Appendix Finance UK: 28-Day Rule & Evidence

Appendix Finance is part of the UK Immigration Rules. It governs how applicants must evidence financial requirements when applying under certain work, study and temporary visa routes. It does not set the financial thresholds themselves. Instead, it establishes the technical rules for how funds must be held, evidenced and verified by the Home Office.

Many visa refusals arise not because an applicant lacks sufficient funds, but because the funds have not been evidenced in accordance with Appendix Finance. The appendix imposes strict requirements concerning the 28-day holding period, acceptable accounts, currency conversion, third-party funding and the timing of financial documents. These rules apply wherever a route specifies that funds must be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

What this article is about
This article provides a comprehensive guide to Appendix Finance in the UK Immigration Rules. It explains what the appendix regulates, when it applies, how its evidential rules operate in practice, and how it interacts with routes such as Skilled Worker and Student. It also clarifies the 12-month residence exemption and distinguishes Appendix Finance from Appendix FM. The focus is on legal accuracy and practical compliance.

Section A: What Is Appendix Finance in the UK Immigration Rules?

Appendix Finance is a standalone appendix to the Immigration Rules. It does not create immigration routes or set financial thresholds. Its function is narrower and technical: it prescribes how financial requirements must be met where a particular immigration route cross-refers to it.

In practical terms, Appendix Finance operates as an evidential code. Where a route states that an applicant must hold funds “as specified in Appendix Finance”, the decision-maker must assess the applicant’s financial evidence strictly in accordance with that appendix. Failure to comply with those evidential rules can lead to refusal, even where the applicant clearly holds sufficient money in substance.

1. What does Appendix Finance regulate?

Appendix Finance regulates the mechanics of financial evidence. It governs matters such as:

• how long funds must be held
• how the holding period is calculated
• the date financial documents must bear
• what types of accounts are acceptable
• whether funds must be immediately accessible
• how foreign currency is converted into pound sterling
• restrictions on third-party financial support
• requirements relating to financial institutions

The appendix does not determine how much money is required. That is set out within the relevant route appendix, such as Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix Student or Appendix Global Business Mobility. Appendix Finance instead dictates how those required funds must be evidenced.

2. Does Appendix Finance set financial thresholds?

No. The required amounts are set within the specific immigration route.

For example:

• Appendix Skilled Worker sets the £1,270 maintenance requirement.
• Appendix Student sets the monthly maintenance figures for London and outside London study.
• Temporary work routes specify their own maintenance sums.

However, where those route appendices state that funds must be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”, the applicant must satisfy the evidential rules in Appendix Finance in addition to meeting the monetary threshold.

This distinction is legally significant. An applicant may have the correct amount of money but still fail under Appendix Finance if:

• the funds were not held for the required 28-day period
• the most recent bank statement is dated more than 31 days before the application
• the account is not acceptable under the rules
• the funds are not immediately accessible

Appendix Finance therefore acts as a compliance filter.

3. Why Appendix Finance matters in practice

Appendix Finance is frequently misunderstood. Applicants and sponsors often focus on the required amount of funds, overlooking the strict evidential framework.

In practice, refusal decisions commonly arise from:

• incorrect calculation of the 28-day period
• reliance on funds in an ineligible account
• use of an unregulated financial institution
• improper reliance on third-party support
• outdated financial documents

The Home Office applies Appendix Finance strictly. Decision-makers are required to assess whether the financial evidence complies precisely with the appendix, not whether the applicant appears financially credible.

For that reason, Appendix Finance is central to compliance across multiple immigration routes. It must always be read alongside the relevant route appendix.

Section Summary
Appendix Finance forms the evidential framework for financial requirements under many UK immigration routes. It does not set the required amounts, but it strictly governs how those amounts must be held and evidenced. Failure to comply with its technical rules can result in refusal even where sufficient funds exist.

Section B: What Are the Key Requirements Under Appendix Finance?

Appendix Finance is structured around technical evidential rules. These rules apply wherever a visa route requires funds to be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”. The requirements are prescriptive. Decision-makers are not exercising broad discretion; they are applying defined criteria.

