Proof of Funds for a Student Visa: How Much Money You Need for the UK, Australia, and Canada
Student visa proof of funds explained: living-cost amounts for the UK, Australia, and Canada, how long money must be held, and what scholarships change.
Why Proof of Funds Trips Up So Many Applicants
You have the offer letter, your English score is in, and the scholarship interview went well. Then the visa checklist asks a question that has nothing to do with grades: can you prove you have enough money?
Proof of funds (sometimes called financial capacity or financial evidence) is the part of a student visa where the government checks that you can pay your tuition and living costs without running out of money halfway through your course. Each country sets its own amount, its own rules about how long the money must sit in an account, and its own list of acceptable documents.
This guide covers the three destinations Indonesian and international students ask about most: the UK, Australia, and Canada. Every number below comes from the official government pages listed at the end, checked on the date of this post.
Visa rules and amounts change, often once a year. Before you move money or print a bank statement, reread the official page for your country.
Quick Comparison
| UK (Student visa) | Australia (Student visa, subclass 500) | Canada (study permit, outside Quebec) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living costs you must show | £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to 9 months | AUD29,710 for 12 months | CAN$23,448 for one person (applications on or after 1 September 2026) |
| Tuition you must show | Fees for 1 academic year (up to 9 months), as shown on your CAS | First 12 months of course fees | Tuition, in addition to the living-cost amount |
| Travel costs | Not part of the calculation | AUD2,000 as a guide if applying from outside Australia (higher for some African regions) | Return transportation for you and family, in addition |
| How long money must be held | At least 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of your application | No fixed holding period stated; evidence type matters | Bank statements for the past 6 months are one accepted proof |
| Family members | £845 per month (London) or £680 per month (outside London) each, up to 9 months | AUD10,394 for a partner, AUD4,449 per child | Higher amounts by family size (CAN$29,192 for 2 people) |
The rest of this article explains each column and the traps behind the numbers.
The UK: The 28-Day Rule
How much you need
According to GOV.UK, you need two things:
- Course fees for 1 academic year (up to 9 months). The exact amount is written on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- Living costs for up to 9 months:
- £1,529 per month for courses in London (the City of London and the 32 London boroughs)
- £1,171 per month for courses outside London
So the maximum living-cost figure is £13,761 in London (9 × £1,529) or £10,539 outside London (9 × £1,171).
The 28-day rule
This is where most mistakes happen. GOV.UK says you must have held the money for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. A large deposit made the day before you print your statement does not count, and neither does a balance that dips below the required amount for a single day during those 28 days.
Good news for Indonesian applicants
The UK has a list of nationalities that do not need to submit financial evidence with the application, and Indonesia is on it (see the official financial evidence guidance). This does not mean you can skip having the money. You must still meet the requirement, and UKVI can ask for the evidence before it makes a decision. Keep your statements ready.
You also do not need to show funds if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date you apply.
What counts as evidence
- Bank or building society statements, passbooks, or a letter from the bank, showing your name, the bank name, and the balance
- Money in a parent's account, as long as you also provide a letter from them confirming you may use it
- A student loan letter from a government, a government-sponsored loan company, or an academic or educational loan scheme, dated no more than 6 months before you apply
- Official financial sponsorship (for example a government scholarship): the sponsor's reference appears on your CAS, or you add a letter from the sponsor
The guidance also lists what does not count, including overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, and pensions.
For reference, the visa application fee shown on GOV.UK is £558 when applying from outside the UK. The Immigration Health Surcharge is charged separately.
Australia: 12 Months of Costs, Up Front
How much you need
The official Student visa (subclass 500) page asks you to show enough money for:
- Travel: as a guide, AUD2,000 if you are applying from outside Australia (the page lists higher figures for East, Southern, and West Africa)
- Course fees for the first 12 months (or the full course if it is 12 months or shorter), minus anything you have already paid and can prove with a receipt
- 12 months of living costs: AUD29,710 for you, AUD10,394 for a partner, and AUD4,449 for each child who comes with you
- School fees for any school-age children who come with you
If you will stay less than 12 months, the page explains how to calculate a pro rata amount: divide the annual cost by 365 and multiply by the number of days you will stay.
The income alternative
Instead of showing savings, you can show that your parents or partner earned a personal annual income of at least AUD87,856 in the 12 months before you apply (at least AUD102,500 if family members come with you). If both parents work, their income can be combined. The evidence must be official government documents such as tax assessments less than 12 months old. Bank statements and letters from an employer are not accepted for this option.
Do you have to upload it?
Not always. Home Affairs uses a Document Checklist Tool: you enter your passport country and education provider, and the tool tells you which evidence to attach. Even if the tool says you do not need to attach financial evidence, the department can still ask for it, and you still have to genuinely have the money.
Scholarship holders
If your scholarship is sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the page says to provide a letter of support. If that letter does not cover the living costs of family members coming with you, you need separate evidence for them. Other scholarships and financial support are listed as acceptable evidence too.
