African Countries Exempt from UK Student Visa Proof of Funds Requirement

The United Kingdom has updated its Student and Child Student visa guidance, limiting the number of African countries whose citizens are exempt from submitting proof of funds when applying for a visa.

Under the revised guidance, only three African countries qualify for the reduced documentary requirement. Applicants from every other African country, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt, must continue to provide financial evidence as part of their visa applications.

Although the exemption removes the need to submit financial documents at the application stage, applicants from the listed countries must still satisfy all financial eligibility conditions. UK immigration authorities may request supporting financial documents at any point while processing an application.

Below are the African countries covered by the exemption:

1. Botswana

Citizens of Botswana are not required to include proof of funds when submitting applications for Student or Child Student visas. However, UK immigration officials may request the documents later if they need to verify that the applicant meets the financial requirements.

2. Mauritius

Applicants from Mauritius also benefit from the exemption. While they do not have to provide financial documents when lodging their applications, they must still have sufficient funds and be ready to present evidence if requested by immigration authorities.

3. Tunisia

Tunisia is the third African country on the exemption list. Tunisian applicants are allowed to submit visa applications without attaching proof of funds initially, although they remain subject to financial checks if requested.

The UK government explained that the exemption only affects the documents required at the point of application. It does not remove the obligation for applicants to prove they have enough money to support themselves during their studies if immigration officials request evidence.

Students from countries not included on the exemption list must continue to provide financial documents when applying for a UK Student visa. This requirement applies to applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and all other African nations outside Botswana, Mauritius and Tunisia.

Applicants are expected to show they have enough money to pay for both their tuition fees, as stated on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and their living expenses throughout their studies in the UK.

The current maintenance requirement is as follows:

• Outside London: £1,171 per month for a maximum of nine months.
• In London: £1,529 per month for a maximum of nine months.

Students travelling with dependants are also required to demonstrate additional financial resources to support each family member.

The maintenance requirement for dependants is:

• Outside London: £680 per month for each dependant.
• In London: £845 per month for each dependant.

The UK government also outlined the types of funds that are accepted for visa applications. Applicants may rely on government-backed student loans, official financial sponsorship, personal savings, money belonging to parents or eligible partners.

However, some sources of funds are not accepted for Student visa applications. These include overdraft facilities, cryptocurrency holdings, stocks and shares, pension funds and money kept in unregulated financial institutions.