UK Student Visa Funds 2026 for Pakistanis: Amounts, 28-Day Rule and Documents

The UK student visa funds rule asks Pakistani applicants to show their first year of course fees plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. That works out to £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London. The money must stay in the account for at least 28 days in a row. GOV.UK showed these rates on 13 November 2026, according to its Student visa money page.

One warning comes first. Several agent and consultancy websites say the amounts go up on 30 November 2026. We could not confirm this on GOV.UK. Read the section on this below before you move any money.

How much money you need to show

You need two things: your course fees and your living costs.

1. Course fees

You must have enough to pay for 1 academic year, up to 9 months. The amount is written on your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), which your university issues. Use the figure on your CAS, not an estimate. (GOV.UK)

2. Living costs

The monthly amount depends on where you study. GOV.UK counts "London" as the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. (GOV.UK)

The student rates come from GOV.UK. The dependant rates come from the UKVI financial evidence guidance. The 9-month totals are simple multiplication.

Example: a student going to a London university with one dependant needs the CAS fee amount + £13,761 + £7,605.

To work out your own total, you can use our UK Student Visa Funds Calculator. Check the result against GOV.UK before you apply.

The reported 30 November 2026 increase: what we know

Websites including atava.co.uk, eduquantica.com, studynow.org.uk and gradeforuni.com say the maintenance amounts rise on 30 November 2026. This is unconfirmed. On 13 November 2026, the GOV.UK pages still showed £1,529 and £1,171. We did not find a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules confirming a new rate. We are not publishing any new figures until GOV.UK does.

Rates do change. The UKVI guidance page history shows that from 2 January 2025 the rates were £1,483 for London and £1,136 outside London. The page was updated to the current figures on 31 December 2025. (UKVI)

What to do: if your 28-day window or your application date falls on or after 30 November 2026, recheck the GOV.UK money page just before you apply. It is safer to plan for a higher figure than to fall short.

The 28-day rule, step by step

This is the part most applicants get wrong.

1. Hold the full amount for at least 28 days in a row. If the balance drops below the required amount on any day, the 28 days restart from that point.
2. The 28 days are counted back from the closing balance date on the most recent statement or letter you submit. (UKVI)
3. The 28-day period must end within 31 days of your application date. (GOV.UK)
4. Your evidence must be dated no more than 31 days before you apply. (UKVI)

GOV.UK gives this example: if you apply on 1 January, the money must have been in the account for at least the 28 days ending on 1 December. (GOV.UK)

Planning tip: you can apply from outside the UK up to 6 months before your course starts. The usual decision time from outside the UK is 3 weeks. (GOV.UK) For a January 2027 start, work backwards from your planned application date. That way the money is in place well before the 28 days you need.

Do Pakistanis have to show the money?

Yes. Pakistan is not on the GOV.UK list of countries exempt from providing financial evidence. (GOV.UK)

If you live in the Gulf: the list includes the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, but not Saudi Arabia. The exemption depends on your nationality, not where you live. So a Pakistani passport holder living in Dubai or Doha still has to show the funds. (GOV.UK)

You do not need to prove the money in two cases. The first is if you have lived in the UK on a visa for at least 12 months before applying. The second is if you are applying as a student union sabbatical officer. (GOV.UK)

Whose money counts

UKVI accepts money from these sources (UKVI):

• Your own money
• Your parent's money, with a letter from the parent agreeing to its use
• Your partner's money, if your partner is in the UK or applying at the same time
• A regulated or government student loan
• Official financial sponsorship

An account in your own name must be one you control. A parent's or partner's account must be one they control. The account must give immediate access to the money, and the money must have been acquired legally. (UKVI)

What UKVI does not accept

According to the UKVI guidance, these do not count:

• Overdrafts
• Cryptocurrency
• Stocks and shares
• Pensions
• Accounts not regulated by the financial regulator in the bank's country
• Accounts without electronic record keeping

The guidance we checked does not say how UKVI treats National Savings certificates or large one-off deposits. If either applies to you, ask your university's international office or check with UKVI directly.

Documents that work

UKVI accepts any of these (UKVI):

• Bank statements, on paper or as electronic downloads
• Building society passbooks
• Certificates of deposit
• Letters from the bank

Each document must show:

• Your name (or your parent's or partner's name)
• The bank's name
• The balance

It must also be dated no more than 31 days before you apply.

Loans and sponsors: a student loan letter must be dated no more than 6 months before you apply. A sponsorship letter must show:

• The date
• The sponsor's name and contact details
• How long the sponsorship lasts
• The amount

(UKVI)

Parent's account checklist:

• The parent's bank statement
• A letter from the parent agreeing that you can use the money
• Your birth certificate, to prove the relationship

The UKVI guidance we checked does not list the relationship document. Check the full guidance for exactly what proof it asks for.

Money held in PKR

If the money is in rupees, UKVI converts it to pounds at the OANDA spot rate on the date you apply. (UKVI)

The rupee can move during your 28 days. A balance that covers the amount today may fall short on application day. Keep a margin above the minimum. You can get a rough figure with our PKR Currency Converter, but UKVI uses OANDA's rate on your application date.

UKVI may check your evidence with your bank. If it cannot verify the evidence, your application may be refused. (UKVI) Before you apply, ask your bank to confirm it can answer verification requests.

Other costs to budget for

• Visa fee: £558 per person when applying from outside the UK. (GOV.UK)
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): this is paid on top of the visa fee. (GOV.UK) Check the current amount on GOV.UK before paying.

These fees are separate from the funds you must show.

After your degree: Graduate visa timing

If you start in January 2027, the Graduate visa rules matter later. GOV.UK says the Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years. (GOV.UK)

Also comparing Germany? Read our guide to the Germany Blocked Account for Pakistani students.

Key Takeaways

• Show your first-year fees from your CAS, plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months.
• Add £845 (London) or £680 (outside London) a month for each dependant.
• Hold the money for 28 days in a row. The period must end within 31 days of your application.
• Pakistani nationals must show the funds, even if they live in the Gulf.
• Overdrafts, crypto, shares and pensions do not count.
• PKR balances are converted at the OANDA rate on application day, so keep a margin.
• A rise on 30 November 2026 is reported by agents but unconfirmed on GOV.UK. Recheck the rates before you apply.