Showing proportionate, credible funds — there is no fixed minimum balance
Evidence that the applicant has sufficient funds, held in a financial institution permitted under Appendix Finance, to cover maintenance, accommodation, and the return or onward journey for the whole visit without working or accessing public funds. There is no fixed minimum balance — the Home Office assesses whether funds are proportionate and credible for the stated trip.
There is no set level of funds required. Caseworkers instead look at your application and financial documents together, weigh the likely cost of your stay, and check what income sources will remain available to you while you are in the UK — as well as ongoing commitments at home (rent, mortgage, dependants you support). Funds relied upon must sit in an institution permitted under Appendix Finance and must be genuinely available to you, not merely visible on paper.
Watch for 'funds parking'
A large deposit made shortly before applying, with no documented source, is a classic red flag. Caseworkers weigh your financial pattern over time — stable balances and regular income — far more heavily than a single high closing balance.
Common Problems
Pro Tips
Typical uploads: bank statements, pay slips, tax records, sponsor letters with the sponsor's own bank statements, and proof of ongoing income or assets.