirements at FIN 8.3(c) and FIN 9.2.

You can find out if the applicant is relying on a loan by checking the application form. The applicant must provide a student loan letter from the lender as evidence. The student loan letter and the information it must contain is specified in Appendix Finance, FIN 9.2.

The student loan must be provided to the applicant. Loans provided to the applicant’s parent, parents, legal guardian or guardians cannot be used as evidence of a loan to the applicant, even if the loan is for study purposes.

The student loan letter must confirm that the provider of the loan is one of the providers we accept and that it is regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the student loans. The loan providers we accept are:

  • a government

  • a government sponsored student loan company

  • an academic or educational loans scheme which is provided by a financial institution regulated for the purpose of issuing student loans by either the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or, in the case of an overseas loan, the official regulatory body for purpose of issuing student loans in the country in which the financial institution is located and where the money is held

If the student loan letter does not include all of the information necessary for you to assess whether it complies with FIN 9.2., you should follow the guidance on where evidence is missing or inadequate.

If the applicant’s student loan is only covering some of their course fees or living costs, the applicant must provide evidence that they have the rest of the funds required.

William D Ford Federal Direct Loan Programme

The William D Ford Federal Direct Loan Programme is administered by the US Department of Education and allows participating UK institutions to issue federal direct loans to students from the USA to study in the UK. When dealing with these cases, you should expect to receive a letter on the licensed student sponsor’s headed paper with a signature across the coat of arms, where present, or across the institution’s logo/address where the institution has no coat of arms.

Funds provided by an official financial sponsor

This section explains how Students, Child Students, and Student dependants can show they meet the financial requirement through official financial sponsorship.

Official financial sponsorship must meet the requirements at FIN 8.3(b) and FIN 9.1.

You can find out if the applicant is relying on funds provided by an official financial sponsor by checking the application form or the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), where the official financial sponsor is the student sponsor.

A licensed Student sponsor that is financially sponsoring an applicant can include details of this on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). In this case, no other documents are needed to show official financial sponsorship. You only need to check the amount of sponsorship on the CAS.

If the official financial sponsor is any other provider (as listed below), you need to check the applicant has provided a letter of confirmation from the provider. The providers we recognise are:

The rules do not specify what information the letter of confirmation must contain, but you need to be satisfied that it contains enough information to allow you to assess that the official financial sponsorship meets the financial requirement and is genuine. For example, you would normally expect this letter to confirm all of the following:

  • that the applicant is the recipient

  • the amount of the sponsorship, or confirmation that the financial sponsor will cover all course and living costs required by the applicant

  • the date of the sponsorship and duration

  • the name and contact details of the official financial sponsor

If you cannot verify the official financial sponsorship because information in the letter is missing, you should follow the guidance on where evidence is missing or inadequate.

If the applicant’s financial sponsor is only covering some of their course fees or living costs, the applicant must provide evidence that they have the rest of the funds required.

His Majesty’s Government sponsored programmes

These include:

Please note, this list is not exhaustive, and other HM Government sponsored programmes may exist.

Non-governmental organisations and institution sponsored programmes from the UK

There are also other non-governmental, and institution sponsored programmes, from bodies such as The British Academy, The Royal Society, and the Wellcome Trust.

Sports scholarships

Applicants who are provided with sports scholarships to study in the UK are permitted to use these to assist them in meeting the financial requirement of studying in the UK. This will not be considered a breach of the ‘professional sportsperson’ restrictions which prohibits receiving payment – including payment in kind – for playing or coaching sport.

If an applicant will be required to play or coach sport in exchange for receiving the scholarship, this activity is only permitted if:

  • they are studying a course at degree level or above

  • the course is being studied at a higher education provider (HEP)

The financial requirement for a Parent of a Child Student

This section gives an overview of how the requirement can be met by a Parent of a Child Student, and where decision makers can find the information.

The financial requirement can be found in PC 7.1 to PC 7. 5 in Appendix Parent of a Child Student.

Applicants who do not need to show funds

Some Parent of a Child Student applicants will meet the financial requirements do not need to show funds.

Applicants who have been living in the UK with permission for the last 12 months or more before the date of application and do not have to show funds. See applicants who have lived in the UK for 12 months with permission.

Applicants who have been living in the UK for less 12 months on the date of application but are applying together with the Child Student (who has also been living in the UK for less than 12 months), will meet part of the financial requirement if the Child Student shows the level of funds required in CS 10.2.

These applicants must still show they do not intend to make the UK their main home and that they have sufficient funds to maintain their main home outside the UK.

Applicants who need to show they meet the financial requirement

Applicants who either are applying for entry clearance have been living in the UK for less than 12 months (unless they are applying at the same time as a Child Student who meets the requirement as above) don’t have permission need to show they meet the financial requirement.

The Parent of a Child Student must show they have enough funds to pay the level of funds in PC 7.3.sufficient funds to maintain their main home outside the UK, in addition to the funds required for their support in the UK.

The applicant must show they have held the funds for 28 days. See how to calculate the length of time for which funds must be held.

Sufficient funds to maintain their main home outside the UK

There is no set amount of funds required to show the applicant can maintain their main home outside the UK. You should check the application form to see whether the applicant has provided information about the cost of maintaining their home outside the UK and how they will show they have these funds. You must check the evidence provided, such as bank statements, to confirm that the applicant has sufficient funds.

Factors you should consider include:

  • that they cannot intend to make the UK their main home – this will generally mean they are maintaining a home outside the UK

  • the cost of maintaining their home in their country of residence

  • the cost of maintaining any dependants outside the UK

  • what financial support is available, such as from their partner

If you are not certain whether the amount shown by the applicant is sufficient to maintain their home outside the UK, you should check local information and/or resources available online about the cost of living in the country in which the applicant’s main home is located.

Useful resources to help with this are:

You should consider whether the costs and amounts presented by the applicant are reasonable for their country and circumstances.

