There are different requirements if you are applying from inside or outside of the United Kingdom. If you are applying from within the United Kingdom, the balance must show that you have had at least £800 in your account at all times over the three-month period.

If you are applying from outside the United Kingdom, the balance must show that you have had at least £2,800 in your account at all times over the three-month period.

Evidence must be in the form of cash funds. You can show the following to meet this criteria:

The personal bank or building society statements should clearly show:

§                                 your name;

§                                 the account number;

§                                 the date of the statement;

§                                 the financial institution's name and logo;

§                                 transactions covering the three-month period;

§                                 that there is enough funds present in the account; and

§                                 that there has been enough money present in the account for the past three months.

If you wish to send electronic bank statements from an online account these must contain all of the details listed above. In addition, you will need to send a supporting letter from your bank, on headed paper, confirming that the statements are genuine. Alternatively, electronic bank statements with the official stamp of the bank that issued the statements will be accepted. The stamp must appear on every page of the statement.

The building society passbook should clearly show:

§                                 your name;

§                                 the account number;

§                                 the financial institution's name and logo;

§                                 transactions covering the three-month period;

§                                 that there has been enough money present in the account for the past three months.

The letter from a bank or building society should state:

§                                 your name;

§                                 the account number;

§                                 the date of the letter;

§                                 the financial institution's name and logo;

§                                 the funds held in your account; and

§                                 that enough funds have been in the bank for at least three months.

The letter from the financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) or home regulator should state:

§                                 your  name;

§                                 the account number;

§                                 the date of the letter;

§                                 the financial institution's name and logo;

§                                 the funds held in your account; and

§                                 that the funds have been in the bank for at least three months.