Understanding these mechanics is essential to avoiding refusal.

1. What is the 28-day rule?

The 28-day rule requires that the required level of funds be held for a continuous 28-day period.

The key features of the 28-day rule are:

• The balance must not fall below the required threshold at any point during the 28-day period.
• The 28 days must be consecutive.
• The end date of the 28-day period must be no more than 31 days before the date of application.

The calculation is made by counting backwards from the closing balance shown on the most recent financial document.

Common errors include:

• Selecting a 28-day window that does not run up to the closing balance date.
• Failing to account for small fluctuations that drop the balance below the threshold.
• Using statements that do not cover the full 28-day period.

The 28-day rule is one of the most frequent technical refusal grounds.

2. What is the 31-day financial evidence rule?

Appendix Finance requires that the most recently dated piece of financial evidence must be dated within 31 days of the application date.

This means:

• The closing balance date on the bank statement must fall within 31 days before submission of the online application.
• It is not sufficient that funds were held historically; the evidence must be current.

If the document falls outside the 31-day window, the application is likely to be refused for failing to meet the evidential requirement, even if funds remain available.

3. What accounts are acceptable under Appendix Finance?

Funds must be held in a personal bank or building society account that allows immediate access.

Acceptable accounts may include:

• Current accounts
• Savings accounts
• Deposit accounts
• Investment accounts where funds can be withdrawn immediately

Funds will not be accepted where they are:

• Held in shares, bonds or other investments that cannot be liquidated immediately
• Held in credit facilities such as credit cards
• Held in pensions that cannot be withdrawn
• Subject to restrictions preventing access

The account must be in the applicant’s name, either solely or jointly, unless the relevant route permits reliance on a parent, legal guardian or specified third party.

Immediate accessibility is critical. If funds are subject to a notice period or restriction, they may not qualify.

4. How does currency conversion work?

Where funds are held in a foreign currency, Appendix Finance requires conversion into pounds sterling using the spot exchange rate published on the OANDA website on the date of application.

The decision-maker will assess whether the converted balance meets the required sterling threshold.

This means:

• Applicants should check exchange rates before submitting their application.
• Fluctuations in currency markets can affect eligibility.
• A balance that appears sufficient in local currency may fall below the threshold once converted.

The exchange rate applied is not discretionary. The Rules prescribe the source.

5. Can applicants rely on third-party funds?

Appendix Finance generally prohibits reliance on promises of future third-party support.

However, some routes permit limited forms of third-party reliance, including:

• Sponsor certification of maintenance on sponsored work routes.
• Official financial sponsorship for Student route applicants.
• Student loans from approved lenders meeting specified requirements.

Where third-party reliance is permitted, the route appendix will state this expressly. Appendix Finance then governs the evidential format required.

Absent such express provision, funds must be held by the applicant in accordance with the appendix.

6. What is the lawful source requirement?

Where funds were earned or acquired in the UK, Appendix Finance requires that they must have been earned lawfully and in accordance with the applicant’s immigration conditions.

Funds obtained while working in breach of visa conditions cannot be relied upon to meet a financial requirement.

This provision reinforces the wider principle that compliance with immigration conditions is a prerequisite to relying on UK-based income or savings.

Section Summary
Appendix Finance imposes strict evidential rules covering the 28-day holding period, the 31-day document requirement, acceptable accounts, currency conversion, restrictions on third-party funding and lawful acquisition of funds. These technical requirements are applied rigidly and frequently determine the outcome of applications.

Section C: When Does Appendix Finance Apply?

Appendix Finance does not apply automatically to every immigration route. It applies only where a route explicitly requires funds to be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

In practice, this includes most work, study and temporary routes under the points-based system and related appendices. It does not govern family migration under Appendix FM, which has its own distinct financial framework.

Understanding when Appendix Finance applies is critical, as the evidential requirements can differ materially from other financial tests under the Immigration Rules.

