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The short answer
It depends on the route. The UK Student visa needs the money held for at least 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of the application; Canada sets no fixed holding period for Express Entry but asks for a six-month average balance, and study permit applicants send six months of statements. The US student visa page sets no period, and Germany uses a blocked account funded before the visa.
Why holding periods exist
An officer is trying to tell the difference between money that is really yours and money placed in an account for a few days to pass a check. A holding period, sometimes called seasoning, is the simplest test: if the balance stayed above the required amount for weeks or months, it is less likely to be borrowed for the occasion. Some countries write a period into the rules. Others ask for months of history and let the officer judge. Either way, the safest plan is to have the money in place well before you apply.
The rules side by side
| Route | Holding rule | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| UK Student visa | At least 28 days in a row; end of the period within 31 days of applying | GOV.UK Student visa: money, read Oct 2026 |
| UK, all Appendix Finance routes | Most recent evidence dated within 31 days of applying (FIN 7.1); evidence must cover the whole period (FIN 7.3) | GOV.UK Appendix Finance, read Oct 2026 |
| Canada Express Entry | No fixed period; bank letter shows average balance for past 6 months; funds available at application and when the PR visa is issued | IRCC proof of funds, modified 16 Oct 2026 |
| Canada study permit | Bank statements for the past 6 months, including the application month or the month before, as one accepted proof | IRCC financial support, modified 28 Aug 2026 |
| United States F-1/M-1 | No holding period on the State Department page; officer may ask how you will pay all costs | travel.state.gov, read Oct 2026 |
| Germany student | Blocked account funded before the visa; €992 a month released after arrival (third-party figure) | Expatrio, 7 Oct 2026 |
| Australia student | No period confirmed on the official page; ApplyBoard lists six-month statement history as typical evidence | ApplyBoard, 2 Sept 2026 |
We could not load the Australian Department of Home Affairs financial capacity page or the German Federal Foreign Office page in October 2026, so the last two rows rely on secondary sources. Check the official page before you rely on them.
The UK: a hard 28-day rule
GOV.UK's example makes the timing concrete: if you apply on 1 January, the money must have been in your account for a 28-day period ending no earlier than 1 December. The balance must not dip below the required amount on any day of those 28. A single day under the line breaks the run. Our existing guide to the 28-day rule goes through the dates in detail.
Worked example
Example only. Chidi applies on 20 March. His 28-day period must end on or after 17 February (31 days before), so he picks 20 February to 19 March. If his balance fell below the required level on 3 March to pay rent, the run breaks and he must start a new 28-day count, pushing his application to at least early April.
Canada: history rather than a clock
IRCC's Express Entry page does not name a holding period. Instead, the bank letter must give, for each account, the date it was opened, the current balance and the average balance for the past six months. A large recent credit shows up as a gap between the current and the average balance, and the officer can ask where it came from. Study permit applicants are asked for six months of statements showing the source of income. Read how long Express Entry funds should sit for a worked average.
The US and Germany: two opposite approaches
The US State Department's student visa page sets no holding period. The I-20 from your school states the costs, and the consular officer may ask how you will pay them. A balance that appeared last week will still draw questions at interview, so recent history matters in practice; see bank statements at a US visa interview.
Germany removes the question by locking the money. Students typically open a blocked account and deposit a year's living costs before the visa appointment; the money is then released monthly. Expatrio gives €992 a month (€11,904 for 12 months) as at October 2026, a figure it ties to Germany's BAföG rate. Confirm with the German mission handling your application.
What to check first
- The exact holding wording for your route and visa type, on the official site.
- Your intended application date, then count backwards.
- Any big payments due in the period, such as rent or school fees, that could pull the balance under the line.
- Whether the funds are in a currency that is converted on the application date; under UK rule FIN 1.1, the OANDA spot rate for that day applies.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR, and money stays in the currency it arrived in until you choose to Swap. Whether a given embassy accepts that statement is its decision. See multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
How many days should money stay in account for UK visa?
For the UK Student visa, at least 28 consecutive days, with the period ending within 31 days of the application date, according to GOV.UK. Visitor visas have no fixed day count.
Does Canada require funds to be in the account for 6 months?
Not as a fixed rule. For Express Entry the bank letter shows the average balance over six months; for study permits IRCC accepts six months of statements as one form of proof.
Is there a seasoning period for a US student visa?
The State Department's student visa page sets none. The officer may still ask how you will pay all costs, so a sudden deposit can draw questions.
When should I fund a German blocked account?
Before the visa application, since the blocked account confirmation is the proof of funds. Check the current amount with the German mission.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Student visa, money · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix Finance · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Proof of funds, Express Entry (table updated 7 July 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Proof of financial support, study permit (page modified 28 August 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- US Department of State: Student visa · accessed Oct 2026
- Expatrio: German blocked account amount for 2026 (7 October 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.