Evidence of a main home outside the UK

Applicants can show this by, for example:

  • showing they have and can maintain a main home outside the UK and stating that they do not intend to make the UK their main home - for example, they can show they own or rent property, and have sufficient funds to maintain this on an ongoing basis in the form of showing financial documents: these must show that applicant has access to the funds and could include:

    • bank statements

    • building society book

    • proof of earnings such as a letter from employer confirming employment details (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)

    • confirmation of legal residence.

  • showing that although they don’t currently have a main home outside the UK at the time of application, they do not intend to make the UK their main home, and they have sufficient funds to maintain a main home outside the UK (even though they do not have one) - they may be able to show, for example, that they are in the process of purchasing a home outside the UK

How Parents of Child Students can show they meet the financial requirement

The funds a Parent of a Child Student relies on must meet the requirements in Appendix Finance, using the following sections of this guidance:

The financial requirement for work routes

This section gives an overview of how the requirement can be met by applicants and their dependants on work routes and where decision makers can find the information.

The financial requirement can be found at:

  • SW 15.1 to SW 15.3 for the main applicant on the Skilled Worker route and SW

33.1 to SW 33.5 for the partner and child of a Skilled Worker

  • MOR 7.1 to MOR 7.3 for the main applicant on the T2 Minister of Religion route and MOR 26.1 to 26.5 for partner and child of a T2 Minister of Religion

  • ISP 7.1 to ISP 7.3 for the main applicant on the International Sportsperson route and ISP 27.1 to ISP 27.5 for the partner and child of an International Sportsperson

  • SU 8.1 to SU 8. 3 for the main applicant on the Start-up route and SU 20.1. to SU 20.4 for the partner and child of a Start-up applicant

  • INN 13.1 to INN 13.3 for the main applicant on the Innovator route for main applicant and INN 30.1 to IN 30.4 for the partner and child of an Innovator

  • SAW 5.1 to SAW 5. 2 for the main applicant on the Seasonal Worker route

  • YMS 5.1 to YMS 5.3 for an applicant on the T5 Youth Mobility Scheme route

  • RW 6.1 to RW 6.3 for the main applicant on the Religious Worker route and RW 16.1 to RW 16.5for the partner and child of a Religious Worker

  • CW 6.1 to CW 6.3 for the main applicant on the Charity Worker route and CW

16.1 to CW 16.5 for the partner and child of a Charity Worker

  • CRV 6.1 to CRV 6.3 for the main applicant on the Creative Worker route and CRV 17.1 to CRV 17.5 for the partner and child of a Creative Worker,

  • IA 11.1 to IA 11.3 for the main applicant on the International Agreement route and IA 29.1 to 29. 5 for the partner or child of an International Agreement applicant

  • GAE 8.1 to GAE 8.3 for the main applicant on the Government Authorised Exchange route and GAE 19.1 to 19.5 for partner or child of a Government Authorised Exchange applicant

  • SNR 10.1 to 10.3 for the main applicant on the Senior or Specialist Global Business mobility route and SNR 21.1 to 21.5 for their partner or child

  • GTR 10.1 to 10.3 for the main applicant on the Graduate Trainee Global Business mobility route and GTR 21.1 to 21.5 for their partner or child

  • UKX 10.1 to 10.3 for the main applicant on the UK Expansion Worker Global Business mobility route and UKX 21.1 to 21.5 for their partner or child

  • SEC 8.1 to 8.3 for the main applicant on the Secondment Worker Global Business mobility route and SEC 19.1 to 19.5 for their partner or child

  • HPI 7.1 to 7.4 for the main applicant on the High Potential Individual route and HPI 17.1 to 17.5 for their partner or child

  • SCU 10.1 to 10.4 for the main applicant on the Scale-Up route and SCU 27.1 to

27.6 for their partner or child

Applicants who do not need to show funds

Applicants and their dependants who are applying for permission to stay and who have been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application will meet the financial requirement and do not have to show funds. See: applicants who have lived in the UK for 12 months with permission.

This does not apply to the following sponsored routes:

  • applicants and their dependents on Charity Worker route

  • applicants on the Youth Mobility Scheme

  • applicants on the Seasonal Worker route

Applicants who need to show they meet the financial requirement

Applicants and their dependants who are applying for entry clearance, or who are applying for permission to stay and who have been living in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application or don’t have permission need to show they meet the financial requirement. See applicants who have lived in the UK for 12 months with permission

Applicants and their dependants on the sponsored or endorsed work routes listed above must show they have the specified level of funds to cover their living costs in the first month they are in the UK, or, where applicable, their sponsor has certified that they will provide at least an equivalent level of maintenance and accommodation, or that this is included in their endorsement funds.

How can applicants and their dependent show evidence of funds?

The way an applicant and their dependants on these routes can show they meet the financial requirement by showing:

  • the required funds

  • for sponsored work routes (excluding Youth Mobility Scheme), that their sponsor or A-rated sponsor (see the Register of Sponsors) has certified at least that level of funds will be available to maintain and accommodate the applicant and any dependants for their first month

  • for endorsed routes, that their approved endorsing body has confirmed that the required level of funds are available, see endorsing body confirms funds

If the funds are shown by the applicant, they must show they have held the funds for 28 days in accordance with how to calculate the length of time for which funds must be held.

The funds must meet the requirements in Appendix Finance, using the following sections of this guidance:

Sponsors certifying maintenance

You can find out if an applicant is relying on their sponsor to certify maintenance by checking the application form and the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

If the applicant’s sponsor is rated A, A (Premium) or A (SME+), they can certify the financial requirement is met by ticking the ‘maintenance’ box on the applicant’s CoS. They may limit the amount of the undertaking, but any limit must be no less than the amount stated in the rules. You must check on the Certificate of Sponsorship checking system.

The sponsor can also certify maintenance for any dependants of the sponsored worker for the same period by ticking the same box. They may limit the amount of the undertaking, but any limit must be no less than amount required in the rules. You should check the notes to confirm that the sponsor whether the sponsor has opted out from certifying maintenance for dependants.

