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The short answer
No. As at October 2026, GOV.UK's Graduate visa pages set no maintenance or bank-balance requirement; they list a passport, your CAS reference and, in some cases, a sponsor's consent letter. What you do pay is the £937 application fee and the immigration health surcharge, usually £1,035 a year, which is £2,070 for a two-year visa.
Nigerian students finishing a UK degree often start saving for a 'Graduate visa bank statement'. On the current GOV.UK guidance, there is no such requirement. The money question on this route is about fees, not funds. Here is what the pages say, as at October 2026.
What GOV.UK asks for
The Graduate visa 'Documents you'll need' page lists:
- a valid passport or travel document;
- your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference from your Student visa application;
- your biometric residence permit, if you have one, to prove your current Student visa;
- proof of relationship if a partner or children apply with you;
- a letter from your scholarship or sponsorship provider approving the application, if they paid both your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months.
There is no line for bank statements or a minimum balance. That is the contrast with the Student visa's monthly living-cost figure and the £1,270 on the Skilled Worker route. The only finance-related document is the sponsor's consent letter: a Federal or state scholarship board, or an employer who paid your fees and upkeep, may need to approve your switch.
Eligibility in brief
GOV.UK lists four conditions. You must be in the UK; hold a Student (or Tier 4) visa; have studied an eligible course (usually a UK bachelor's, master's or PhD) for the minimum period; and your university must have told the Home Office you completed it. You can apply before graduation day once the university has reported completion, and you must apply before your Student visa expires. Your provider must be a licensed sponsor with a 'track record of compliance'.
What it costs
| Item | Amount (as at Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £937 |
| Health surcharge, 18 months | £1,152.50 |
| Health surcharge, 2 years | £2,070 |
| Health surcharge, 3 years (PhD) | £3,105 |
The visa length depends on when you apply. GOV.UK says it lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. A PhD gives 3 years.
Worked example
Example: Amaka finishes an MSc in Manchester and applies in November 2026. She pays £937 + £2,070 = £3,007. If she waits until February 2027, the visa is 18 months and the bill is £937 + £1,152.50 = £2,089.50, but she gets six months less time to find a sponsored job. Her husband, already in the UK as her Student dependant, applies separately and pays his own fee and surcharge.
No funds test, but still a money plan
The absence of a maintenance rule does not mean the Home Office expects you to arrive with nothing. On a Graduate visa you cannot claim most benefits (public funds), and for many graduates the first months go on applications for sponsored roles. Many graduates plan to cover rent and living costs for the job search from their own savings or family support. That is a personal budget, not a visa requirement, so it does not need to sit in a bank account for 28 days or be shown to anyone. The habit of keeping a clean, regular statement still helps later: a switch to the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK after 12 months on a valid visa is exempt from showing maintenance, but other routes may not be.
Dependants and other points
Partners and children can stay as Graduate dependants only if they were your dependants on the Student visa (or a child was born in the UK during your stay). New dependants cannot join you on this route. Each pays the fee and surcharge. A decision usually takes 8 weeks, and you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while waiting, or the application is withdrawn.
If you work in public sector healthcare, GOV.UK points you to the Health and Care Worker visa instead, which is cheaper and carries no surcharge. See our Health and Care Worker funds guide.
Steps
- Check with your university that it has reported your completion to the Home Office.
- Find your CAS reference from your Student visa.
- If a scholarship body paid your fees and living costs in the last 12 months, get its consent letter.
- Budget for the £937 fee and the surcharge for your visa length.
- Apply online before your Student visa expires, and stay in the Common Travel Area until you get a decision.
Where Pryme fits
The fee and surcharge are paid in pounds. If family in Nigeria are helping, a Pryme account holding NGN and GBP lets the naira be converted with Swap at a rate shown before you approve, and the pounds sent on to you.
Questions people ask
Do I need a bank statement for the UK Graduate visa?
No. As at October 2026, GOV.UK lists no maintenance or bank-statement requirement for the Graduate visa.
How much is the UK Graduate visa fee in 2026?
GOV.UK lists a £937 application fee plus the health surcharge, usually £1,035 a year (£2,070 for two years), as at October 2026.
Is the Graduate visa still 2 years?
GOV.UK says 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD holders get 3 years.
Does my scholarship sponsor need to agree?
Yes, if they paid both your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months, you need a letter from them approving the application.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa (updated Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa – how much it costs · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa – documents you'll need · 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.