Highly skilled workers
Maintenance (funds)
This page explains the points we award under the highly skilled worker category (Tier 1 General) of the points-based system for the maintenance (funds) you have available.
On this page
- What is maintenance (funds)?
- The points awarded for maintenance (funds) if you are already inside the United Kingdom
- The points awarded for maintenance (funds) if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom
- How we assess maintenance (funds)
- How we assess maintenance evidence for online bank accounts
Full details of these requirements are in the immigration rules at paragraph 245B of part 6, which you can find on the right side of this page. You must read the policy guidance before you apply under this category. You can download the guidance and application form from the Applying section.
What is maintenance (funds)?
You must be able to support yourself for the entire length of your stay in the United Kingdom without needing to rely on public funds. If you cannot you could face financial hardship as you do not have access to most state benefits.
You must show that you have enough funds in personal savings to support yourself.
You should also assess the potential costs of living in the United Kingdom. If you are applying for permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain'), this will be based on past living expenses. If you do not expect to receive any income from your employment in the United Kingdom after the first month, you should make sure that you have enough funds to support yourself and any dependants you have.
The points awarded for maintenance (funds) if you are already inside the United Kingdom
You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds). These will be awarded if you are applying for permission to stay in the United Kingdom (known as 'leave to remain') and have £800 in available funds.
The points awarded for maintenance (funds) if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom
You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds). These will be awarded if you are applying to a British overseas entry clearance post for permission to come to the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') and have £2,800 in available funds.
You must have the £2,800 in your account for at least three months before you apply, and be able to send documents that show the money has been there for three months.
You must prove your maintenance (funds) by sending the specifed evidence to support your application, or your application will be refused.
How we assess maintenance (funds)
Maintenance (funds) can include:
- cash savings in your account that have been in your account for at least three months before your application;
- cash savings in a joint account that have been in your joint account for at least three months before your application;
- cash savings in a account overseas (we convert the amount to pounds sterling using the rate which appears on the OANDA website, which you can finds on the right of this page, and the date on your bank statement), that have been in your account for at least three months before your application.
The balance must show that you have had at least £800 in your account at all times over the three-month period for applications submitted within the United Kingdom, and £2,800 for applications submitted outside the United Kingdom.
Evidence must be in the form of cash funds. Other accounts or financial instruments for example, shares, bonds, pension funds or agreed overdraft facilities are not acceptable as evidence of your maintenance (funds).
For applications made either in the United Kingdom or overseas, all evidence must be dated no more than one month before the application is submitted.
You must have the minimum level of maintenance (funds) available and score 10 points in this section, or your application will be refused.
How we assess maintenance evidence for online bank accounts
Accounts held with internet based banks
For the purpose of the points-based system an online bank account is one that operates over the internet only and sends your bank statements to you electronically (for example over the internet or through email).
If you wish to use electronic bank statements from an online bank account as evidence, these statements must always be accompanied by:
- a supporting letter from that bank, on their company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements
Accounts held with other banks
If you have a bank account that does not operate exclusively online but you receive your bank statements electronically and you wish to use these statements as evidence of funds for maintenance, you should provide:
- electronic bank statements printed at the bank on their official stationary; or
- electronic statements printed by the applicant and bearing the official stamp of the bank in question. This stamp should appear on every page of the statements; or
- a supporting letter from the bank, on the banks company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements.
All evidence must meet the requirements listed in the policy guidance which you can download from the right side of this page. Mini-statements from cash points are not acceptable as evidence.
Terms explained
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Public funds
Public funds are income-related benefits paid by the state. They include income support, income-based job seekers allowance, housing and homelessness assistance, housing and council tax benefit, working families' tax credit, a social fund payment, child benefit and any disability allowance. Benefits paid as a result of contributions, such as the state pension, are not considered to be public funds. Social housing is not considered to be a public fund either. Claiming public funds when you are not eligible is known as benefit fraud and it is a criminal offence.