KAMPALA – The United Kingdom has updated its student visa rules, exempting nationals of only three African countries from submitting proof of funds when applying for Student and Child Student visas.Under the revised guidance issued by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), passport holders from Botswana, Mauritius and Tunisia will not be required to provide financial evidence at the time of application. However, they must still meet the financial eligibility requirements and may be asked to produce supporting documents during the assessment process.The exemption forms part of the UK’s differential evidence requirement for student visa applicants, which allows certain nationalities considered lower-risk to submit fewer supporting documents.For students from most African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, the financial evidence requirement remains unchanged. Applicants must continue submitting bank statements or other approved financial documents to demonstrate that they can support themselves during their studies in the UK.According to the updated guidance, students studying outside London must show access to £1,171 per month for up to nine months, while those studying in London must demonstrate £1,529 per month for the same period.The funds must generally have been held continuously for at least 28 days before the visa application is submitted. Acceptable sources of funds include personal savings, government-backed student loans, official sponsorships, and financial support from parents or eligible partners.The revised rules are expected to affect thousands of prospective African students seeking admission to UK universities, where proof of financial capacity remains one of the most important requirements for obtaining a student visa.Education consultants say the decision means that applicants from Uganda and most other African countries will continue to face a more document-intensive application process than students from the exempted countries.The UK remains one of the most popular destinations for African students pursuing higher education, with demand driven by globally recognized qualifications, research opportunities and post-study employment prospects.Immigration experts have emphasized that the exemption does not eliminate the financial requirement itself. Instead, it only waives the obligation for selected applicants to submit financial evidence upfront. UK immigration authorities retain the right to request proof of funds before making a final decision on any application.The updated guidance is likely to be closely monitored by students and universities across Africa as competition for international education opportunities continues to grow alongside rising tuition and living costs in major study destinations.The post UK Exempts Three African Countries from Student Visa Financial Evidence Requirement appeared first on The Insider.