How much money do you need for a student visa? Proof of funds by country
How much money you must show for a student visa in the UK, Canada, the US, Germany, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and France, from official government pages.
Getting the offer letter feels like the finish line. For many international students, it is the start of a second, quieter test: proving to a government that you can afford to live in its country.
Every major study destination asks for proof of funds, and the amounts are not small. They also change. Canada raised its figure in September 2026, the UK figures have gone up, and France has replaced a number that had stood for years. We checked each country’s official immigration or education pages on October 31, 2026.
The short answer
| Country | Living costs you must show (on top of tuition) | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | GBP 1,529 a month in London, GBP 1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months | GOV.UK |
| Canada | CAN$23,448 a year for a single applicant (from 1 September 2026) | IRCC |
| United States | No fixed figure: your school sets the amount on your Form I-20 | Study in the States |
| Germany | EUR 11,904 a year (EUR 992 a month), usually in a blocked account | Study in Germany |
| Australia | AUD 29,710 a year for the main applicant | Federal Register of Legislation |
| Ireland | EUR 10,000 for the first year, plus access to EUR 10,000 for each later year | Irish Immigration Service |
| Netherlands | EUR 1,130.77 a month for university or hbo study (2026) | IND |
| New Zealand | NZD 20,000 a year for tertiary study | Immigration New Zealand |
| France | EUR 877 a month in 2026, according to Université PSL’s official guide | Université PSL |
These are minimums for living costs. In most countries, you must also show you can pay your tuition fees.
United Kingdom
For a Student visa, you need GBP 1,529 a month if your course is in London and GBP 1,171 a month if it is elsewhere in the UK, for up to nine months. London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.
The detail that catches people out is the 28-day rule. You must have held the money for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the date you apply (GOV.UK). Money that arrives in your account a week before you apply does not count, so plan ahead.
Canada
Outside Quebec, a single applicant applying on or after 1 September 2026 must show CAN$23,448 for a year of living costs. That figure does not include tuition or travel, which you must show separately. Before 1 September 2026, the figure was CAN$22,895.
If you will study in Quebec, the federal figure does not apply. You must instead meet the amounts set by Quebec’s immigration ministry (IRCC).
United States
The US government does not publish a single proof of funds figure for F-1 students. Instead, your university must see evidence of your finances before it issues your Form I-20, and the funds should cover up to one year or the length of your programme, whichever is shorter (Study in the States).
In practice, this means the amount depends on the university. Each school calculates its own cost of attendance, so check the international admissions page of every school you apply to.
Germany
Most students prove their finances with a blocked account (Sperrkonto). The usual amount is EUR 11,904 for one year, or EUR 992 a month (Study in Germany, German Embassy).
This figure has applied since the 2024/25 winter semester. We found no official page announcing a different figure for 2026, but German missions update their pages when the amount changes, so check the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply.
Australia
For a Student visa (subclass 500), the main applicant must show 12 months of living costs of AUD 29,710. A partner adds AUD 10,394 and each child AUD 4,449. These figures were set in May 2024 (Federal Register of Legislation). Check the Department of Home Affairs website before you apply, because Australia has changed its student visa rules several times in recent years.
Ireland
If you need a visa, you must show immediate access to at least EUR 10,000, plus ready access to at least EUR 10,000 for each later year of your course, on top of your fees. For courses shorter than eight months, the figure is EUR 833 a month or EUR 6,665, whichever is less (Irish Immigration Service).
Netherlands
The Dutch immigration service, the IND, sets a monthly figure each year. For 2026, students at a university or university of applied sciences (hbo) need EUR 1,130.77 a month, and mbo students need EUR 928.58 (IND). In most cases, your university applies for your residence permit and will tell you how to show these funds, often by paying the money to the university.
New Zealand
For university and other tertiary study, you need NZD 20,000 for each year, or NZD 1,667 a month for courses shorter than a year. You must also show you can leave New Zealand, with a paid ticket or extra funds (Immigration New Zealand).
France
For many years, the minimum for a French student visa was EUR 615 a month. That figure is now out of date. Université PSL’s official guide for students, updated in July 2026, sets the threshold at 47% of the gross French minimum wage, which it gives as EUR 877 a month for 2026 (Université PSL).
Some older Campus France pages still show EUR 615, so confirm the current figure with Campus France in your country or the French consulate before you apply.
What counts as proof
Each country has its own rules, but the most common forms are:
- Bank statements in your name, or sometimes a parent’s, covering the required period.
- A blocked account, the usual route for Germany.
- A scholarship or sponsor letter showing what the scholarship pays. A fully funded scholarship often reduces or removes the amount you must show yourself.
- An education loan letter from a recognised bank.
Common mistakes
- Showing money too late. The UK’s 28-day rule is the best-known example, but other countries also look at how long funds have been held.
- Forgetting tuition. The figures above are for living costs. Canada and Ireland, for example, say this explicitly.
- Using an outdated figure. Canada and France both changed their amounts in 2026. Use the official page, not a forum post from two years ago.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need proof of funds if I have a full scholarship?
Usually you still need to show the money, but a scholarship letter can count as proof. Check how your destination treats scholarships and whether your award covers living costs as well as tuition.
Which country asks for the least money?
The figures are in different currencies and cover different periods, so a direct ranking can mislead. The amount you must show is also only part of the picture: tuition and real living costs in your city matter more. Compare the full cost before you decide.
Can my parents’ bank account count?
In some countries, funds held by a parent or sponsor can count, but the rules and documents required differ. Check your destination’s official guidance before you rely on a family member’s account.
Next steps
If funding is the hard part, start with fully funded options in our Scholarships listings and the Top 10 fully funded master’s scholarships. Then plan your dates with our study abroad application timeline.