Many people applying for a UK visitor visa turn to us, and they often have the misconception that applicants must have a specific amount of money in their bank account to qualify. Is this actually true?  With years of Atlys expertise, we'll examine the real financial requirements for a UK visitor visa, address any misunderstandings, and make sure you have the correct information for your application. Let’s discover whether a minimum bank balance is necessary for a UK tourist visa and, if so, how much you need.

How much bank balance is required for a UK tourist visa?

The UK immigration office does not specify an exact "minimum bank balance" for applicants to be granted a standard visitor visa. Instead, the decision is based on whether you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the UK without recourse to public funds or taking employment. The official government has already classified the financial eligibility required to apply for the visa, which is given below.

• You’re able to support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)

• You’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)

What should your bank statement show?

1. Sufficient funds for the trip: Your bank statement should reflect enough funds to cover all your expenses during the visit, including accommodation, travel within the UK, and your return or onward journey. How much money is enough depends on your stay length and planned activities.

2. Stable financial circumstances: The bank statement should indicate a stable financial history. Large, unexplained deposits might raise concerns about the genuineness of the funds. The money in your account must be managed responsibly over time.

3. Financial ties to your home country: It's beneficial if your financial records show ongoing commitments in your home country, such as a job or property, which suggest you will return home after visiting the UK.

How much money should you ideally have?

While there is no official minimum, here’s a practical guideline:

• Short stay (up to a week): A general rule of thumb is to budget £100 per day if staying in budget accommodations or if you have prepaid for your stay. If you plan to stay in higher-end hotels or have not paid for accommodations in advance, this amount should be higher.

• Longer stays: For stays longer than a week, the total cost will depend greatly on your lifestyle, planned activities, and accommodations. A detailed itinerary with budgeted expenses can help support your application.

Use a trip budget, then add a buffer

Middle-of-the-road guide you can tweak to your itinerary:

• Flights (return): £500-£900 from most hubs (season/airport dependent)

• Daily spend (hotel + food + local transport + activities):

London / SE England: £120–£220/day (budget→ mid)

Rest of UK (Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff, etc.): £90–£170/day

• Intercity trains/flights (if any): £40–£120 per rail segment, £60–£160 per domestic flight.

• Visa/ETA + insurance + misc.: £60–£180 (ETA £16 for eligible nationals; Visitor visa applicants include visa + biometrics/travel to VAC)

Thumb rule: Show readily available funds that cover your total trip cost + a 25–30% buffer, visible as stable balances over the last 3–6 months. Officers care more about plausibility + stability than a single magic number.

Worked examples (per traveller)

10 days, one city

• Daily £150 × 10= £1,500

• Flights £700 + misc £120→ Trip total= £2,320

• Target funds to show: £2,900–£3,000 (adds 25–30% buffer)

15 days, two cities

• Daily £170 × 15= £2,550

• Flights £750 + one intercity train £80 + misc £150→ Trip total= £3,530

• Target funds to show: £4,400–£4,600 (adds 25–30% buffer)

7 days (budget)

• Daily £110 × 7= £770

• Flights £600 + misc £100 → Trip total= £1,470

• Target funds to show: £1,850–£1,920

What factors affect the minimum bank balance required for a UK visitor visa?

These are some major factors that can affect the minimum balance requirements for a UK visa application: 

• Sponsors & in-kind support: The more your sponsor credibly covers (e.g., all lodging + some meals), the less cash you personally need to evidence. If coverage is partial, reduce your target by only the documented portion.

• Documentation quality: Clean, consistent statements (3–6 months, running balance, name/number visible) make officers comfortable with a smaller buffer. Messy docs, screenshots, or missing pages raise doubt, expect an implicit “risk premium,” i.e., you may need to show more money to offset uncertainty.

• History & risk profile: A clean travel record (on-time returns, prior visas) lowers perceived risk, allowing a smaller buffer. First-time travellers or applicants with prior refusals/overstays face closer scrutiny; expect to show a larger cushion and tighter proof of income/funds.

What documents serve as financial proof for a UK visitor visa?

Here’s what typically counts as financial proof for a UK Standard Visitor visa. You don’t have to submit everything; pick what clearly shows you can fund the trip without working or using public funds:

If you are employed

• You can provide personal bank statements. Usually, the last 3-6 months show name, account number, regular income, and available balance. Large recent deposits should be explained.

• Payslips/salary certificates and an employment letter stating role, salary, start date, and approved leave.

• Tax returns or social security statements, if available, to corroborate income.

• Savings/term deposits/investment statements (mutual funds, brokerage) in your name; include statement pages with your name and current value.

• Evidence of prepaid costs like return flights, accommodation, tours etc. to show how much of the trip is already covered.

If you’re self-employed

• Business bank statements (recent months) and proof of business registration (e.g., LLC documents) and/or recent business tax filings to show ongoing income. 

If someone else sponsors my trip

If someone else, such as a family member or employer, is sponsoring your visit to the UK, you'll need to provide detailed evidence to meet the visa requirements. Here’s what should be included:

• Details of the support provided: Specify what aspects of your trip are being sponsored. This includes travel costs, daily expenses, and accommodation. If the sponsorship also extends to any dependent family members accompanying you, this should be mentioned.

• Means of support: Explain how the sponsor will provide support during your stay. This could be through direct payments for services like hotels and transportation, or by transferring funds to you while you are in the UK.

• Financial Capability of the Sponsor: You must provide evidence that your sponsor has sufficient funds to support both themselves and their dependent,s in addition to supporting you. This can be demonstrated with bank statements or other financial documents.

• Relationship between you and the sponsor: Document your relationship with the sponsor. If the sponsor is a family member, include proof such as birth or marriage certificates. If the sponsor is your employer, provide details about your employment and the reason for your visit.

Experts from Atlys recommend that a relative, rather than a friend, sponsor your trip to the UK. Having a family member as your sponsor is preferable for your stay.

How can you strengthen your financial proof for a UK visitor visa?

The following tips can help you strengthen your financial proof: 

• Recency: The bank statement should be recent, typically within the last month of your visa application.

• Clarity: Ensure that your bank statement is clear and official. Ideally, it should be stamped by the bank or as an official electronic statement.

• Duration: It’s advisable to provide statements covering at least three to six months to understand your financial situation better.

Suggestion: It is recommended to avoid submitting bank statements, letters issued more than a year before the application date, or credit card statements.

Understanding the financial requirements for a UK visitor visa is crucial in ensuring a successful application. Remember, the key is not just about showing a certain amount of money but demonstrating that you can responsibly fund your visit and have strong reasons to return home. Always provide clear, consistent financial records that accurately reflect your situation.

By clarifying these points, we hope to help you better prepare for your trip to the UK, ensuring your financial documentation is in order and making your visa application process smoother and more straightforward.