UK Student Visa Sponsor Documents Checklist

Start with the correct funding category

Promises of future third-party support are not accepted unless the route specifically permits them. Choose the route before collecting documents.

How much must be covered?

For a Student studying outside a residential independent school, the current requirement is:

• Outstanding course fees shown on the CAS.
• £1,529 for each month of the course, up to nine months, when studying in London.
• £1,171 for each month of the course, up to nine months, when studying outside London.
• Additional dependant maintenance where dependants are eligible: £845 per month in London or £680 outside London, up to nine months for each dependant.

A part of a month is rounded up to a full month. Qualifying tuition payments must be confirmed on the CAS or by an eligible university receipt. A sponsor-arranged accommodation deposit can reduce the maintenance requirement only within the rule’s limit and conditions; ordinary private rent paid in advance does not receive the same deduction.

Official financial sponsorship checklist

Appendix Finance recognises only the specified official bodies. If the Student sponsor university is providing the financial sponsorship, the amount can be stated on the CAS. Otherwise, obtain a letter from the official financial sponsor showing:

• Date of the letter.
• Applicant’s full name and enough identity detail to connect it to the case.
• Name of the official financial sponsor.
• Official contact details.
• Duration of sponsorship.
• Amount the sponsor will provide, or confirmation that it covers all course fees and living costs.
• What costs are covered, where the letter or award terms specify them.
• Any conditions that affect payment or continuation.

Use official letterhead and verifiable contact information. If sponsorship is partial, combine it with another permitted source for the shortfall and document both.

Parent funding checklist

Current UKVI guidance allows a Student applicant to use a parent’s money. Prepare:

• An eligible bank statement, passbook, certificate of deposit or bank letter for an account the parent controls.
• Evidence showing the required money was held for 28 consecutive days.
• Most recent financial evidence dated within 31 days before the visa application.
• Proof of the parent-child relationship, such as an acceptable birth certificate or other official evidence.
• A signed parent letter confirming consent for the applicant to use the funds for UK study.
• Certified translation for any document not in English or Welsh.

The parent consent letter should identify the parent and student, relationship, account and permission to use the funds for tuition and living costs. It does not replace bank evidence.

Applicant’s own funds checklist

• The account is in the applicant’s name and under their control.
• The account is with a regulated financial institution using electronic record keeping.
• The money is immediately accessible.
• The balance never falls below the required amount during the 28-day period.
• The closing date is within 31 days before the application date.
• The evidence shows applicant name, bank name and balance.
• The funds were acquired legally and can be explained if queried.

UKVI converts foreign currency using the OANDA spot exchange rate on the application date. Keep a buffer so an exchange-rate movement does not reduce the sterling value below the requirement.

Partner funds checklist

A partner’s money can be used where the partner is in the UK or applying at the same time. Prepare eligible financial evidence in the partner’s name, evidence of the qualifying relationship and application or status evidence relevant to the rule. The same 28-day and 31-day requirements apply to personal funds.

Do not assume a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse living elsewhere and not applying can provide direct bank evidence under this provision. Check the exact circumstances against Appendix Finance.

Can another relative sponsor the student?

UKVI’s public Student finance guidance lists the applicant’s own money, a parent’s money and certain partner funds, alongside official sponsorship and qualifying student loans. It does not generally list an uncle, aunt, sibling, cousin or family friend’s bank account as direct Student evidence.

If another relative gives money to the applicant, the funds may need to become the applicant’s own money in an eligible account and satisfy the full holding period before application. The lawful source and genuine control may be examined. Do not create a temporary circular transfer or misleading gift document. For unusual arrangements, obtain advice from an authorised UK immigration adviser.

Student loan letter checklist

Under Appendix Finance, a qualifying student loan letter must:

• Be dated no more than six months before the application.
• Confirm it is a student loan from an eligible government, government-sponsored company or regulated academic or educational loan scheme.
• Confirm there are no release conditions other than a successful application to study.
• State the loan amount.
• Confirm the loan is for the applicant.
• Confirm the funds will be available before travel, paid to the university before travel with living funds available by arrival, or available before the course where the national-government exception applies.
• Identify the lender sufficiently to show it meets the permitted category.

A standard personal loan, overdraft or property-backed promise is not automatically a qualifying Student loan.

Bank evidence checklist

Evidence that is not accepted

• Overdraft limits.
• Cryptocurrency.
• Stocks and shares.
• Credit cards.
• Pensions that are not immediately withdrawable under an accepted account form.
• Accounts at unregulated institutions.
• Accounts without electronic record keeping.
• Property valuations or anticipated sale proceeds not held as eligible cash.
• A relative’s unsupported promise to pay later.

Previous official sponsorship and consent

Appendix Student requires written consent in a specific situation: if, during the 12 months before the application, the applicant completed UK study funded by a government or international scholarship agency covering both fees and living costs, the applicant must provide that body’s written consent to the new application.

The general Student visa documents page also tells applicants to provide written consent where the relevant financial sponsorship condition applies. Check whether the current or previous sponsor’s terms require consent even when the new funding source is different.

CAS and payment consistency

Check that the CAS correctly states course fees, tuition already paid and qualifying sponsor-provided accommodation payment. If a recent tuition payment is missing, ask the university whether it will update the CAS or issue the permitted receipt. The interview answer, application form and financial evidence should use the same figures.

Common sponsor-document mistakes

• Calling a parent an official financial sponsor.
• Using an uncle’s bank statement directly.
• Counting the 28 days incorrectly.
• Using a statement whose closing date is more than 31 days old.
• Letting the balance fall below the threshold for one day.
• Ignoring exchange-rate movement.
• Submitting a loan with release conditions not permitted by the rules.
• Missing relationship proof or parent consent.
• Assuming Nepal is on the current differential-evidence nationality list.
• Using a tuition receipt that conflicts with the CAS.

Final file order

1. Passport and CAS.
2. Funding calculation: outstanding tuition plus required maintenance.
3. Primary funding evidence for the chosen route.
4. Relationship and consent evidence where using parent or partner funds.
5. Official sponsorship or student loan letter where applicable.
6. Tuition and qualifying accommodation payment evidence.
7. Certified translations.
8. Short source-of-funds explanation only where useful and accurate.

Upload through the route provided in the visa application. Keep originals and ensure the bank or sponsor can verify the evidence.