1. Does Appendix Finance apply to Skilled Worker visas?

Yes. Appendix Skilled Worker sets the maintenance requirement for applicants who:

• are applying for entry clearance, or
• are applying for permission to stay and have not lived in the UK with permission for at least 12 months at the date of application.

The current maintenance requirement is £1,270, unless the applicant’s A-rated sponsor certifies maintenance.

Appendix Skilled Worker states that funds must be held for a 28-day period and “as specified in Appendix Finance”. This means:

• the 28-day rule applies;
• the 31-day evidence rule applies;
• the account must meet Appendix Finance requirements;
• currency conversion must follow the OANDA rule.

If the sponsor certifies maintenance correctly on the Certificate of Sponsorship, the applicant does not need to provide personal bank statements.

2. Does Appendix Finance apply to Student visas?

Yes. Appendix Student sets the required level of funds, including:

• outstanding course fees;
• monthly living costs based on whether the course is in London or outside London;
• a maximum period of 9 months for maintenance calculation.

Where the applicant has not been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months at the date of application, they must show funds held for a 28-day period and “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

Appendix Finance therefore governs:

• how bank statements must be formatted;
• the timing of financial documents;
• currency conversion;
• acceptable accounts;
• the evidential requirements for official sponsorship or student loans.

3. Does Appendix Finance apply to dependants?

Yes, in most work and study routes.

Dependants of Skilled Workers, Students and other sponsored migrants apply under the dependant provisions within the relevant route appendix, not under Appendix FM. Where those provisions require maintenance funds, they typically state that the funds must be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

The maintenance amount for dependants is set by the relevant route appendix, but the evidential framework remains governed by Appendix Finance.

It is important not to confuse this with family migration under Appendix FM, which has its own minimum income requirement and separate evidential rules.

4. What is the 12-month residence exemption?

Many routes provide that applicants who have been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months at the date of application automatically meet the financial requirement and do not need to provide evidence of funds.

This exemption commonly applies to:

• Skilled Worker;
• Student;
• Global Business Mobility routes;
• certain Temporary Work routes.

However, it applies only where:

• the applicant has held lawful permission continuously for at least 12 months; and
• the relevant route appendix includes the exemption provision.

The exemption does not apply to every immigration category. Applicants must check the specific wording of the route under which they are applying.

5. Does Appendix Finance apply to Appendix FM?

No.

Appendix FM governs family migration, including spouse, partner, parent and child applications. It contains its own minimum income requirement and detailed evidential provisions.

Appendix Finance does not regulate the income threshold or evidential rules under Appendix FM.

However, dependants under work and study routes are not applying under Appendix FM. They apply under the dependant provisions of the main route appendix. Where those provisions cross-refer to Appendix Finance, the evidential rules in Appendix Finance apply.

The distinction is legally important. Appendix FM and Appendix Finance operate in separate parts of the Immigration Rules.

Section Summary
Appendix Finance applies where a route explicitly requires funds to be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”. It commonly applies to Skilled Worker, Student and other points-based routes, including their dependants. It does not govern family migration under Appendix FM, which operates under a separate financial framework.

Section D: Which UK Visa Routes Are Subject to Appendix Finance?

Appendix Finance applies across a wide range of work, study and temporary immigration routes. The common feature is that the route appendix expressly requires funds to be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

The financial threshold itself is always set within the specific route appendix. Appendix Finance then governs how that threshold must be evidenced.

The principal routes currently subject to Appendix Finance include the following.

1. Work routes under the points-based system

Appendix Finance applies to most sponsored work routes where a maintenance requirement is imposed.

These include:

• Skilled Worker
• Global Business Mobility routes (Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker)
• Scale-up
• International Sportsperson
• Minister of Religion
• Temporary Work routes (Creative Worker, Religious Worker, Charity Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, Seasonal Worker)

Where the applicant has not been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months, they must usually show personal savings unless maintenance is certified by the sponsor.

The required amount and any dependant thresholds are set by the relevant appendix. The evidential mechanics are governed by Appendix Finance.

