For a UK visit visa there is no minimum balance and no fixed number of months of bank statements. The officer wants to see where your money comes from and whether the trip makes sense next to your income. Student and spouse visas are stricter, with set holding periods and formats. This guide explains what caseworkers look for in statements from Pakistan and how to prepare them for each route.
What caseworkers look for
The Home Office’s Visit caseworker guidance tells officers to look for a link between what you declared on the form (your income, large deposits, support from family) and the documents you provide. It also says that where most of the funds have not been in your account for long, officers may make further checks on where the money came from.
In plain terms, a good statement shows:
- a regular pattern: salary, pension, rent or business receipts arriving each month;
- normal spending, showing that this is the account you actually live from;
- a balance that fits the cost of the trip without emptying your savings;
- an explanation, with evidence, for any large credit.
Parked funds: the biggest red flag
“Parked funds” means money put into an account shortly before applying, often borrowed from relatives, so that the balance looks bigger. Officers see this often in applications from Pakistan. A sudden deposit of several lakh rupees in an account that normally holds far less will be questioned, and if you cannot explain it the officer may not count it at all.
Genuine large deposits are fine if you prove them. If you sold a plot, add the sale deed. If you received a gift, add a letter from the person who gave it, their own statement showing the money leaving, and proof of the relationship. If a committee (rotating savings scheme) paid out, explain it in your cover letter.
Salary slips must match the statements
GOV.UK’s guide to supporting documents for visitors suggests a letter from your employer giving your start date, salary, role and company contact details. The salary in that letter, on your payslips and in your bank credits should be the same figure, after tax. If part of your salary is paid in cash, say so in the employer letter, because otherwise the gap looks like an inflated letter.
Business, property and family income
Business owners should show that the business is real and still trading. GOV.UK mentions business registration documents or recent invoices. From Pakistan that usually means FBR income tax returns and your NTN, SECP incorporation papers or a partnership deed, chamber of commerce membership, and business bank statements. Your declared income on the tax return should be broadly in line with what passes through your accounts.
Property income is best shown with a tenancy agreement and the rent arriving in your account each month. Rent collected in cash and never banked is hard to prove.
Family members’ accounts can be used, but the rules differ by route:
- Visitors: a relative or friend can pay if they have a genuine relationship with you, are not in breach of immigration laws, and can support you for the whole visit (Appendix V, paragraph V 4.3). Include their statements, a letter saying what they are paying for, and proof of the relationship, such as a NADRA FRC.
- Students: you can rely on a parent’s or legal guardian’s account if you provide proof of the relationship and their written consent to you using the funds (Appendix Finance, FIN 5.3).
How many months of statements to show
| Route | What GOV.UK requires |
|---|---|
| Visit visa | No fixed number of months. GOV.UK says statements issued more than a year before you apply are less useful. Most applicants give around six months so the income pattern is clear. |
| Student visa | The money must be held for 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. |
| Spouse visa (salaried income) | Payslips and matching personal bank statements covering the 6 months before you apply, in most cases (Appendix FM-SE). Savings must usually be held for 6 months. |
At the time of review, the Student visa money page asks for £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, on top of any unpaid fees. Check the page before you apply. For more detail, see our Student visa from Pakistan guide, the sister site’s student financial requirements guide our Spouse visa guide and the sister site’s spouse visa financial requirements guide.
The exchange rate the Home Office uses
Appendix Finance, which also applies to visitors, says money held in a foreign currency is converted into pounds using the spot exchange rate on OANDA for the date of the application (FIN 1.1). Do not rely on the rate your bank or a money changer quotes. If you are close to a required figure, leave a margin, because the rupee can move between the day you check and the day you apply.
Bank letters, stamps and online statements
- Visit visas: GOV.UK does not require a stamp, but your statements must be verifiable and should show your name, account number and the bank’s details. A bank letter or maintenance certificate helps if it matches the statements.
- Student visas: GOV.UK’s financial evidence guidance accepts paper statements or electronic downloads showing your name, the bank’s name and the amount.
- Spouse visas: electronic statements must either come with a letter from the bank on headed paper confirming they are authentic, or carry the bank’s official stamp on every page (Appendix FM-SE, paragraph 1(a)).
Whatever the route, Appendix Finance (FIN 2.1) says funds will not be counted if the Home Office cannot verify the bank, if the bank is not regulated in its country, or if it does not keep electronic records. The current GOV.UK guidance sets these tests rather than naming particular Pakistani banks, so use a mainstream bank regulated by the State Bank of Pakistan. Overdraft facilities never count towards the funds (FIN 3).
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Borrowing money from relatives and depositing it weeks before the application.
- An employer letter showing a higher salary than the bank credits.
- FBR returns declaring a small income while the statements show large business receipts, or the other way round.
- Students whose 28-day period ended more than 31 days before they applied, or whose balance dipped below the required figure for a single day.
- Using a parent’s account for a Student visa without the consent letter and proof of relationship.
- Unstamped online statements for a Spouse visa with no bank letter.
If money problems caused a refusal, our guide to what to do after a refusal and the sister site’s refusal reasons guide explain how to fix them before reapplying. For the full visit visa checklist, see supporting documents for a UK visit visa.
FAQ
Is there a minimum bank balance for a UK visit visa?
No. You need enough to cover the trip without harming your finances at home, and the money should have a clear source.
Do my statements need a bank stamp?
For Spouse visas, electronic statements need a stamp on every page or a bank letter. For visit and Student visas GOV.UK does not require a stamp, but a stamped statement or bank letter does no harm and can help verification.
Can I use my father’s account for a visit visa?
Yes, if he is paying for your trip. Declare it on the form, add his statements and a letter saying what he will pay for, and show the relationship. Your own ties and income still matter.
Do savings in shares or bonds count?
Not for routes where Appendix Finance sets the funds test, such as Student visas. It excludes shares, bonds and credit cards, and pensions you cannot withdraw from. Keep the money in a bank account you can access.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.