The partner or child of a person on the Scale-up route can only rely on sponsor certification if the date of application is at least one calendar month before the end of the first 6 months of the Scale-up Worker’s first grant of permission on the Scale-up route. You must check these dates on the person summary on the casework system.

Endorsing body confirms funds

This is applicable only to the Start-up route.

You can find out if the applicant has been awarded maintenance funds by their approved endorsing body by checking on the application form and the letter of endorsement (PDF, 583KB).

You must check the letter of endorsement to confirm it has awarded the appropriate amount of funds required in rules. If the endorsing body has not awarded the appropriate amount of funds and the applicant has not provided any alternative evidence set out in Appendix Finance, you should follow where the evidence is missing or inadequate section of this guidance.

Additional requirement for Youth Mobility Scheme Applicants

Under paragraph YMS 5.3 an applicant on the Youth Mobility Scheme must not be financially responsible for any children under 18.

Check the application form to confirm that the applicant has said they have no child dependants under 18. If they have previously made an application with us, you can also check the person’s application history on the case working system to see if they have previously said they have dependent children. If they have, you must contact the applicant to confirm whether their circumstances have changed (for example if they have lost a child or if the child is no longer dependant on them financially following divorce) before refusing the application.

The financial requirement for Short-term Student (English Language), Representative of an Overseas Business, UK Ancestry and Hong Kong British National (Overseas) applicants

This section gives an overview of how the financial requirement can be met by Short-term Students (English Language), Representatives of an Overseas Business, UK Ancestry and British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) applicants and where caseworkers can find the information required.

The financial requirement can be found in the Immigration Rules at:

  • STS 6.1. to STS 6.4. for the Short-term Student (English Language) route

  • ROB 7.1 to 7.2 and ROB 27.1 to ROB 27.2 for the Representative of an Overseas Business route

  • UKA 5.1 to UKA 5.3 for the main applicant for UK Ancestry routes and UKA

33.1 to UKA 33.3 for partner and child of the UK Ancestry applicant

  • HK 6.2 to 6.5 for main applicants for the Hong Kong BN(O) route; HK 14.2 to

14.5 for a dependent partner of the BN(O) status holder; HK 18.2 to 15.5 for a BN(O) household child; HK 27.2 to 27.5 for a BN(O) household member; HK

36.2 to 36.5 for a BN(O) household member dependent partner; HK 40.2 to

40.5 for a BN(O) household member child; and HK 50.2 to 50.5 for a BN(O) adult dependent relative

Applicants must show that they meet the financial requirement if they are applying for entry clearance or permission to stay.

There is no set level of funds, but applicants and their dependents on these routes must instead show that they can adequately maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants without receiving public funds (public funds are defined in paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules).

Short-term Student (English Language)

A Short-term Student must also show they:

  • have enough funds to meet the cost of their return or onward journey from the UK

  • have either paid their course fees or have enough funds to pay their course fees

You must check on the application form and supporting evidence to confirm the cost of the journey, and course fees.

There is no set evidence that applicants need to show, for example, they do not have to have booked an onward or return ticket for their journey from the UK and can instead show the funds required to pay for their study and travel in their bank account. To show course fees have been paid, you would normally expect to see a receipt or a letter of confirmation from the course provider providing sufficient information to allow you to confirm and verify (if you judge it necessary) that the fees have been paid. You need to be satisfied that the funds available are a reasonable amount to ensure the requirement is met.

You should consider:

  • any specific information the applicant has provided on costs and travel plans

  • a reasonable amount required for the cost of a return or onward journey

Adequate maintenance and accommodation

Where the requirement is for ‘adequate’ maintenance and accommodation this means that, after any income tax, national insurance contributions and housing costs have been deducted, there must be available to the applicant, and any dependants who are coming to or are in the UK, at least the level of income or funds that would be available to them if they were in receipt of basic payments of Income Support.

At the date this guidance was produced the levels were as follows but you should check the information on gov.uk to confirm the levels have not changed.

Family size Weekly payment
Single - age 16 to 24 £58.90
Single - age 25 or over £74.35
Lone parent - age 16 to 17 £58.90
Lone parent - age 18 or over £74.35
Couples - both under 18 £58.90
Couples - both under 18 getting ‘higher rate’ £89.00
Couples - one under 18, the other 18 to 24 £58.90
Couples - one under 18, the other 25 or over £74.35
Couples - one under 18, one over getting ‘higher rate’ £116.80
Couples - both 18 or over £116.80

The fact that the applicant is not eligible to claim public funds is not in itself sufficient to satisfy the financial requirement. An important factor to consider is whether the family would have an equivalent amount as they would have if they did claim public funds to support themselves or any dependents once in the UK (though the person will not be entitled to claim public funds under the condition of a grant on these routes). It is not acceptable for applicants to live below the income support level.

In considering this requirement, you can take into account:

  • funds held by the applicant or their dependants

  • any employment or self-employment income the applicant is legally engaged in on the date of application (or legal employment or self-employment of their dependants, if relevant)

  • savings of the applicant or their dependants

  • any other non-employment income that is immediately available to them (such as income from rental property)

If the applicant is relying on funds, they must meet the requirements in Appendix Finance, using the following sections of this guidance:

For the UK Ancestry and Hong Kong BN(O) routes, you can accept credible promises of third-party support, such as financial help from a relative or friend, when assessing whether an applicant meets the maintenance requirement.

Promises of job offers or the applicant’s prospects of employment cannot be used to meet the maintenance requirement.

Assessing adequate maintenance

You should follow the steps below when assessing whether the applicant has adequate maintenance.

