Student visa: Moroccans will have to prove they possess up to 178,800 dirhams

The British Home Office has raised the level of financial resources required from student visa applicants. The measure, published on September 3 in document HC 584, will apply to applications submitted from November 30, 2026.

For studies in London, the amount will rise from 1,529 to 1,570 pounds per month, for a maximum of nine months. A candidate will therefore have to prove that they possess up to 14,130 pounds, compared with 13,761 currently, an additional 369 pounds.

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Outside London, the monthly requirement will increase from 1,171 to 1,203 pounds. The maximum will reach 10,827 pounds for nine months, compared with 10,539 today, an increase of 288 pounds. These new amounts appear in the official amendment to the immigration rules.

Using the reference exchange rate published on September 4 by Bank Al-Maghrib, this represents approximately 178,800 dirhams for London and 137,000 dirhams elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The increase amounts to nearly 4,700 and 3,600 dirhams, respectively.

A sum to prove, not to pay

These amounts do not correspond to fees collected by the British administration. The student must demonstrate that they have this sum available to meet their needs, in addition to the tuition fees still due for their first academic year.

The money must generally be held in an account for at least 28 consecutive days. The last day of this period must not be more than 31 days before the application is submitted, specifies the official GOV.UK portal. Candidates legally residing in the United Kingdom for at least twelve months are normally not subject to this financial proof requirement.

When part of the accommodation has already been paid directly to the institution sponsoring the student, this sum may be deducted, up to a limit of 1,570 pounds as of November 30.

In addition to this proof of funds, there are the expenses actually paid. A student visa application currently costs 558 pounds, to which the British healthcare surcharge is added, calculated according to the length of stay.

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The government explains this adjustment by its desire to align each year the resources required of foreign students with the maintenance loans granted to British students. The increase is therefore not specifically aimed at Moroccans, but it will apply to their applications as well as to those of other foreign students concerned.

Applications submitted before November 30, 2026, will continue to be assessed according to the previous amounts. It is the date on which the visa application is submitted, not the date on which the course begins, that will determine the applicable threshold.