UK Excludes Six Financial Assets as Proof of Funds for Student Visa Applicants
The UK government has specified six types of assets that cannot be used as proof of funds for student visa applications, affecting many African applicants.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 18, 2026
2 min read
The United Kingdom has clarified which financial assets are unacceptable as proof of funds for student visa applications. This announcement is particularly significant for Kenyan and other African students planning to study in the UK.
Assets Not Accepted for Student Visa Proof of Funds
- Overdrafts
- Cryptocurrency holdings
- Stocks and shares
- Pension funds
- Bank accounts not regulated by the financial authority of the country where the bank operates
- Bank accounts lacking electronic record-keeping
Despite the value held in some of these assets, such as cryptocurrencies or investment portfolios, they will not be recognized as valid financial proof during the visa application process.
Implications for African Applicants
The exclusion of unregulated bank accounts is particularly relevant in many African countries where informal banking and community savings are common. Funds held in banks without official regulatory oversight or those maintaining only paper-based records will be disqualified, regardless of the amount saved.
Applicants are advised to ensure their funds are held in regulated banks with electronic record-keeping systems well ahead of submitting their visa applications. Failure to meet these financial evidence requirements could lead to delays or visa refusals.