A – B ≥ C

A minus B is greater than or equal to C. Where:

A is the net income (after deduction of income tax and National Insurance contributions) or funds available – this will include income and funds belonging to:

  • the applicant (whether they are main applicant or dependant)

  • the applicant’s partner who is applying at the same time or has been granted permission

  • where the applicant is a dependent child, their parent

  • where allowed (for example UK Ancestry and Hong Kong British National (Overseas) routes), third party support

  • for the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route, income and funds belonging to:

    • the Hong Kong BN(O) status holder, where the applicant is their partner, child or Adult Dependent Relative

    • the Hong Kong BN(O) status holder’s partner, where the applicant is their child or Adult Dependant Relative

    • any person granted permission on the Hong Kong BN(O) route at the same time, where the applicant is a Hong Kong BN(O) household member, or a partner or child of a household member

    • the partner of a Hong Kong BN(O) household member, where the applicant is their child or the child of the household member

B is housing costs (such as what needs to be spent on accommodation for the family unit including dependants).

C is the amount of Income Support an equivalent family of that size in the UK can receive.

Establish the current total weekly net income (A):

  • if the net income varies, calculate a weekly mean average

  • include all net income currently received, including benefits currently received to which the person is entitled, and third-party support (where it is allowed, for example for Hong Kong BN(O) and UK Ancestry applicants)

  • an entry clearance applicant may say they will be entitled to claim public funds in their own right in the UK, for example, under reciprocal arrangements between the UK and their home country and ask for this to be included in their net income - however, any potential future entitlement to benefits after the applicant arrives in the UK does not count towards net income when assessing adequate maintenance - benefits received by an applicant already in the UK can be counted as income so long as the applicant is entitled to receive the relevant benefit (applicants cannot rely on any public funds contrary to their grant of permission in showing they meet the financial requirement but non- EEA nationals who have No Recourse to Public Funds and who have made the necessary national insurance contributions can claim contributory benefits such as contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support allowance, or a state pension)

  • where the applicant is relying on cash savings, include a weekly equivalent figure (meaning the total divided by the number of weeks), for example for Hong Kong BN(O) route applicants where the applicant relies on a lump sum, divide this by 26 to find the weekly amount available

Establish the current weekly housing costs from the evidence provided (B):

  • where an applicant can rely on third party support this can be in the form of providing accommodation - if this is ‘rent free’ accommodation you must satisfy yourself that it is credible offer and that the accommodation would not be overcrowded - if so, accommodation costs will be zero

  • housing costs are usually rental or mortgage payments and Council Tax

Calculate:

  • deduct the weekly housing costs from the weekly net income or funds available (A)

  • calculate how much a family unit (of equivalent size to the main applicant and their dependants) in the UK would receive if they were in receipt of Income Support (C)

  • always use the rate for income support which applies at the date of decision. (Case studies in this guidance show the method for setting out a calculation and do not represent current rates)

  • compare the weekly net income after deduction of weekly housing costs with the equivalent level of Income Support using the following formula:

A – B ≥ C

A minus B is greater than or equal to C

Personal debt, including loans and credit card debt, should not be taken into account in this assessment. Only the weekly housing costs are deducted from the weekly net income.

Where the sums calculate to part of a penny, decision makers should always round this figure down.

Example assessment of adequate maintenance

Mr X wishes to sponsor his wife and his 2 children from country Y. Mr X is a British Citizen. Currently Mr X receives weekly net income of £460.17.

Calculation of current total weekly net income (A):

Income source Interval received Equivalent weekly amount
Net income from employment (after deduction of income tax and NI contributions) Weekly £161.30
Working tax credit £364.71 every 4 weeks Divided by 4 = £91.18
Child benefit £134.80 every 4 weeks Divided by 4 = £33.70
Child tax credit Weekly £93.99
Housing benefit Weekly £80.00
Total income (A) - £460.17

Calculation of current weekly housing costs (B):

Mr X’s accommodation costs £150 per week to rent. The family do not have to pay Council Tax. Add together weekly rental payments and Council Tax.

Housing costs Interval paid Equivalent weekly amount
Rent Weekly £150.00
Council tax N/A £0.00
Total housing cost (B) - £150.00

Deduction of weekly housing costs from the weekly net income: Weekly net income

£460.17 minus weekly housing costs £150 = £310.17

Calculation of weekly income the family would receive if in receipt of Income Support (C):

To assess whether the sum of (A – B) is greater than or equal to the level of Income Support (C) a family of that size would be entitled to receive, decision makers must in all cases set out their calculations in the following format in a refusal notice (where the application is being refused):

An equivalent sized family in the UK could receive the following Income Support:

Element Interval Amount
Income Support rate for a couple Weekly £113.70
Each dependent child from birth to age 20 £66.33 x 2 Weekly £132.66
Family premium Weekly £17.45
Total Income Support (C) - £263.81

Compare the weekly net income less weekly housing costs to the equivalent Income Support figure:

(A – B) £310.17 must be greater or equal to (C) £263.81

In this example A minus B is greater than C so the weekly net income less weekly housing costs is more than the weekly level of Income Support a family of that size would be entitled to receive and therefore the ‘adequate’ maintenance requirement is met.

Financial requirement scenarios for the Hong Kong BN(O) route

This section provides examples of whether an applicant would meet the financial requirement for entry clearance or permission to stay on the Hong Kong BN(O) route.

Example scenarios for entry clearance applications

Scenario 1

Mr A who is aged 23 wants to come to live in the UK. He has the equivalent of

£4,000.00 in savings and will be renting a single bedroom property at a cost of

£2,399.88 across a 6-month period outside of London. Mr A would be able to maintain and accommodate himself for the first 6 months in the UK: £4,000.00 (net funds) minus £2,399.88 (housing costs) leaves £1,600.12 which is above the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a single adult aged between 16 to 24 (£1,531.40).

Scenario 2

Miss C who is aged 58 wants to come to live in the UK. She has the equivalent of

£7,000.00 in savings and will be renting a single bedroom property at a cost of

£5,385.12 across a 6-month period in London. Miss C would not be able to maintain and accommodate herself for the first 6 months in the UK: £7,000.00 (net income) minus £5,385.12 (housing costs) leaves £1,614.88 which is below the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a single adult aged 25 or over (£1,933.10).

Miss C would be refused entry clearance on the grounds that she wasn’t able to adequately maintain and accommodate herself for the first 6 months of residing in the UK.

