Under the revised differential evidence requirement, applicants from Botswana, Mauritius, and Tunisia are no longer required to provide financial documents when they first apply for a UK Student visa. However, they must still meet all financial eligibility requirements, and the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) retains the authority to request financial evidence before making a final decision on any application.

The UK government clarified that the policy is not a waiver of the financial requirement but merely a documentary exemption designed to simplify the application process for eligible nationalities.

According to the guidance, applicants covered by the differential evidence requirement may still be required to present evidence that they have sufficient funds if requested by UKVI during the assessment of their application.

This means eligible students must have the required money available even if they are not asked to submit bank statements or other financial documents at the time of application.

The updated list includes several countries from different regions of the world, including:

• Australia
• Austria
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• China
• France
• Germany
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Tunisia
• United Arab Emirates
• United States

These countries qualify for the simplified documentation process under the UK’s Student visa system.

Nigeria is not among the countries benefiting from the differential evidence arrangement.

As a result, Nigerian applicants seeking to study in the UK are generally expected to be prepared to provide financial documentation proving they can support themselves throughout their studies.

Although the UK may not always request the documents immediately, Nigerian applicants must ensure they can provide acceptable financial evidence whenever UKVI requests it during the application process.

The UK government emphasized that every international student, regardless of nationality, must demonstrate that they possess sufficient funds to cover:

• Tuition fees for one academic year, as stated on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
• Living expenses for the duration specified under immigration rules.:

• Students studying in London must show they have £1,529 per month for living expenses for up to nine months, amounting to a maximum maintenance requirement of £13,761, excluding tuition fees.
• Students studying outside London must demonstrate £1,171 per month for up to nine months, bringing the maximum maintenance requirement to £10,539, also excluding tuition costs.

These financial thresholds were introduced on January 2, 2025, marking the first increase in maintenance requirements since 2020.

The UK government also noted that international students who have already lived legally in the UK for at least 12 months before applying for a Student visa are generally not required to provide financial evidence, regardless of nationality.

For thousands of Nigerian students who choose the UK as a study destination each year, the updated guidance means there is no relaxation of the documentary requirements.

Applicants are advised to ensure they maintain the required funds in accordance with UK immigration rules and keep supporting financial documents readily available throughout the visa application process.

Education consultants also recommend that prospective students begin preparing their finances well in advance, as failure to provide satisfactory evidence when requested by UKVI could result in delays or refusal of a visa application.