Bank Balance for a Student Visa: How Much to Show, Country by Country

Ask ten students how much bank balance they need for a visa and you will get ten different numbers. The truth is that every country publishes a specific requirement, and most financial refusals happen not because the money was too little, but because it was shown the wrong way: deposited too late, kept in the wrong account, or left unexplained. This guide covers the rules that matter, country by country.

The three rules embassies actually check

• Enough: the balance covers the published requirement, usually first-year tuition plus a fixed living amount
• Seasoned: the money has a history in the account, not a deposit made the week before applying
• Explainable: the source is documented, whether salary, business income, land sale, or a formal sponsor

UK: the 28-day rule catches the most students

The UK requires first-year tuition (minus anything already paid on your CAS) plus maintenance funds: £1,136 per month outside London or £1,483 in London, for nine months. The catch is the 28-day rule: the full amount must sit in the account without dipping below the requirement for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before your application. A single day below the line means a refusal. Parental funds work, but only with a birth certificate and a consent letter.

USA: match the I-20, prepare for questions

The US embassy wants to see at least the full first-year cost printed on your I-20, and the officer at the Dhaka interview can ask about anything in your file. There is no fixed seasoning rule, but a large unexplained deposit is the classic trigger for follow-up questions. Sponsor funds are normal and accepted with an affidavit of support.

Canada: the GIC does the heavy lifting

Canada's system is the most mechanical: buy a Guaranteed Investment Certificate of CAD 20,635 in your own name, pay first-year tuition upfront, and your financial file is essentially complete. The GIC then pays you back monthly in Canada, which doubles as your living budget.

Sweden and Finland: your own account, no exceptions

The Nordic countries share one strict rule: maintenance funds must be in the student's own bank account. Money sitting in a parent's account does not count. Sweden requires SEK 10,584 per month for the permit period; Finland requires roughly €800 per month, about €9,600 for the first year. Both also require tuition to be paid before the permit application, so the bank balance only needs to cover living costs. Transfer family funds early and keep the remittance records.

Japan: the vetting happens before the visa

Japan checks finances at the Certificate of Eligibility stage, months before the visa itself. The standard set is a bank solvency certificate from your bank plus a letter explaining who pays and where the money comes from. Japanese immigration cares more about a credible, documented sponsor than about one large balance.

Germany: the blocked account

Germany removes all ambiguity: transfer €11,904 into a German blocked account before the visa, and withdraw about €992 per month after arrival. There is nothing to interpret, which is why financial refusals for Germany are rare among students who complete the transfer.

The five mistakes that cause financial refusals

• Depositing the full amount days before applying, with no explanation of the source
• Breaking the UK 28-day rule by even one day or one withdrawal
• Showing funds in a parent's account for Sweden or Finland
• Relying on fixed deposits or assets when the country asks for liquid funds
• Inconsistent numbers between the university application, the visa form, and the bank statement