Scenario 3

Mrs K who is aged 48 wants to come to the UK. She will also be accompanied by her husband aged 47, their two children aged 16 and 22, and her parents aged 72 and

73. Mrs K has the equivalent of £15,000.00 in savings, will be earning a wage of

£20,000 over 6-months and will be renting a 4-bedroom property at a cost of

£4,067.16 across a 6-month period. Mrs K would be able to maintain and accommodate herself and family for the first 6 months in the UK: £15,000.00 (net funds – the offer of employment does not count towards the financial requirement) minus £4,067.16 (housing costs) leaves £10,932.84 which is above the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a couple both 18 or over together with two children aged 16 to 24 and two other adults (the grandparents) (£9,136.40).

Scenario 4

Mr B who is aged 39 wants to come to the UK. He will be accompanied by his 17- year-old son. He has the equivalent of £20,000.00 in savings and will be renting a two-bedroom property at a cost of £6,881.16 across a 6-month period. Mr B would be able to maintain and accommodate himself and his son for the first 6 months in the UK: £20,000.00 (net funds) minus £6,881.16 (housing costs) leaves £13,118.84 which is above the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a lone parent aged 18 or over with custody of a single child aged 16 to 24 (£3,464.50).

Scenario 5

Miss T who is aged 46 wants to come to live in the UK. She will be accompanied by her partner aged 52 and their three children aged 9, 14 and 21. Miss T has the equivalent of £30,000.00 in savings and will be staying with a family friend who is employed and offering free accommodation to Miss T and her family. Miss T would be able to maintain and accommodate herself and family for the first 6 months in the UK: £30,000.00 (net funds and income) minus free accommodation (housing costs) leaves £30,000.00 which is above the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a for a couple both 18 or over together with three children aged 9, 14 and 21 (£4,568.20).

Scenario 6

Mr P who is aged 27 wants to come to live in the UK. He has the equivalent of

£6,000.00 in savings and will be renting a single bedroom property at a cost of

£5,385.12 across a 6-month period in London. Mr P would not be able to maintain and accommodate himself for the first 6 months in the UK: £6,000.00 (net funds and income) minus £5,385.12 (housing costs) leaves £614.88 which is below the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a single adult aged 25 or over (£1,933.10).

Mr P would be refused entry clearance on the grounds that he wasn’t able to maintain and accommodate himself for the first 6 months of residing in the UK.

Example scenarios for permission to stay applications

BN(O) status holders and their family members applying from within the UK can switch in-country from other immigration routes which allow them access to public funds. Such funds can be used to calculate the overall net income.

Applicants who have lived in the UK for 12 months with permission before switching to the Hong Kong BN(O) route will meet the requirement without further calculations.

Scenario 1

Miss C who is aged 32 has lived and worked in the UK for 8 months. She lives with her child aged 9. She has £2,000.00 in savings, receives a wage of £15,000.00 and is staying with a family friend who is employed and offering free accommodation to her and her daughter. Miss C would be able to maintain and accommodate herself and daughter for 6 months in the UK: £17,000.00 (net income and funds) minus free accommodation (housing costs) leaves £17,000.00 which is above the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a lone parent with a single child under the age of 16 (£1,933.10).

Scenario 2

Mrs H who is aged 57 has lived in the UK for the last 2 years. She will therefore have met the financial requirement.

Scenario 3

Mr P who is aged 56 has lived and worked in the UK for 8 months. He lives with his spouse who is aged 55, their two children aged 14 and 26, his 26-year-old child’s 24- year-old spouse and their 1-year-old child. Mr P has £45,000 in savings, receives a wage of £28,000 over 6-months and is renting a 4-bedroom property at a cost of

£4,067.16 across a 6-month period outside of London. Mr P would be able to maintain and accommodate himself and his household members for 6 months in the UK: £73,000 (net income and funds) minus £4,067.16 (housing costs) leaves

£68,932.84 which is above the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for two couples both over the age of 18 each with a single child under 16 (£6,073.60).

Scenario 4

Miss L who is aged 37 has lived in the UK for 7 months and is self-employed. She has £9,000 in savings, receives an income of £32,000 over 6-months and is renting a 1-bedroom property at a cost of £2,399.88 for a 6-month period. Miss L would be able to adequately maintain and accommodate herself for 6 months in the UK:

£41,000 (net income) minus £2,399.88 (housing costs) leaves £38,600.12 which is above the equivalent Income Support level (over 6 months) for a single adult aged 25 or over (£1,933.10).

Evidence to support adequate maintenance and accommodation

You must check the information the applicant has provided on the application form about their finances and accommodation and any supporting evidence they have provided.

On the Hong Kong BN(O) route applicants must show they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their dependants for 6 months.

For UK Ancestry applicants, the Immigration Rules do not specify a minimum period the evidence must cover but applicants are advised on the application form to submit evidence covering at least 3 months. You must not refuse a UK Ancestry application solely because the evidence covers less than this because the requirement is not specified in the rules. You may accept evidence covering a shorter period if you are nonetheless satisfied that the applicant will be able to adequately maintain and accommodate themselves.

You may request additional evidence (even if a UK Ancestry applicant has submitted evidence covering a 3-month period, or evidence covering a 6-month period for a Hong Kong BN(O) route applicant) if you are not satisfied, based on the evidence provided, that the applicant meets the requirement.

The most recent piece of evidence must be dated no more than 31 days before the date of application.

Examples of evidence that could be provided by the applicant include, but are not limited to:

  • payslips

  • evidence of self-employment

  • bank statements

  • building society passbook

  • P60s

  • evidence of any other source of income – for example, income from rental property, or a pension where the applicant is receiving payments

  • letters from DWP or HMRC where the applicant is receiving benefits

  • tenancy or mortgage agreement

  • for UK Ancestry and Hong Kong BN(O) applicants, a signed and dated letter from a third party (such as a friend or relative) confirming that they will maintain and accommodate the applicant (and their dependants, if relevant), plus evidence of that third party’s finances, where there is a credible offer of third party support

If the applicant does not know their accommodation costs in the UK

If the applicant does not know their accommodation costs in the UK or has not provided this information with their application, you must use a reasonable approximation. In such a case you should use the figure £660 per month per household (this is based on an average of ONS figures for UK housing costs outside London).

