Appendix Finance: UK Visa Financial Requirements

Appendix Finance of the UK Immigration Rules sets out the financial thresholds applicants of certain work, business and study visas must meet to prove they can support themselves—and, in some cases, their dependants—without relying on public funds.

To be eligible for a visa to come to the UK, most applicants will need to meet a financial requirement, typically where they are applying for entry clearance and will need to prove sufficient funds to be able to support themselves on their arrival. The rules relating to financial requirements are set out under the relevant appendices for the specific immigration route, together with Appendix Finance.

The following comprehensive guide to Appendix Finance looks in detail at exactly what this appendix is and when this is used, including the different immigration routes to which this appendix applies.

 

What is Appendix Finance?

 

There are a number of appendices to the UK’s Immigration Rules, each dealing with specific aspects of those rules, from the rules relating to individual immigration routes to the rules relating to certain requirements under those routes. Appendix Finance sets out how the financial requirement must be met in relation to certain UK visa applications.

Appendix Finance can be found in full at GOV.UK, together with additional online Home Office guidance on how to interpret its provisions. While this online guidance is designed for Home Office caseworkers, explaining how they should assess whether an applicant has met the financial requirement under Appendix Finance, it provides applicants with useful insight into Home Office decision-making when it comes to interpreting the relevant rules.

For guidance in the context of a specific scenario, reference should be made both to Appendix Finance, in conjunction with the most up-to-date guidance on the financial requirement for Home Office staff. Seeking expert advice from an immigration specialist is also strongly advised when it comes to interpreting the rules in advance of an application, not least in relation to the documentary evidence needed to support an application. In this way, applicants can maximise the prospects of a successful outcome, while minimising the possibility of failing to meet this and other requirements.

 

When does Appendix Finance apply?

 

Applicants in most UK immigration routes must meet a financial requirement, although how they must do this differs from route to route. Under the financial requirement, applicants must generally show that they either have sufficient funds for their activity or role for which they are coming to the UK, for example, for study or work. They must also show that they can maintain and accommodate themselves, and any dependants, without accessing public funds. More specifically, the rules for each relevant route each set out:

 

• what type of financial requirement the applicant on that route must meet
• who must meet the financial requirement, where for applicants who have been living with permission in the UK for the 12 months before the date of application will have met the requirement on many immigration routes and do not need to provide further evidence
• the amount of funds, where a specific level of funds is required, as well as the length of time and the period during which the funds must be held by the applicant
• whether there are different ways that the financial requirement can be met, for example, where a UK sponsor can certify maintenance on a work route and where an applicant can depend on funds from third parties on certain routes.

 

However, all these routes specifically prescribe that the level of funds required, for the necessary length of time, must be held by the applicant “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

As such, Appendix Finance is used to set out the way in which funds must be shown by the applicant so as to satisfy the financial requirement on any given route, while it is the individual immigration routes themselves that set out the specific requirements for the amount of funds and the length of time that they must be held etc. This means that even if an applicant is able to show they have had the level of funds required for the prescribed period, the strict requirements around how these funds are held must still be met.

 

Which UK visas are subject to Appendix Finance?

 

Appendix Finance of the UK’s Immigration Rules sets out the financial requirements for various visa routes, including those where dependants of principal applicants or primary visa holders can apply. The specific financial criteria and the type of evidence required vary depending on the visa category.

The main visa routes subject to Appendix Finance are as follows:

 

