Botswana, Mauritius and Tunisia are among a group of countries whose citizens can apply for a UK Student visa without submitting upfront proof of funds under the country’s differential evidence requirement.

Under the arrangement, eligible applicants are not required to provide documentary evidence of their finances when submitting their Student visa applications, according to an update from the UK government.

However, applicants must still meet the UK’s financial requirements, and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may request evidence of their finances at any point before making a decision on their applications.

According to the UK Government, applicants covered by the differential evidence requirement may still be required to provide financial documents if UKVI considers it necessary during the application process.

The UK Government’s current list covers dozens of countries and territories, including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Unlike nationals of Botswana, Mauritius and Tunisia, Nigerian students applying for a UK Student visa are not covered by the differential evidence requirement. They should therefore be prepared to provide financial evidence if requested as part of their visa application.

Students required to provide financial evidence must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their tuition fees for one academic year, as stated on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, For living costs, the requirement is:

Students studying in London must show £1,529 per month for up to nine months, while those studying outside London must demonstrate £1,171 per month for the same period.

This amounts to a maximum maintenance requirement of £13,761 for students in London or £10,539 for those studying outside London, excluding tuition fees.

The differential evidence arrangement should therefore be understood as a documentary exemption rather than a financial exemption: eligible applicants may not need to submit proof of funds upfront, but they must still meet the applicable financial requirements.

Eligible nationals of Botswana, Mauritius and Tunisia can apply without initially submitting evidence of their maintenance funds. However, they must still meet the financial requirement and provide proof if UKVI requests it during the application process.

The UK Government also states that applicants who have lived in the UK for at least 12 months with valid permission before applying for a Student visa do not need to provide financial evidence.