If you have doubts about whether the applicant can meet the financial requirement, for the route and you are considering refusing the application, you must follow the evidential flexibility guidance.

Overcrowded accommodation

For applicants under the Hong Kong BN(O) route, accommodation must not be overcrowded or in breach of public health regulations.

In England and Wales, under the Housing Act 1985 if either of the following standards is breached:

  • the room standard – this is breached where there are so few sleeping rooms available 2 persons aged 10 or over of the opposite sex, who are not a couple, must sleep in the same room

  • the space standard – for immigration purposes this is breached where the number of permitted occupants is too high for the number of rooms available for sleeping in - you can find more detailed guidance on this test in the Adequate Maintenance and Accommodation guidance for Appendix FM

The overcrowding definition covers privately owned homes and those owned by local authorities.

Where you have reason to believe accommodation will be overcrowded or is in breach of public health standards, you should contact the applicant for further information to confirm whether this is the case. If you are satisfied that the accommodation will be overcrowded and the applicant will not be able to relocate to less crowded accommodation or make alternative arrangements you should refuse the application.

Accessing public funds

If the applicant is in the UK and applying for permission to stay, you must check their application to see if they have declared that they have previously accessed public funds in the UK. If the applicant has accessed public funds, you must follow the public funds guidance.

Credible promises of third-party support

For the UK Ancestry and Hong Kong BN(O) routes only, you can accept credible promises of third-party support for maintenance and accommodation. This can include, for example, a credible offer that the applicant will be living with their relatives or a friend in the UK.

You should check the application form and supporting evidence to confirm if the applicant says they are relying on third party support. There is no set evidence to show this, but you would usually expect to see a signed letter from the third party which provides sufficient information to satisfy you that the support is being provided to the applicant, the amount and duration, and of the financial situation of the third party.

Where you have particular doubts or concerns around the intentions of the third party to provide this support, you may request further information or evidence from the applicant or the third party.

Applicants who have lived in the UK for 12 months with permission

This section shows how to assess whether an applicant has lived in the UK with permission for 12 months or more before the date of application.

This only applies to applications for permission to stay on study and some work routes. This is not relevant for applicants on the following routes:

  • Charity Worker

  • Seasonal Worker

  • Youth Mobility Scheme

To meet the requirement under this policy, the applicant must:

  • be applying for permission to stay

  • have lived in the UK for the last 12 months before the date of application

  • had permission throughout this time

Dependants must have lived in the UK for 12 months themselves – they cannot rely on the fact the main applicant has lived in the UK for 12 months.

There must not be a break between the 12 months spent in the UK and the date of the application, for example, the applicant cannot rely on 12 months prior residence. Applying for entry clearance would mean the applicant needed to show maintenance.

Holidays and short absences from the UK do not break the 12 month period. However, if an applicant has not been based in the UK for a significant part of the 12 months, for example for at least 3 months, they will not meet the requirement.

If the applicant had 3C leave or exceptional assurance (during the Covid pandemic) during the 12 months, that time should be counted as a time during which they had permission for the purpose establishing whether they need to provide evidence of funds.

You can find out if the applicant meets the requirements of this rule by checking the application form and the applicant’s person history on the case working system.

The 12-month period should be calculated back from the date of application. If the applicant’s permission began close to the 12 month point, you should make further checks. For example, you might:

  • check the application form for their intended date of entry to the UK

  • contact the applicant and ask them to provide further evidence confirming their date of entry

Applicants are asked on the form if they have lived in the UK for the last 12 months or more and if they say yes, they are not asked to provide further evidence of funds.

If an applicant has answered yes to this question on the form, but the evidence suggests they have not been in the UK for the 12-month period, you should follow the guidance on where evidence is missing or inadequate.

How to calculate the length of time for which funds must be held

The following routes require that when an applicant or their dependant is relying on funds, they must show they held the required level of funds for 28 days:

  • Student

  • Child student

  • Parent of a Child Student

  • Skilled Worker

  • T2 Minister of Religion

  • International Sportsperson

  • Start-up route

  • Innovator route for main applicant Seasonal Worker

Youth Mobility Scheme

  • (Temporary Work) Religious Worker for main applicant

  • (Temporary Work) Charity Worker for main applicant

  • (Temporary Work) Creative Worker for main applicant

  • (Temporary Work) International Agreement for main applicant

  • (Temporary Worker) Government Authorised Exchange Worker for main applicant

  • Global Business Mobility routes

  • High Potential Individual

  • Scale-up

Paragraphs FIN 7.1. to FIN 7.3. of Appendix Finance set out how this period must be calculated.

You must check that the most recently dated piece of financial evidence is dated within 31 days of the start of application.

You must count the 28 days by counting back from the date of the closing balance on that most recent piece of financial evidence.

The financial evidence provided must cover the whole 28-day period.

If funds are in an overseas currency, use the exchange rate at the date of the application to check the value of the money in pounds sterling. To check the balance, use the OANDA website.

Certain types of funds such as student loans and scholarships do not fall into this requirement.

Evidence from more than one bank account

Where evidence from two or more accounts is submitted, you must consider the evidence in both accounts. This can be done either:

  • by taking the cumulative total across both accounts into consideration provided the closing balance of both accounts falls within the require 31 days period up until the date of application – and the funds in both were held for the required 28 days

  • by using the closing balance of the account that most favours the applicant (providing it falls within the required 31 day period up until the date of application) and taking any additional evidence of funds from the other account provided this falls within the same 31 day period and is available at any point during the 28 day period linked to the closing balance used

Funds held in foreign currencies

This section provides guidance on the currency exchange rates which should be used when assessing applications under Appendix Finance.

Where money is held in one or more foreign currencies, this must be converted into pound sterling (£), normally using the spot exchange rate which appears on www.oanda.com for the date of the application.

