What is the 28-day rule?
The 28-day rule is one of the most important and strictly enforced financial requirements in UK visa applications. It requires applicants to demonstrate that the required maintenance funds have been held continuously in a bank account for a consecutive period of 28 days, ending no more than 31 days before the date the online visa application is submitted.
This rule applies across several visa routes including the Student visa, Skilled Worker visa, and family visa categories. UKVI caseworkers apply it mechanically, with very limited discretion. A single day where the balance dips below the required amount – even by a small amount – is enough for the application to be refused.
Understanding how this rule works, what it applies to, and how to evidence it correctly is essential for any applicant planning to submit a UK visa application in 2026.
Why does the 28-day rule exist?
The purpose of the 28-day rule is to demonstrate genuine, stable financial capacity rather than temporarily borrowed or artificially inflated funds. The Home Office wants to see that the money has been genuinely available to the applicant over a sustained period, not simply moved into an account the day before the application to meet the threshold.
A large, unexplained deposit appearing shortly before the application date will often raise credibility concerns with the caseworker, even if the closing balance meets the required amount. The 28-day window is designed to filter out exactly this kind of short-term financial engineering.
How the 28-day rule is calculated
The calculation works backwards from the closing balance on your bank statement. The closing balance date is the last day of the 28-day period, and the funds must have been present and above the required threshold on every single day of those 28 consecutive days.
The bank statement showing this period must not be more than 31 days old on the date you submit your online application. This means your application window – the period during which you must submit – opens on day 29 after the funds were first held, and closes 31 days after the closing balance date on your statement.
A practical example: if you submit your visa application on 15 October 2026, your bank statement must show the required balance was maintained continuously from at least 14 September to 14 October 2026, with 14 October falling within 31 days of your application date.
An important and commonly misunderstood point is that the snapshot date is fixed the moment you submit and pay for your online application, not the date of your biometric appointment. Many applicants are refused because they print a fresh bank statement on the day of their biometric appointment, several weeks after submitting online, without realising the 28-day window was already locked in at the point of submission.
What counts as acceptable evidence?
Not all financial documents or account types are acceptable to UKVI. The following are the main accepted forms of evidence for the 28-day period:
Bank statements are the most commonly used form of evidence. They must be official statements issued by the bank, covering the full 28-day period, and must show the account holder’s name, account number, and a running balance on every day in the period. The closing balance on the statement must not be more than 31 days old at the date of application.
Official bank letters are acceptable where the bank provides a letter on headed paper, signed by a bank official, confirming that funds of at least the required amount have been held in the account for 28 consecutive days. The letter must include the bank’s contact details and must be dated no more than 31 days before the application date.
Certificates of deposit may be used in certain countries and circumstances. The certificate must confirm that the funds were deposited, that at least 28 days have passed since the deposit date, and that the funds remain accessible. The certificate must be dated no more than 31 days before the application date.
Passbooks from a bank or building society may also be used, provided they cover the consecutive 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of online application.
What types of funds are not acceptable?
UKVI will not accept certain types of assets or financial products as evidence of maintenance funds. The following are not acceptable:
- Shares, stocks, bonds, or other investment portfolios
- Pension funds
- Credit card balances or overdraft facilities
- Cryptocurrency holdings
- Property valuations or equity in real estate
- Funds held in accounts that cannot be immediately accessed without penalty
The account must be held at a financial institution regulated by the appropriate financial authority in the applicant’s country. Informal savings arrangements, cash held outside a bank, or funds confirmed through affidavits are generally not accepted.
Can a parent’s account be used?
For Student visa applications, funds held in a parent’s or legal guardian’s account are acceptable, provided the parent is the applicant’s biological or adoptive parent and the relationship can be demonstrated. The same 28-day rule applies to the parent’s account – the funds must not drop below the required amount for a single day during the 28-day period.
Funds held by siblings, aunts, uncles, step-parents, or other relatives are not acceptable. Funds held by a legal guardian may be acceptable only if a court document or certificate of adoption names the guardian formally.
For Skilled Worker maintenance funds, the Β£1,270 must be held by the applicant themselves or in the migrant’s partner’s account. It cannot be held by parents or other third parties.
Common mistakes that lead to refusal
The 28-day rule is one of the most common reasons for UK visa refusals, and the majority of failures are entirely avoidable. The most frequent mistakes include:
The balance dips below the threshold on a single day. Even a minor transaction – a direct debit, an automatic charge, or a small purchase – that takes the balance fractionally below the required amount for one day is enough for a refusal. The caseworker checks every line of the statement.
The bank statement is too old. The closing balance on the statement must be within 31 days of the application date. Applicants who prepare their statements weeks in advance and then delay submitting their application risk the statement expiring before they apply.
The 28 days are calculated from the biometric appointment date rather than the application submission date. The snapshot is taken at the moment the online form is submitted and paid for. The biometric appointment can take place weeks later and is irrelevant to this calculation.
A large deposit is made too close to the application. If the required funds only appear in the account 10 or 15 days before the application, the 28-day window has not been satisfied. The funds must have been present from at least 28 days before the closing balance date.
