Table Of Contents:
- What is Maintenance Requirement
- Maintenance requirements if you are applying for a student visa
- Maintenance requirements for other UK visas
- Common documents required for maintenance requirements
- What is an Accommodation Requirement
- Common documents as proof for accommodation requirements
- Summary
Most UK visas including family visas, student visas, and some work visas require the applicants to show that they meet the adequate maintenance requirement in the UK. “Adequate” here means that, after income tax, NI (National Insurance) contributions, and housing costs have been deducted, there must be available to the person or family the level of income or funds that would be available to them if the person or family received income support.
The “Maintenance and Accommodation Requirement” in a UK visa application refers to demonstrating to the authorities that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself (and any dependants) and that suitable housing will be available for you in the UK, without needing to rely on public funds or government assistance.
What is Maintenance Requirement?
Maintenance requirement in a UK visa application means you need to prove to the decision makers that you have enough money to support yourself (and any dependants) while in the UK without relying on public funds/government benefits. For example, essential living costs in the UK include food, accommodation, transport, and everyday expenses. Alternatively, for work visas, your employer or sponsor may cover your financial support. In such cases, they must confirm this on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued to you.
Maintenance requirements if you are applying for a student visa
You will need to show you have enough money to support yourself unless you have been living in the UK with a valid UK visa for a minimum of 12 months on the date of your application. If required, you must show you have the money required to cover your tuition fees plus living costs for 1 academic year (up to 9 months). You will need £1,529 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London and £1,171 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London.
You will also need to prove you have extra money for each family member you bring to the UK with you.
Maintenance requirements for other UK visas
If you are applying for a family or Spouse visa, your UK partner (also known as ‘sponsor’) must meet a minimum income requirement of £29,000 a year.
If you are applying for a work visa, unless exempt, you must show you have at least £1,270 available in your bank account to support yourself in the UK, or your employer/sponsor must confirm your maintenance.
Common documents required for maintenance requirements
You must provide documentary evidence with your visa application to demonstrate that you meet the maintenance requirements. This may include proof such as:
• Your bank statements (usually for the last 6 months)
• Recent Pay slips
• A letter from your employer confirming your job position, salary, and length of employment
• Savings documents such as savings accounts or fixed deposits
• Sponsor’s financial documents (if someone in the UK is supporting you). For example, their bank statements, payslips, or sponsorship/support letter.
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) (if your employer/sponsor will cover your maintenance)
What is an Accommodation Requirement?
The accommodation requirement in a UK visa application means proving to the Home Office that you will have suitable and adequate housing available in the UK when you arrive. The accommodation must be safe, legally and exclusively occupied, and not overcrowded, and it must be available to you without relying on public housing or government assistance.
“Occupy exclusively” in relation to accommodation means that whole or part of the accommodation must be for the exclusive use of you or your family.
A household is considered overcrowded if it has fewer bedrooms than needed to avoid sharing, based on the ages, sex, and relationships of household members.
An accommodation can include a rented property, a home owned by you or your sponsor, or staying with family or friends who legally occupy the property.
Common documents as proof for accommodation requirements
You can supply one or more of the following commonly used documents to prove that you meet the accommodation requirements when you are applying for a UK visa that requires you to meet this requirement. You may provide documents such as:
• Tenancy agreement or rental contract
• Property ownership documents
• Letter from the property owner or host
• Property inspection report (sometimes required)
• Utility bills or council tax documents
Summary
The maintenance requirement and accommodation requirement apply mainly to UK family visas and some other routes where you must prove you can support yourself (and any dependents) financially and have suitable housing in the UK to live without using public funds. Most UK immigration routes require some form of financial/maintenance requirement, but the exact rules differ by visa category.