2. Study routes

Appendix Finance applies to the main Student route and Child Student route.

Short-term Student applications may require evidence of sufficient funds, although the evidential framework differs from the full Student route and does not operate identically to Appendix Student.

Under the Student and Child Student routes, applicants must meet specified maintenance thresholds covering tuition fees and living costs. Appendix Finance governs the 28-day rule, acceptable accounts, currency conversion and the evidential format for official financial sponsorship and student loans.

The 12-month residence exemption applies in many Student applications where the applicant has already been lawfully resident in the UK.

3. Business and unsponsored routes

Appendix Finance also applies to certain unsponsored or partially sponsored routes, including:

• Innovator Founder
• High Potential Individual
• Youth Mobility Scheme
• UK Ancestry
• Hong Kong British National (Overseas)

Although these routes differ structurally from sponsored work routes, they commonly impose a maintenance requirement that must be evidenced in accordance with Appendix Finance.

For Innovator Founder, it is important to distinguish between any business funding requirements under the route criteria and personal maintenance funds. Business funding requirements are separate from the maintenance requirement. Appendix Finance governs how personal maintenance funds must be held and evidenced.

4. Routes no longer open to new applicants

Some routes previously subject to Appendix Finance are now closed to new applicants, such as:

• Start-up
• Sole Representative of an Overseas Business (replaced by UK Expansion Worker, except for media representatives)

Where transitional provisions apply to existing migrants, Appendix Finance may still be relevant. However, new applicants must rely on the replacement routes.

Applicants should always consult the most up-to-date version of the Immigration Rules, as route availability can change.

Section Summary
Appendix Finance applies to most work, study and temporary immigration routes that impose a maintenance requirement. The relevant route appendix sets the amount required, while Appendix Finance governs how that amount must be held and evidenced. It remains central to compliance across the modern points-based system.

Section E: Why Are Applications Refused Under Appendix Finance?

Refusals under Appendix Finance are rarely about overall financial credibility. They are typically the result of technical non-compliance with evidential requirements.

The Home Office applies Appendix Finance strictly. Decision-makers assess whether the applicant has complied with the precise wording of the Rules. Even minor deviations can lead to refusal.

Understanding common refusal grounds is essential for compliance.

1. Funds not held for the full 28-day period

A frequent refusal ground arises where:

• the balance falls below the required threshold during the 28-day period;
• the 28 days are not consecutive;
• the financial evidence does not cover the entire 28-day window.

Applicants sometimes assume that holding the required amount on the closing balance date is sufficient. It is not. The minimum balance must be maintained throughout the entire qualifying period.

2. Financial evidence outside the 31-day window

Appendix Finance requires the most recent financial document to be dated within 31 days of the application.

Applications are often refused where:

• bank statements are out of date;
• applicants delay submission after obtaining statements;
• the closing balance date falls outside the permitted window.

The Home Office does not exercise discretion simply because funds remain available. The evidential timing requirement must be satisfied.

3. Reliance on ineligible accounts

Funds must be immediately accessible. Refusals occur where applicants rely on:

• investment products that cannot be liquidated instantly;
• fixed-term deposits with withdrawal restrictions;
• pension funds that are not withdrawable;
• credit facilities or overdraft arrangements.

Even where the applicant has significant assets, Appendix Finance requires the funds to be in a qualifying account and accessible.

4. Incorrect account holder

The account must be in the applicant’s name, either solely or jointly, unless the relevant route expressly permits reliance on a parent, legal guardian or approved third party.

Applications are refused where:

• funds are held in a relative’s account without express permission under the route;
• evidence of relationship or consent is missing in cases involving parent-held funds for students.

Third-party promises of future support are not accepted unless specifically permitted.

5. Unregulated or unverifiable financial institutions

Appendix Finance allows decision-makers to disregard funds held in financial institutions where:

• the institution is not appropriately regulated in its country of operation;
• verification checks cannot be satisfactorily completed;
• the institution does not use electronic record-keeping.

Applicants relying on overseas banks must ensure that the institution meets regulatory standards and can be verified.