Whilst OANDA is accurate in the overwhelming majority of cases, sometimes there is a significant discrepancy between the rate of exchange genuinely available to members of the public (for example through a bureau de change) and the conversion rates showing on OANDA.

Most often, this discrepancy is due to OANDA utilising a government set ‘official’ rate, which is a special, subsidised rate to importers of essential goods in order to control inflation. Conversely, there are often a ‘free’ or ‘local’ rates which more accurately reflect the rate of exchange genuinely available to most people.

Additionally, some currencies are not supported by OANDA and it is not possible to use it to obtain a currency conversion.

Where OANDA should not, or cannot, be used for currency conversion the FCDO consular rate of exchange (CER) should be used. The FCDO CER is set centrally in the UK and reviewed each month in line with changes to exchange rates.

See: currencies where FCDO CER should be used for a list of currencies where OANDA should not be used.

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Currencies where FCDO CER should be used

  • Iranian Rials (IRR) – due to a discrepancy with the available OANDA rate
  • Syrian Pounds (SYP) – due to the currency not being supported by OANDA

Using the FCDO CER

You can check the current month’s CER on GOV.UK: FCDO consular services abroad: exchange rates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

If you need to check the CER for a previous month, you must use the National Archive website and select the relevant date corresponding to the dates of financial evidence in FIN 7.1. to FIN 7.3. of Appendix Finance: Archive Timeline - UK Government Web Archive (nationalarchives.gov.uk)

Applications assessed using the FCDO CER

Where the finance requirements are met using FCDO CER, and all other requirements of the rules are met, leave should be granted under the rules.

FCDO consular services abroad: exchange rates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Archive Timeline - UK Government Web Archive (nationalarchives.gov.uk).

Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix Finance - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Types of funds

This section tells decision makers the types of funds that are acceptable under Appendix Finance.

Unacceptable types of funds

Funds are not acceptable if any of the following apply:

  • the applicant is relying on an overdraft

  • the funds are held in a financial institution that does not keep electronic records, that is not regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the country in which it is based, or where the decision maker cannot make verification checks

  • if earned or acquired in the UK, they were not acquired lawfully or were acquired while an applicant was in beach of conditions of their permission or was in the UK without permission

  • where they are held in an account of a person not specified under FIN 5.1

  • the account holder does not have control over the funds

  • the applicant is relying on promises of third-party support, except:

    • for student and child students, Short-term Student (English language), funds from parents where they have agreed to provide support to the Student / Child Student, student loans and official financial sponsorship

    • for UK Ancestry migrants and Hong Kong BN(O) applicants, relying on promises of support from third parties such as friends or relatives

  • they are held in a type of account (including pension funds) where the funds cannot be accessed immediately, or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, credit cards

Acceptable types of funds

For funds to be acceptable, unless funds will be available as a student loan or official sponsorships for Students, all the following must be met:

  • held in a financial institution that uses electronic record keeping, which is regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the country it is operating in and where UKVI can make satisfactory verification checks

  • held in an account belonging to the applicant or their partner (who is applying for permission at the same time or has been granted permission):

    • for dependent children, Child Students, Students and Short-term Student (English language), the funds may alternatively be held by a parent or legal guardian

    • for Child Students the funds may alternatively be held by a close relative or private foster carer who is, or would be, caring for them

    • for routes which allow third party support, the funds may alternatively be in the name of that third party

  • held in a personal bank or building society account (including current, deposit, savings, pensions from which the funds can be withdrawn, or an investment account) provided the funds can be accessed immediately

Financial institutions

Funds will not be counted if they are held in a financial institution where any of the following apply:

  • you cannot make satisfactory verification checks

  • it is not regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the country in which that institution is operating

  • it does not use electronic record keeping

If the institution does not meet these requirements, you do not need to consider the funds in assessing the financial requirement. You must make this clear in any refusal notice.

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Verification checks

You should follow local processes to determine when to make verification checks,

If the financial institution has been contacted with a request to verify the funds and they refuse to do so, you do not need to take the financial evidence provided that relates to funds held in that institution into account.

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Regulation

The financial institution must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or, in the case of overseas account, the home regulator (official regulatory body for the country in which the institution operates and the funds are located).

Caseworkers can check the Regulatory authorities and supervisory agencies list to see the financial regulators for each country.

If the financial institution has a website, you must check the information on who is the regulator there.

Electronic record keeping

You must not accept hand-written records or records that are amended by hand.

Problematic funds

This section outlines problems decision makers may encounter when establishing credibility of evidence of funds.

Control of funds

The account holder must control the funds as set out in paragraph FIN 5.2.

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Funds obtained illegally

If funds, savings or income were earned or acquired when the applicant was in the UK, they must have been earned or acquired lawfully. Where you have evidence that the applicant obtained funds illegally the financial requirement will not be met.

Funds earned in the UK must not have been earned while the applicant was in breach of any conditions attached to their permission.

If you see that an applicant has obtained the funds they are relying on while they were in the UK without permission, the financial requirement will not be met. You should check on the casework system if the applicant was in the UK without permission and check the dates that the applicant received funds. If the funds appear to come from work done while the applicant was in the UK without permission, you should discount them. If the funds are received after the applicant had permission, but you have reason to believe they were, for example, payment for work done while they did not have permission, you should contact the applicant to confirm the source of funds.

Funds for dependants

The funds to meet the financial requirement for dependants must be in addition to the funds required for the main applicant, or other family members who are applying at the same time or who are in the UK as a dependant.

You must be satisfied that there are sufficient funds to cover the whole family unit. If the family members are applying separately and have not provided evidence to satisfy you of this (for example if they show only enough to be certain there are funds available for a single dependant), you should follow the guidance on where evidence is missing or inadequate.

Accounts

This section tells decision makers the types of account which are acceptable under Appendix Finance, including the requirements for a dependent child, Student or Child Student applicant submitting evidence of funds held in the name of their parent or legal guardian.