The wrong type of account or document is submitted. Using a credit card statement, an investment account, or a document that does not show daily running balances will not satisfy the requirement.
The exchange rate reduces the value below the threshold. Where funds are held in a foreign currency, the Home Office converts them using the OANDA exchange rate at the date of application. A fluctuation in the exchange rate on the day of application can push the converted amount below the required threshold. Building in a reasonable buffer above the minimum is strongly advisable.
Practical tips for meeting the 28-day rule
Start early. Calculate the exact amount you need, transfer the funds into your account, and leave them untouched for at least 30 to 35 days before you intend to apply. This gives you a comfortable buffer around the 28-day window.
Do not touch the funds once they are in place. Even a temporary dip for a routine expense can trigger a refusal. Keep the required amount entirely separate from your day-to-day spending during the 28-day period.
Hold a buffer above the minimum. Due to exchange rate fluctuations and the risk of unforeseen small transactions, it is sensible to hold more than the bare minimum throughout the 28-day period.
Use a dedicated savings account if possible. A savings account with limited transaction activity is less likely to see incidental debits that could push the balance below the threshold.
Request a formal bank letter rather than relying solely on a printed statement. In some circumstances, an official bank letter confirming the 28-day holding period provides a cleaner and more formal presentation of the evidence.
Submit your online application as soon as your statement is ready. Once your bank statement covers the full 28-day period and the closing balance is within 31 days, submit your application promptly. Do not wait for the biometric appointment date before calculating timing.
How LawSentis can help you
Financial evidence requirements for UK visas are applied strictly and with very little room for error. At LawSentis, we are a UK-based regulated immigration firm authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) at Level 3 – the highest level of regulation for immigration advisers in the UK. This means we are authorised to advise on and handle even the most complex immigration cases, including those involving financial evidence issues, refused applications, and complex personal circumstances.
We help clients across the full range of UK visa routes, including:
- Student visa applications and financial evidence preparation
- Skilled Worker visa applications and maintenance fund assessments
- Family visa applications including spouse, partner, and dependant routes
- Review and correction of financial evidence before submission
- Reapplications following refusal on financial grounds
- Full document preparation, application management, and immigration strategy
We offer a free WhatsApp callbackΒ so you can understand exactly what you need before you start preparing your funds. Whether you are applying for the first time, unsure whether your evidence meets the requirements, or have already received a refusal, our team will give you clear and practical advice tailored to your specific situation.
Contact LawSentis today to book your free consultation and ensure your financial evidence is prepared correctly from the start.
Top 10 frequently asked questions
1. What exactly is the 28-day rule for UK visas?
The 28-day rule requires that the required maintenance funds are held continuously in a bank account for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period falling no more than 31 days before the date the online visa application is submitted. The balance must not drop below the required amount even for a single day during this period.
2. Does the 28-day period end on the date I submit my online application or the date of my biometric appointment?
It ends on the date you submit your online application and pay the visa fee. The biometric appointment takes place after submission and is not relevant to the 28-day calculation. Many applicants are refused because they mistakenly use the biometric date as their reference point.
3. What happens if my balance dips below the required amount for just one day during the 28 days?
Your application will be refused. UKVI caseworkers check every transaction in the bank statement. A single day’s shortfall – regardless of how small the amount – means the 28-day requirement has not been satisfied. There is no discretion or flexibility on this point.
4. Can I use my parents’ bank account to meet the 28-day rule?
For Student visa applications, yes. Funds held in a parent’s account are acceptable provided the relationship is evidenced. The same strict 28-day rule applies to the parent’s account. For Skilled Worker maintenance funds, the money must be held by the applicant or their partner, not by parents or other relatives.
5. How old can my bank statement be when I submit my application?
The closing balance on your bank statement must be no more than 31 days old on the date you submit your online application. If your statement expires before you submit, you will need to obtain a new statement covering a fresh 28-day period.
6. Can I use a savings account, or does it have to be a current account?
Either is acceptable, provided the account allows the funds to be accessed immediately without penalty. Fixed-term deposits, pension accounts, investment accounts, and accounts with withdrawal restrictions are not acceptable.
7. Is there a minimum amount I need to show for a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. For Skilled Worker applicants who have not been living in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months or more, the maintenance requirement is Β£1,270, held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of the application date. If your employer certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship, you may be exempt from showing personal savings.
8. How much do I need to show for a Student visa in London in 2026?
For 2026, Student visa applicants studying in London must show Β£1,529 per month in living costs, up to a maximum of Β£13,761 for 9 months, plus any outstanding tuition fees shown on their CAS. The full combined amount must be held for 28 consecutive days.
9. What if my funds are in a foreign currency?
UKVI converts foreign currency into pounds using the OANDA exchange rate on the date of application. Because exchange rates fluctuate, it is strongly advisable to hold a buffer well above the minimum required amount to ensure the converted value does not fall below the threshold on the day you apply.
10. Can LawSentis review my bank statements before I submit my application?
Yes. As an IAA Level 3 regulated firm, LawSentis can review your financial evidence, check it meets the 28-day rule requirements for your specific visa route, identify any potential issues before submission, and advise on how to strengthen your application. Contact us for a free initial consultation before you submit.