For reference, the page lists the visa cost as from AUD2,500, with a lower cost for eligible ASEAN citizens, including Indonesian passport holders. Use the official Visa Pricing Estimator for your exact amount.
Canada: The Amount Rises Every Year
How much you need
Canada's proof of financial support page asks you to show you can pay for:
- Tuition fees
- Living expenses for you and any family members who come with you
- Transportation to and from Canada
For applications made on or after 1 September 2026, the minimum living-expense amounts outside Quebec are:
| People in your family unit (including you) | Minimum funds per year (excluding tuition and travel) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CAN$23,448 |
| 2 | CAN$29,192 |
| 3 | CAN$35,888 |
| 4 | CAN$43,572 |
| 5 | CAN$49,419 |
| 6 | CAN$55,736 |
| 7 | CAN$62,054 |
| Each additional person beyond 7 | CAN$6,318 |
For comparison, the amount for one person was CAN$22,895 for applications between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2026. The page says these amounts are updated each year, so a guide written last year may already be wrong.
If your program lasts more than one year, you must also explain how you will pay for the rest of your studies.
What counts as evidence
The page gives examples (and says the list is not complete):
- Bank statements for the past 6 months, showing the source of the money
- A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution
- Proof of a student or education loan from a bank
- A receipt showing you have paid your first year of tuition and housing
- Proof of a scholarship or a Government of Canada-funded program
- A letter from the person or institution giving you money
Studying in Quebec?
Quebec sets its own amounts. To study there you also need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), and the financial rules come from the Quebec government, not the federal page above.
Worked Example: Adding It Up
Here is how a self-funded student might calculate the minimum for a one-year master's program. The tuition figures are examples only; use the amount on your own offer letter, CAS, or CoE.
| Item | UK (outside London) | Australia | Canada (outside Quebec) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (example) | £20,000 | AUD45,000 | CAN$30,000 |
| Living costs | £10,539 (9 × £1,171) | AUD29,710 | CAN$23,448 |
| Travel | Not required | AUD2,000 | Your return flight cost |
| Minimum to show | £30,539 | AUD76,710 | CAN$53,448 + flights |
Remember that these are visa minimums, not a budget. The Australian page itself warns that actual living costs can be much higher than the visa amount, and the same logic applies everywhere.
Proof of Funds Checklist
Use this before you submit your visa application:
- I know which amount applies to me (city, course length, family members)
- My tuition figure matches my CAS, CoE, or offer letter, minus any fees already paid
- UK: the money has been in the account for 28 consecutive days, and my statement ends within 31 days of my application date
- Canada: I have 6 months of bank statements showing where the money came from, or another accepted proof such as a GIC or loan letter
- Australia: I have checked the Document Checklist Tool for my passport and provider
- If the money is in a parent's account, I have their consent letter and any other document the official page asks for
- If I have a scholarship, my sponsor letter or CAS clearly states what it covers
- If my documents are not in English, I have checked the official translation rules
- I have reread the official page for my country this week
Scholarship Holders: What Changes
A fully funded scholarship such as LPDP, Chevening, or Australia Awards usually covers tuition and a living allowance, and the sponsor's letter or reference often serves as your financial evidence. Two things to watch:
- Read exactly what the letter covers. If it covers tuition and your own living costs but you are bringing a partner or children, you will usually need extra money for them
- Partial scholarships do not remove the requirement. You show the sponsor letter for the part it covers and your own funds for the rest
When in doubt, ask your scholarship provider and your university's international office which documents they recommend for your visa.
Do Not Let English Be the Last Bottleneck
Proof of funds usually comes near the end of the process, after your offer and your English score. If you are still working on the English requirement, finish it early so it does not block your CAS or CoE. Our guide on using the Duolingo English Test for a UK or Australian student visa explains where DET is accepted and where you may need another test.
If DET is accepted for your program, Wono DET lets you practice the Write About the Photo and Speak About the Photo tasks under a real-style timer, with AI feedback and an estimated score after every answer. It is an independent practice tool, not affiliated with Duolingo, and new accounts get 5 free corrections.
Conclusion
- UK: first-year fees plus £1,529 (London) or £1,171 (outside London) per month for up to 9 months, held for 28 consecutive days. Indonesian applicants usually do not need to upload the evidence but must still have it
- Australia: first 12 months of fees, AUD29,710 in living costs, and travel, or a parental or partner income of at least AUD87,856
- Canada: tuition, travel, and CAN$23,448 for one person outside Quebec for applications from 1 September 2026, with the amount updated every year
- Always check the official page again before you apply, because these numbers change
Official sources used
- GOV.UK, Student visa, Money you need: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money
- GOV.UK, Financial evidence for Student and Child Student visa applicants: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-evidence-for-student-and-child-student-route-applicants
- Australian Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
- Government of Canada, Study permit, Proof of financial support: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html
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