Individual or joint accounts

You should check that applicants (or account holders allowed under Appendix Finance or, for dependent partners or children in the Intra-company route under paragraph IC 21.3) are providing documentation with accounts held in their name - this could be either alone or as a joint account holder.

Where funds are in a joint account, the applicant’s (or account holder’s) name must be on the account along with one or more other named individual. Where the account holder is the applicant, they are asked on the form that the account holder provide consent to verification checks. If they do not provide this, you may not be able to verify the account is genuine and the applicant may not be able to rely on the evidence of funds.

When the account does not belong to the applicant you must check the relationship between the account holder and applicant. If the account holder is the applicant’s partner, you should check the evidence of relationship provided on the application form or, where they have permission, check the record on the casework system.

If in doubt about the nature of the relationship you can request further information to confirm the relationship. You should follow the guidance on where evidence is missing or inadequate.

Funds held in parents’ accounts

A dependent child, Student and Child Student and Short-term Student (English Language) can rely on funds held by their parent or parents or legal guardian or guardians.

You must be satisfied that the applicant is related to the person holding the funds as claimed. On the sponsored or endorsed work routes and UK Ancestry, a dependent child will supply proof of relationship along with their application.

Where the Student, Child Student or Short-term Student (English Language) applicant is relying on funds held by their parent or parents or legal guardian or guardians, they must provide proof of relationship as required in Appendix Finance FIN 5.3.

Some examples of how an applicant can prove evidence of relationship are outlined below:

  • a birth certificate showing the name or names of their parent or parents

  • the certificate of adoption showing the names of both parents or legal guardian or guardians

  • a court document naming their legal guardian or guardians

An affidavit is only evidence that someone has made a sworn statement regarding a claimed relationship, and not evidence of that relationship by themselves.

You can accept a government-issued household register as evidence of the relationship between the applicant and their parent or parents or legal guardian or guardians.

The Student, Child Student or Short-term Student (English language), applicant must also provide written consent from their parent or legal guardian to use the funds.

Evidence of accounts

This section tells decision makers how to assess evidence from banks and building societies.

Appendix Finance does not generally specify the required type, format or contents of evidence provided to show an applicant meets the funds requirements (except for, for example, student loans). You must be satisfied that any evidence provided is genuine.

The applicant will be asked to provide evidence that they meet the financial requirement as part of the application process. You can find out what type of evidence the applicant is relying on by checking the application form.

Evidence from banks or building societies

It is not a requirement that electronic bank statements or passbooks must be stamped on each page or accompanied by a supporting letter.

You would normally expect a banking or building society record to:

  • be on official stationery or an electronic record

  • be printed or electronic (not hand-written)

  • include the account holder or holders’ names

  • include the account number

  • include the date of the statement

  • include information about the bank, such as contact details or a branch code

  • show transactions and amount held over time (although this is not the norm in all countries)

A letter from a financial institution should normally include similar information to that listed above, although it may confirm the balance and the length of time held rather than providing a record of transactions. You should consider asking the applicant to provide a more formal letter if the letter either:

  • is not on headed paper

  • is not signed by an official from the financial institution

  • does not show contact information that you would need to verify the letter

Mini bank statements printed from automatic teller machines (ATMs) are not satisfactory evidence of funds as they do not include sufficient information to show the financial requirement is met and are easy to fake.

Certificates of deposit

Certificates of deposit can be relied on to evidence funds if the document is issued by a bank which confirms that an individual has deposited or invested a sum of money, held it for the required 28 day period, and that the applicant can access the funds at any time.

Assessing the evidence

This section tells decision makers about requesting more information or supporting documents related to applications.

Applicants should provide all the evidence on which they rely to support their application at the outset of the process. However, it is recognised that if an applicant makes an error or omission with the supporting evidence they provide, it may be appropriate for you to contact the applicant and invite them to provide additional evidence.

You must review the information on the application form and other available evidence before deciding whether you are satisfied on the balance of probabilities (it is more likely than not) that a requirement is met.

It is for the applicant to provide evidence showing that they meet the requirement. However, if they have not provided sufficient evidence, you should consider whether there are reasonable steps that could be taken to allow them to show that, for example by asking them for further information, or by verifying evidence, before deciding the application.

Format of evidence

The rules generally no longer set out specific format requirements for most documents. This doesn’t mean that format is irrelevant – it will help you assess if a piece of evidence is genuine and if it provides the information, you need to be satisfied the requirement is met. You must not refuse an application because the evidence is not in a particular format (unless required by the rules).

If evidence, such as a bank letter, does not include the information you would normally expect, you should consider whether to take further action to verify it.

Where evidence is missing or inadequate

The applicant will be told what evidence to provide as part of the application process. However, sometimes evidence is missing or inadequate and will not be sufficient to enable you to assess whether the financial requirement is met.

You should consider seeking further information or making verification checks when, for example:

  • evidence is missing (for example a missing page from a series of electronic bank statements) that you believe the applicant has, or could obtain

  • evidence is inadequate but could be clarified, for example, if a letter from an official financial sponsor does not include all the information that you would expect

You should check any discrepancies about financial information on the CAS/COS with the sponsor.

You may decide to ask for further information from the applicant, sponsor, or financial institution, or make verification checks in other cases, if you think it would help assess whether the financial requirement is met. If you are not sure whether this would help, you should discuss this with a senior caseworker.

You do not need to contact the applicant if evidence is missing or inadequate, but:

  • you do not need the information because you can get it elsewhere, for example, from the CAS or COS

  • receiving it would make no difference to your decision (for example because the applicant would still be refused for other reasons)

If the evidence is missing or inadequate, you do not have to offer the applicant an opportunity to provide different evidence. For example:

  • if the applicant says they are relying on a student loan, but the evidence is not sufficient to show the requirement is met, you do not need to check whether the applicant meets the requirement some other way such as asking for bank statement

  • if the applicant provides bank statements and they do not show the required level of funds or the evidence is not sufficient to satisfy you, there is no need to check whether the applicant has another bank account that might meet the requirement

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