Proof of Funds for a Visa: How Much to Show and How Long to Hold It

## What proof of funds actually means Proof of funds is not a screenshot of a healthy balance. It is evidence that you can pay for your stay **without working illegally or running out of money**, and that the money is genuinely yours. Case officers assess three things: the amount, the holding period, and the source. ## How much you need The amount is the destination's published maintenance figure multiplied by the length of your stay, plus any unpaid tuition and your travel costs. - **UK Student**: £1,023 per month outside London, £1,334 in London, for up to nine months, plus outstanding tuition. - **Schengen short stay**: roughly EUR 45-100 per day depending on the member state and whether accommodation is prepaid. - **Canada Study Permit**: CAD 20,635 per year for living costs outside Quebec, plus tuition and travel. - **Australia Student (500)**: around AUD 29,710 per year in living costs, plus tuition and travel. Use the [proof of funds calculator](/tools/proof-of-funds) to work out your own figure in a few seconds. ## How long the money must sit there This is where most applications fail. The UK requires a **28 consecutive day** holding period where the balance never drops below the required amount, and the closing statement must be dated within 31 days of applying. Canada and Australia typically look for three to six months of history. Schengen posts want to see a pattern, not a snapshot. A balance that appears three days before you apply reads as borrowed money, even when it is not. ## Where the money can come from Self-funded, sponsored by a parent or relative, an education loan from a recognised institution, or a scholarship. Whichever applies, the paper trail must be complete: - **Sponsor**: their bank statements, their income proof, an affidavit of support, and proof of your relationship. - **Loan**: the sanction letter and the disbursement showing in your account. - **Gift or property sale**: the deed, the sale agreement, or a gift declaration matching the deposit amount and date. ## Five patterns that trigger refusals 1. A single large deposit shortly before applying with no traceable source. 2. The balance dipping below the threshold on any day of the holding period. 3. Deposits far larger than your declared income supports. 4. A sponsor named on the form but absent from the evidence. 5. Statements printed without the bank's stamp, logo or online verification details. ## Check yours before you file DocuScore AI reads your actual statements and flags each of these patterns against your destination's rules, before a case officer does. [Run a free readiness check](/auth).