The UK is raising the amount student visa applicants must show for living costs. The change takes effect for applications made on or after 30 November 2026, and it was laid before Parliament in the Home Office's Statement of Changes HC 584 on 3 September 2026. The increase itself is modest. The part that catches Pakistani students out is not the amount — it is that Pakistan is not on the list of countries allowed to skip the paperwork.
The new amounts
You must show living costs for up to 9 months, whatever the length of your course. The figure depends on whether you study inside or outside London.
| Where you study | Now (per month) | From 30 Nov 2026 | 9-month total |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 | £10,827 |
London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. Previous 9-month totals were £13,761 and £10,539, so the rise is £369 and £288 respectively.
In monthly terms that is £41 more for London and £32 more outside it. Not a dramatic jump. But it sits on top of tuition, and the UK reviews this figure against the maintenance loan given to home students, which has risen every year recently. Budget above the minimum rather than exactly at it.
The part that matters most for Pakistani applicants
The Home Office operates what it calls the differential evidence requirement. Nationals of roughly sixty listed countries — including Australia, Canada, China, Malaysia, Singapore and the UAE — do not have to send financial evidence with their application, though UKVI can still ask for it later.
This is the single most common reason we see UK files from Pakistan refused on financial grounds: the money existed, but the evidence was incomplete or the timing was wrong.
The 28-day rule, and how it gets broken
The money must sit in the account for at least 28 consecutive days. Two conditions decide whether that period counts:
- The balance must never fall below the required amount at any point in those 28 days. Not once. If it dips on day 19, the clock restarts from zero.
- The end of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. Leave it too long and a valid statement expires.
Both are mechanical rules with no discretion attached. A parent moving money between accounts mid-period, a standing order going out, a fee payment — any of these can reset a period you thought was complete. If the funds are in a family member's account, move them and then start counting, rather than counting while transfers are still happening.
What the maintenance figure does not cover
The £1,570 or £1,203 is living costs only. Your real budget also includes:
- Course fees for your first year, as stated on your CAS — shown separately, unless you have already paid them
- Visa application fee — £558 from outside the UK
- Immigration Health Surcharge — £776 per year of your visa for students and their dependants, paid in full and upfront when you apply
The health surcharge is a fee you pay, not money you show. It does not count towards the maintenance figure, and a visa longer than your course means paying for the longer period.
If you are applying for January 2027
This is the practical question for most students reading this now. The rule follows the date you submit, not the date you get your CAS or your offer.
- Submitted before 30 November 2026 — assessed at £1,529 / £1,171 a month.
- Submitted on or after 30 November 2026 — assessed at £1,570 / £1,203 a month.
If you are close to the line, do not rush a weak file to beat the deadline. The difference outside London is £288 across nine months. A refusal costs you the £558 fee, the intake, and leaves a refusal on your immigration history that you then have to explain in every future application. The smaller number is not worth that trade.
What is worth doing is starting the 28-day period early. Count backwards: if you intend to apply in mid-December, the money needs to be settled and untouched from mid-November at the latest.
What we would do in your position
- Fix the amount you need first, using your own city and course length, then add roughly ten per cent as a buffer against exchange-rate movement between now and the application.
- Start the 28 days before you think you need to. It is the step that most often forces a student into the next intake.
- Document the source of the money. A sudden lump sum with no explanation attracts scrutiny, and as a Pakistani applicant your evidence is being read on submission, not on request.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a UK student visa in 2026?
For applications made on or after 30 November 2026, you must show £1,570 a month for courses in London or £1,203 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. That is £14,130 for London or £10,827 outside London. Tuition is separate and on top.
Do Pakistani students have to prove their funds?
Yes. The Home Office publishes a differential evidence list of countries whose nationals do not have to submit financial evidence up front. Pakistan is not on that list, so Pakistani applicants must provide full financial evidence with the application.
What is the 28-day rule for UK student visa funds?
The money must sit in the account for at least 28 consecutive days, and the balance must never fall below the required amount during that period. The end of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply.
Does the maintenance amount include tuition fees?
No. The maintenance figure covers living costs only. You must separately show the course fees for your first year, as stated on your CAS, unless you have already paid them.
What happens if I apply before 30 November 2026?
The amounts in force on the date you apply are the ones that count. An application submitted before 30 November 2026 is assessed against the current £1,529 and £1,171 monthly figures.
How much is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge for students?
£776 per year of your visa for students and their dependants, paid in full when you submit the application. It is a separate fee and does not count towards the maintenance funds you must show.