UK Student Visa Proof of Funds for Nigerians in 2026/27: Bank Statement Rules

Your UK school has sent the CAS. Your family is celebrating. Then somebody asks the question that can scatter the entire plan: “How much exactly must stay inside the account, and for how long?”

This is where many Nigerian applicants make painful mistakes. They may have enough money overall but calculate the wrong London rate, remove funds one day too early, use a bank account UKVI cannot verify, or print a statement whose closing date is already too old.

For a UK Student visa application in 2026/27, you normally need your outstanding first-year course fees shown on the CAS, plus living costs of £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months. The required funds usually must remain available for a continuous 28-day period, and that period must end no more than 31 days before the visa application date.

Maximum maintenance amount: £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London, plus any unpaid course fees stated on your CAS.

How much proof of funds do Nigerians need?

London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. A university with “London” in its marketing name is not automatically inside the official London area, and a campus belonging to a university outside London may still be located in London. Use the study location on your CAS and confirm with the university.

If your course is shorter than nine months, calculate the maintenance amount using the course length. A part of a month is rounded up to a full month. A course lasting six months and ten days is therefore treated as seven months for this calculation.

The formula that prevents guesswork

Use this simple calculation:

Outstanding first-year tuition on CAS + required monthly living cost × number of months up to nine = minimum funds.

Imagine Chidinma is studying a one-year Master’s outside London. Her tuition is £18,000 and she has already paid a £6,000 deposit recorded on her CAS.

• Outstanding tuition: £12,000
• Living costs: £1,171 × 9 = £10,539
• Total minimum funds: £22,539

If the £6,000 payment is not recorded on the CAS, she should obtain an official receipt from the university. Do not subtract money simply because you transferred it; UKVI needs acceptable confirmation.

The 28-day rule Nigerians must understand

The required balance must normally remain at or above the minimum for 28 consecutive days. If the account drops below the threshold for even one day, the count starts again.

The final day of that 28-day period must be no more than 31 days before the date you submit and pay for the online visa application. The important date is the application date, not your biometric appointment date.

A safer strategy is to keep a buffer above the minimum because UKVI converts foreign currency using the exchange rate it accepts when assessing the application. A naira balance that is exact today can become insufficient after an exchange-rate movement.

Can you use a Nigerian bank statement?

Yes, provided the financial institution and evidence meet the rules and UKVI can verify the account. Funds can generally be held in a personal current, savings or deposit account that allows immediate access. The evidence should clearly show:

• the account holder’s name;
• the bank or financial institution;
• the account number;
• the statement date;
• the transactions or balance covering the required period;
• that the money was continuously available.

Electronic bank statements can be acceptable, but they must contain the required information. ATM mini-statements are not suitable evidence. Ask your bank for a formal statement rather than submitting screenshots from a mobile app.

Whose account can you use?

You may normally rely on money held in:

• your own account;
• your parent’s account, with acceptable proof of the relationship and written consent;
• your partner’s account where the immigration rules permit it;
• an accepted student loan;
• official financial sponsorship.

If you use a parent’s account, prepare a birth certificate or other permitted relationship evidence plus a signed letter confirming that the parent allows you to use the funds. An uncle, family friend, employer or “sponsor” promising to support you is not automatically acceptable merely because they write a letter.

What money cannot be used?

Problems commonly arise with money that is not genuinely accessible. Avoid relying on:

• cryptocurrency holdings;
• shares or investments that cannot be withdrawn immediately;
• property valuations;
• an overdraft or credit facility;
• future salary or a promise that someone will pay later;
• funds in an institution whose evidence cannot be verified;
• money that falls below the minimum during the 28-day period.

A sudden large deposit is not automatically prohibited, but UKVI can ask about the source. Keep credible evidence showing where substantial funds came from, especially if the account’s history does not match the new balance.

Can paid tuition reduce the amount?

Yes. Tuition already paid to your licensed student sponsor can be deducted from the course-fee amount when the payment is shown on your CAS or supported by an official university receipt.

An accommodation deposit paid directly to the student sponsor can also reduce the maintenance requirement, but only up to £1,529. Private rent paid to a landlord or letting agent does not create this deduction.

What if you have a scholarship or student loan?