Visa Route	Description
Student	For individuals aged 16 or over who have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover course fees and living costs.
Short-term Student	For individuals undertaking short-term study in the UK, such as English language courses. Applicants need to show they have enough funds to support themselves during their stay.
Child Student	For children aged between 4 and 17 who wish to study at an independent school in the UK. Financial requirements include proof of funds for course fees and living costs.
Parent of a Child Student	For parents whose child is attending an independent school in the UK. Applicants must demonstrate they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds.
Skilled Worker	For individuals with a job offer in the UK from an approved employer sponsor. Applicants must meet specific salary thresholds and may need to show maintenance funds unless certified by the employer.
Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker	For senior managers or specialist employees being assigned to a UK branch of their organisation. Financial requirements may include proof of maintenance funds.
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee	For workers on a graduate training course leading to a senior management or specialist position, requiring a UK placement. Applicants may need to demonstrate maintenance funds.
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker	For workers establishing a UK branch or subsidiary of an overseas business. Financial requirements include evidence of funds to support themselves during their stay.
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier	For contractual service suppliers or self-employed independent professionals based overseas, coming to the UK to provide services. Applicants may need to show maintenance funds.
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker	For workers seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their employer overseas. Financial requirements may include proof of maintenance funds.
Scale-up	For talented individuals recruited by a UK scale-up company. Applicants must meet salary requirements and may need to demonstrate maintenance funds.
High Potential Individual	For individuals who have recently graduated from a top global university. Financial requirements include proof of funds to support themselves in the UK.
Representative of an Overseas Business	For individuals coming to the UK as a sole representative of an overseas company. Applicants must demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants.
Global Talent	For highly skilled individuals endorsed by a recognised UK body as a leader or potential leader in academia, research, arts, culture, or digital technology. Financial requirements may apply.
Start-up	For individuals starting a new business in the UK for the first time. Applicants must have an endorsement from an approved body and may need to show maintenance funds.
Innovator Founder	For experienced businesspeople setting up an innovative business in the UK. Financial requirements include proof of investment funds and maintenance funds.
T2 Minister of Religion	For individuals offered a role within a faith community in the UK. Applicants must meet maintenance requirements unless certified by their sponsor.
International Sportsperson	For elite sportspersons or coaches with a job offer in the UK. Financial requirements may include proof of maintenance funds unless certified by the sponsor.
UK Ancestry	For Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, who intend to work in the UK. Applicants must demonstrate they can support themselves and any dependants.
Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker	For individuals coming to the UK for seasonal work in sectors such as agriculture. Applicants need to show they have sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay.
Youth Mobility Scheme	For young people from participating countries who wish to experience life in the UK. Applicants must demonstrate they have a specified amount of savings to support themselves.
Temporary Work – Creative Worker	For individuals coming to the UK for short-term work in the creative industries. Financial requirements may include proof of maintenance funds unless certified by the sponsor.
Temporary Work – Religious Worker	For individuals coming to the UK to work temporarily in a religious role. Applicants must meet maintenance requirements unless certified by their sponsor.
Temporary Work – Charity Worker	For individuals coming to the UK to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity. Financial requirements may include proof of maintenance funds unless certified by the sponsor.
Temporary Work – International Agreement	For individuals coming to the UK under contract to do work covered by international law. Applicants may need to demonstrate maintenance funds unless certified by the sponsor.
Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange	For individuals coming to the UK through approved schemes aimed at sharing knowledge and experience. Financial requirements may include proof of maintenance funds unless certified by the sponsor.
Domestic Worker in a Private Household	For individuals coming to the UK with their employer to work in their private household. Applicants must demonstrate they can maintain themselves without recourse to public funds.
Hong Kong British National (Overseas)	For individuals from Hong Kong with BN(O) status and their family members. Applicants must show they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members in the UK.

 

 

Key requirements under Appendix Finance

 

Appendix Finance, as with all other appendices set out under the Immigration Rules, is broken down into various different sections, each dealing with a key area. There are a total of nine sections under Appendix Finance including:

 

Currency

This section provides that where money is held in one or more foreign currencies, this will be converted into pound sterling using the spot exchange rate on the Oanda website, which provides currency information, for the date of the application.

Financial institutions

This section provides that funds will not be taken into account if held in a financial institution where the decision-maker is either unable to make any satisfactory verification checks, the institution is not regulated by the appropriate body for the country in which it is operating or it does not use electronic record-keeping.

Overdrafts

This section provides that overdraft facilities will not be counted towards meeting any financial requirement.

Requirement to have legally earned or acquired funds, savings or income

This section provides that if an applicant’s funds, savings or income were earned or acquired when they were in the UK, this must have been earned or acquired lawfully and while the applicant had permission and not in breach of any conditions attached to that permission.

Account holders

This section provides that accounts relied on by an applicant must be in their name, either alone or as a joint account-holder, unless a specific exception applies. This could include, for example, where the account is in the name of the applicant’s partner who is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay at the same time or has already been granted permission. It could also include where the applicant is applying as a Student, Child Student or dependent child, and the account is in the name of their parent or legal guardian, although they may also need to provide proof of that relationship and written consent from the parent or legal guardian to use those funds. An applicant can also rely on the account of a third party, provided the route under which they are applying states that this acceptable and the account is in the name of that party.

