The short answer: "Proof of funds" is the money you must show a visa officer to prove you can cover your living costs — separately from tuition — for your first year of study. For 2026 the living-cost figure is about €11,904 in Germany, CA$22,895 in Canada, AU$29,710 in Australia, €10,000 in Ireland, €13,569 in the Netherlands, and up to £13,761 for London in the UK. The US sets no fixed number — you prove you can pay the cost of attendance shown on your I-20.
This guide gives each country's exact figure, how the money must be held, and what counts as acceptable evidence, with the official source behind every number.
Last verified: August 2026, against official government sources (gov.uk, IRCC/canada.ca, US eCFR, Germany's DAAD & Federal Foreign Office, Australia's Department of Home Affairs, Ireland's Immigration Service Delivery, and the Netherlands IND). These amounts change every admissions cycle — confirm the current figure on the official page linked below before you apply. For the full visa picture, see our student visa requirements by country guide.
How much proof of funds do you need? (2026)
The table shows the living-cost amount required for the student visa or residence permit, how long the money must sit in your account, and how it scales if you bring family. None of these figures include tuition.
What actually counts as proof of funds?
Every country wants to see that the money is real, available and yours (or a genuine sponsor's). The usual forms of evidence are:
- Bank statements in your name or a parent/sponsor's name, usually covering a set period. The UK is strict here: the money must sit in the account for 28 consecutive days, and your closing balance can be dated no more than 31 days before you apply. (gov.uk)
- A blocked account (Germany's Sperrkonto): you deposit €11,904 before the visa, and the account releases only about one twelfth each month, so it doubles as living-cost budgeting. (study-in-germany.de (DAAD))
- A sponsor or scholarship letter. If a parent, government or university is funding you, an official letter plus their financial evidence usually replaces your own savings. A scholarship that covers tuition also lightens how much you have to prove.
- Proof reviewed by your school (United States). There is no dollar threshold in the rules; your Designated School Official must confirm you can cover the cost of attendance before issuing the Form I-20 (8 CFR 214.3(k)). (eCFR)
Country-by-country detail
United Kingdom
Show £1,529/month (London) or £1,171/month (outside London) for up to nine months — a maximum of £13,761 or £10,539 — held for 28 consecutive days. Money held in certain accounts (or by official financial sponsors) counts; overdrafts do not. (gov.uk — Student visa: Money)
Canada
A single applicant outside Quebec must show CA$22,895 for one year of living costs, on top of tuition. The old Student Direct Stream and its Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) shortcut were discontinued in November 2024, so every application now goes through the regular stream — ignore older guides that still mention the GIC route. (IRCC)
Germany
Most non-EU students open a blocked account and deposit €11,904 for one year; the bank then releases roughly €992 per month. The Federal Foreign Office confirms the one-twelfth-per-month mechanism (it does not print a euro figure — the €11,904 comes from the official DAAD portal). (Federal Foreign Office)
Australia
The Subclass 500 visa requires AU$29,710 in living costs for 12 months, plus your travel and 12 months of tuition. A partner adds AU$10,394 and each child AU$4,449. (Department of Home Affairs)
Ireland
For a one-year course you need access to €10,000; non-visa nationals show this at registration for courses longer than eight months, and short courses use €833/month. You must also have paid your tuition (in full if under €6,000, or at least €6,000 otherwise) before registering. (Immigration Service Delivery)
Netherlands
For 2026 you show €1,130.77 per month for university/HBO study — twelve times the monthly norm, about €13,569 for the year, excluding tuition. The norm is reset every 1 January, so use the current figure. (IND — required amounts)
United States
There is no fixed dollar figure. Your school sets the cost of attendance on the Form I-20, and your Designated School Official must have reviewed proof that you can meet it before issuing the form. Plan for tuition plus living costs at your specific school. (eCFR — 8 CFR 214.3)
Five ways to get your proof of funds right
- Use the current figure. Canada, the Netherlands and others updated their amounts for 2026 — an out-of-date number is the easiest way to have an application questioned.
- Respect the "held for" window. The UK's 28-day rule trips up applicants who move money in too late; plan the timing before you apply.
- Keep funds and tuition separate. These figures are living costs only; budget tuition on top and check whether it must be paid before you register (as in Ireland).
- Reduce the amount with funding. A scholarship that covers tuition means less to prove overall, and some scholarships count as your financial sponsor.
- Line up your English test early. Proof of funds comes after an offer, and most offers require IELTS or TOEFL — so sit the test in good time.
Getting proof of funds wrong is one of the most common reasons a strong application stalls. If you would like help working out exactly how much to show for your chosen country — and how to present it — our advisors can walk you through it. Book a free consultation to get started.
