UK Student Visa Maintenance Requirement Rising Nov 2026

UK Student Visa Maintenance Requirement Rising From 30 November 2026: What's Changing If you're planning to study in the UK, there's a financial requirement update you need to factor into your budget right now. The UK Home Office has confirmed an increase to the Student visa maintenance (living expense) requirement , and the new figures take effect very soon. Here's the complete, accurate breakdown of what's changing and what it means for your application. What's Changing: The Official Update On 3 September 2026 , the Home Office laid a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 584) before Parliament. While most of HC 584's provisions took effect on 8 October 2026, the Student visa maintenance requirement increase specifically comes into force on 30 November 2026 — a later date confirmed directly in the Home Office's own Explanatory Memorandum. According to that Explanatory Memorandum, the maintenance requirement is being raised to align with the maintenance loan levels available to home (UK) students for the 2026/27 academic year — an adjustment the Department for Education reviews annually. This means the requirement doesn't move on its own arbitrary schedule; it tracks how UK domestic student support levels change year to year. New Maintenance Requirement Figures (Effective 30 November 2026) The exact amount you need to show depends on where in the UK you'll be studying. Inside London Period Current Rate New Rate (from 30 Nov 2026) Per Month £1,529 £1,570 9 Months Total £13,761 £14,130 Outside London Period Current Rate New Rate (from 30 Nov 2026) Per Month £1,171 £1,203 9 Months Total £10,539 £10,827 These figures represent a modest but real increase — roughly £41/month more for London-based students and £32/month more for those studying outside London, adding up to a few hundred pounds more across a full course when calculated over the standard nine-month period. Who Does This Affect? This change applies to applicants applying on or after 30 November 2026 — if you're submitting your Student visa application from that date onward, your financial evidence must meet the new, higher figures. Students who apply and are granted their visa before that date are generally assessed under the current, lower requirement, though it's worth confirming this with a consultant if your application timing falls close to the cutoff, since some rule changes carry specific transitional wording that doesn't apply uniformly across every case. Important Financial