Third party support

This section provides that any promises of future third-party support from the applicant will not be accepted as evidence of funds, except where this is specified in the route under which the applicant is applying.

Dates of financial evidence

This section provides that the most recently dated piece of financial evidence must be dated within 31 days prior to the date of application, where the length of time for which funds are held will be calculated by counting back from the date of the closing balance on the most recently dated piece of evidence. The financial evidence provided must also cover the whole period for which the funds must be held.

Accounts

This section provides that funds may be held in any form of personal bank or building society account, provided the account allows the funds to be accessed immediately. This can include current, deposit and savings accounts, as well as investment accounts or pensions from which the funds can be withdrawn. In contrast, any funds held in other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, credit cards and pensions from which the funds cannot be immediately withdrawn, regardless of notice period, will not be accepted as evidence of funds to meet a financial requirement. The section goes on to specify ways in which certain student applicants can show funds, including funds provided by an official sponsor or approved student loan company.

Evidence of financial sponsorship or student loans for students

This section makes specific and more detailed provision as to the exact evidence needed by an applicant relying on funds provided by an official financial sponsor or student loan company. For example, where a student sponsor is providing financial sponsorship, the funds being provided must be stated in the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies or a letter of confirmation from the official sponsor. Similarly, where an approved lender is providing an applicant with a student loan, this must be evidenced by way of a letter from the lender that meets a number of specific content requirements as to the loan terms and conditions etc.

Below we set out illustrations from two of the most commonly-used immigration routes to demonstrate the route-specific financial requirements, although the way in which these funds are held will apply equally to each route, as set out under Appendix Finance.

 

Skilled Worker route financial requirement under Appendix Finance

 

To meet the financial requirement under the Skilled Worker route — unless the applicant has already been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or more on the date of application, where they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds — they must have funds of at least £1,270. Alternatively, the applicant’s A-rated sponsor must certify that they will, if needed, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of their first month of employment in the UK, to an amount of at least £1,270.

The financial requirement provisions under Appendix Skilled Worker go on to state that where this requirement applies, ie; where an applicant on the Skilled Worker route is either applying for entry clearance or permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for a period of less than 12 months, the applicant must show that they have held the required funds for a 28-day period and “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

 

Student route financial requirement under Appendix Finance

 

To meet the financial requirement under the Student route — unless the applicant has already been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months on the date of application, where they will meet the financial requirement and will not need to show funds — they must have sufficient funds to cover any outstanding fees for a London-based course, plus £1334 for each month of their course, up to a maximum of 9 months. For applicants studying outside of London, they must again have funds to cover their course fees, plus £1023 for each month of their course, up to a maximum of 9 months.

In broad terms, this therefore means that where an applicant on the Student route is either applying for entry clearance or permission to stay but has lived in the UK with permission for less than 12 months, they must meet the relevant location-based level of funds. The provisions under Appendix Student then go on to qualify the rules in the context of specific scenarios, for example, where the applicant has already paid their course fees in full or paid a deposit to the student sponsor for accommodation arranged by their sponsor.

The financial requirement rules under Appendix Student also require the applicant to show that they have held the required level of funds for a 28-day period and “as specified in Appendix Finance”, unless the applicant is relying on a student loan or official financial sponsorship which meets the requirements of FIN 8.3. in Appendix Finance.

 

Appendix Finance & Appendix FM

 

Appendix FM and Appendix Finance are two distinct sections of the UK Immigration Rules, each governing different aspects of visa applications. However, they can interplay in certain cases, particularly where financial requirements must be met for family visa applications.

Appendix FM governs family visa applications, ensuring that those applying as a spouse, partner, parent or dependent child of a UK-based sponsor have adequate financial support – including a minimum income requirement for a spouse or partner.

Appendix Finance, on the other hand, applies to work, study and business visa routes, such as the Skilled Worker, Student and Global Talent visas. Instead of a fixed income threshold, applicants often need to show they have enough maintenance funds to support themselves, unless an exemption applies.

These two appendices intersect when dependants of work or study visa holders apply to join them in the UK. While they fall under Appendix FM as family members, their financial requirements are dictated by Appendix Finance, meaning the sponsor’s salary threshold might not be relevant.

 

Need assistance?

 

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists. For expert guidance on a UK visa application, including guidance on financial requirements under Appendix Finance, contact us.

 

Appendix Finance FAQs

 

What is Appendix Finance?