6. Incorrect currency conversion

Where funds are held in foreign currency, the Home Office will convert them using the OANDA spot rate on the date of application.

Applications may fail where:

• applicants miscalculate exchange rates;
• currency fluctuations reduce the sterling equivalent below the threshold.

A prudent approach is to hold a buffer above the required amount to account for exchange rate movement.

7. Funds earned in breach of immigration conditions

Where savings were accumulated while the applicant was in the UK, those funds must have been earned lawfully and in compliance with immigration conditions.

If funds were generated through unauthorised employment or other breaches, they cannot be relied upon to satisfy the financial requirement.

This provision reinforces the wider compliance framework within the Immigration Rules.

Section Summary
Refusals under Appendix Finance are typically technical. They arise from failure to comply precisely with the 28-day rule, the 31-day evidence requirement, account eligibility rules, currency conversion provisions or lawful source requirements. Strict adherence to the evidential framework is essential to avoid refusal.

Appendix Finance FAQs

Appendix Finance generates recurring points of confusion, particularly around when it applies and how strictly its evidential rules are enforced. The following answers address the most common queries raised by applicants and sponsors.

What is Appendix Finance?

Appendix Finance is part of the UK Immigration Rules. It sets out how applicants must evidence financial requirements where a visa route states that funds must be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”. It governs the evidential mechanics, not the financial thresholds themselves.
 

Does Appendix Finance apply to all UK visa applications?

No. Appendix Finance applies only where the relevant immigration route expressly cross-refers to it.

It commonly applies to work, study and temporary routes under the points-based system and to their dependants. It does not apply to family migration under Appendix FM, which has its own financial framework.
 

What is the 28-day rule under Appendix Finance?

The 28-day rule requires that the required level of funds be held for a continuous 28-day period. The balance must not fall below the threshold at any point during that period.

The 28-day period is calculated by counting backwards from the closing balance date on the most recent financial document.
 

What is the 31-day financial evidence rule?

The most recent financial document must be dated no more than 31 days before the date of application.

If the closing balance date falls outside that window, the application may be refused for failing to meet the evidential requirement.
 

What is the 12-month exemption?

Many work and study routes provide that applicants who have been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months at the date of application automatically meet the financial requirement and do not need to provide maintenance evidence.

This exemption applies only where the relevant route appendix includes it.
 

Can I use a joint bank account under Appendix Finance?

Yes, provided the account is in the applicant’s name as a joint account holder and the funds meet the required threshold.

Where reliance is placed on a parent or legal guardian’s account for certain student applications, the route must expressly permit this and additional documentary evidence may be required.
 

Can I rely on a family member’s financial support?

Generally, no. Appendix Finance does not permit reliance on promises of future third-party support unless the route specifically allows it.

Permitted forms of third-party reliance include sponsor certification of maintenance or official financial sponsorship under the Student route.
 

What happens if I fail to meet Appendix Finance requirements?

If the financial evidence does not comply with Appendix Finance, the application may be refused, even if the applicant holds sufficient funds in substance.

In some cases, an Administrative Review may be available where the refusal is based on a caseworking error. Otherwise, a fresh application may be required.

Conclusion

Appendix Finance plays a central role in the UK’s modern immigration framework. It does not set financial thresholds, but it governs how those thresholds must be evidenced wherever a route requires funds to be held “as specified in Appendix Finance”.

Its requirements are technical and strictly applied. The 28-day holding period, the 31-day document rule, acceptable account criteria, currency conversion requirements and restrictions on third-party support all form part of a defined evidential code. Failure to comply with any one of these elements can result in refusal, even where an applicant clearly has sufficient funds.

Appendix Finance must always be read alongside the relevant route appendix. The route sets the amount required. Appendix Finance determines how that amount must be held and proven.

For applicants and sponsors alike, the key risk lies not in misunderstanding the threshold, but in underestimating the precision required by the evidential rules. Careful review of Appendix Finance before submission is therefore essential to ensuring compliance and avoiding preventable refusal.

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