An official financial sponsor or qualifying student loan can satisfy some or all of the requirement, provided the evidence meets the Student-route rules. The scholarship letter should state the sponsor, applicant, amount or coverage, duration and relevant terms. A loan letter must be from an accepted regulated institution and confirm that funds will be available as required.

If the scholarship covers only tuition, you still need the full maintenance amount. If it provides a monthly stipend below the UKVI requirement, calculate and evidence the shortfall.

Explore our guide to fully funded scholarships for Nigerians and the latest opportunities in the JapaMap Scholarships section.

Do dependants need additional funds?

Where your immigration route allows a partner or child to accompany you, the current maintenance requirement is £845 per month in London or £680 per month outside London for each dependant, for up to nine months. Not every international student can bring dependants, so check your course and sponsorship situation before budgeting.

Naira examples without misleading exchange rates

The naira amount changes with the exchange rate, so a fixed naira figure becomes wrong quickly. Convert the sterling total close to the time you fund the account, then add a meaningful buffer.

For illustration only, if £1 equals ₦2,200:

• London maintenance maximum: £13,761 ≈ ₦30.27 million.
• Outside-London maintenance maximum: £10,539 ≈ ₦23.19 million.

These figures exclude outstanding tuition. Do not treat this illustration as the rate UKVI will use for your decision.

A safe timeline for your bank statement

1. Confirm the CAS figures. Check tuition, fees paid, course dates and campus location.
2. Calculate the sterling requirement. Add outstanding tuition and maintenance.
3. Add an exchange-rate buffer. Do not fund the account to the last naira.
4. Start the 28-day clock. Avoid withdrawals that take the balance below the minimum.
5. Obtain formal evidence. Ensure every required detail is visible.
6. Apply within 31 days. Count from the statement’s qualifying closing date.
7. Keep the money available. Do not empty the account immediately after submitting; a caseworker may request further evidence.

Common proof-of-funds refusal mistakes

• Counting 28 dates instead of 28 full consecutive days.
• Using the old maintenance figures.
• Calculating outside-London rates for a London campus.
• Subtracting tuition that is not recorded on the CAS or an official receipt.
• Submitting a statement more than 31 days outside the qualifying period.
• Using a relative’s account without an accepted relationship basis.
• Allowing the balance to fall below the minimum because of bank charges.
• Converting at a favourable social-media rate with no safety buffer.
• Submitting altered documents or unverifiable statements.

Other documents that must match the financial story

Your statement does not sit alone. The tuition paid on your CAS, scholarship letter, loan evidence and application answers must agree. Review the full UK Student visa documents checklist for Nigerians.

Nigerian applicants studying for more than six months will also usually need a TB certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic. GOV.UK currently lists approved clinics and 2026 fees, including ₦120,000 at several Lagos clinics and US-dollar pricing at IOM facilities. Verify the latest clinic details before payment.

Frequently asked questions

How much bank balance is required for a UK Student visa from Nigeria?

You need outstanding first-year course fees on the CAS plus up to £13,761 for London study or £10,539 outside London. Your individual total depends on tuition already paid and course length.

How long must the money remain in the account?

Normally 28 consecutive days. The end of that period must be within 31 days of the visa application date.

Can I use my father or mother’s account?

Yes, with acceptable proof of your relationship and written permission to use the money.

Can I borrow money for 28 days?

The rules test whether qualifying funds are genuinely available to you. Unexplained temporary deposits can attract questions, and false or misleading evidence can lead to refusal and serious immigration consequences.

Does UKVI contact Nigerian banks?

UKVI can attempt to verify financial evidence. Submit authentic documents from an institution that can confirm them.

Final checklist

• Correct London or outside-London rate.
• Outstanding tuition confirmed on the CAS.
• Required balance held for 28 consecutive days.
• Qualifying period ends within 31 days of application.
• Statement shows the account holder, bank, account number, dates and balance.
• Parental relationship and consent documents included where necessary.
• Exchange-rate buffer maintained.
• Every financial document is genuine and consistent.

The maths is not the hardest part. The discipline is keeping the correct amount untouched, using evidence UKVI can verify and applying while the statement is still valid.

Official sources: GOV.UK Student visa money guidance, financial-evidence guidance and approved Nigerian TB clinics. Use JapaMap Tools to estimate your complete study-abroad budget.