Appendix Finance is a section of the UK Immigration Rules that sets out the financial requirements for visa applicants. It specifies how much money applicants must have to support themselves and their dependants, and what evidence is required to prove financial stability.

 

Which visa routes are covered under Appendix Finance?

Visa categories subject to Appendix Finance include Skilled Worker, Student, Graduate, Start-up, Innovator Founder, and Global Business Mobility routes, as well as dependant applications under these categories.

 

What financial evidence is required under Appendix Finance?

Applicants may need to provide recent bank statements, payslips, employer letters, or other official documents to prove they meet the required financial thresholds. The specific amount required varies depending on the visa category.

 

Do all applicants need to meet the Appendix Finance requirements?

Some applicants are exempt from meeting the financial requirement. For example, those who have lived in the UK for a certain period on a valid visa, or those whose employer is an A-rated sponsor and has agreed to cover their costs, may not need to show funds.

 

How much money do I need to show for my visa application?

The amount varies by visa type. For example, a Skilled Worker applicant typically needs £1,270 in personal savings, while a Student visa applicant must show enough funds to cover tuition and living costs. Dependants also need to meet separate financial thresholds.

 

Can I use savings instead of income to meet the financial requirement?

Yes, savings can sometimes be used to meet the financial requirement. The rules around acceptable savings, how long they must be held, and the required amounts depend on the specific visa category.

 

Do dependants need to meet financial requirements under Appendix Finance?

Yes, dependants of primary visa holders must also meet financial requirements. The amount they need to show depends on the visa category and the main applicant’s circumstances.

 

What happens if I don’t meet the financial requirement?

If you fail to provide sufficient financial evidence, your visa application may be refused. It is essential to check the latest Home Office guidance and ensure you meet the criteria before applying.

 

Does Appendix Finance apply to family visas under Appendix FM?

Family visas under Appendix FM have their own financial requirements, including a minimum income threshold for the UK sponsor. However, if a dependant is applying under a work or study route, they must meet the financial rules under Appendix Finance rather than Appendix FM.

 

Glossary

 

Term	Definition
Appendix Finance	A section of the UK Immigration Rules outlining financial requirements for various visa routes, including work, study, and dependant visas.
Financial Requirement	The minimum amount of funds a visa applicant must demonstrate to prove they can support themselves without relying on public funds.
Maintenance Funds	The specific amount of money an applicant must have in their bank account to meet financial requirements under Appendix Finance.
Sponsor Licence	A licence issued by the Home Office that allows UK employers to sponsor skilled workers under the immigration system.
Skilled Worker Visa	A UK work visa that requires sponsorship from a UK employer and proof of financial self-sufficiency.
Student Visa	A visa for international students studying in the UK, requiring proof of funds for tuition fees and living expenses.
Dependant Visa	A visa route for family members of a primary visa holder, with financial requirements that must be met under Appendix Finance.
Exemption from Financial Requirement	A provision that allows certain applicants, such as those already living in the UK for a specific period, to bypass the financial criteria.
Bank Statements	Official financial documents that visa applicants use to prove they meet the required maintenance funds threshold.
Employer Certification of Maintenance	A confirmation from a sponsoring employer stating that they will cover the applicant’s financial costs, removing the need for personal savings evidence.
Cooling-Off Period	A period in which an applicant must wait before reapplying if a previous application was refused, particularly due to financial ineligibility.
Home Office	The UK government department responsible for immigration rules and visa application decisions.
Right to Work	A legal requirement for employers to ensure that a worker has the correct visa status and financial eligibility before employment.
Visa Refusal	The rejection of a visa application due to failure to meet the required financial, sponsorship, or eligibility criteria.
Appendix FM	A separate section of the UK Immigration Rules that sets financial and eligibility criteria for family visa applications, distinct from Appendix Finance.
Judicial Review	A legal process that allows applicants to challenge a visa refusal if they believe the Home Office made an unlawful or unreasonable decision.
Public Funds Restriction	A rule preventing most visa holders from accessing UK government financial support, reinforcing the need for proof of self-sufficiency.
Reconsideration Request	A request submitted to the Home Office if an applicant believes their visa refusal was based on a factual or administrative error.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	A fee that visa applicants must pay to access NHS healthcare in the UK, separate from financial requirements under Appendix Finance.
Appendix FM vs. Appendix Finance	Appendix FM governs family visa applications with income thresholds, while Appendix Finance applies to work, study, and dependant visas, requiring proof of financial stability.