“My sister, brother or grandparent has the money—can I use their statement?”
Can grandparents, siblings or friends fund a UK Student visa?
Short answer
Their bank statement is not normally an eligible account for your Student visa. The account-holder rules name the applicant, certain partners, and a Student applicant’s parent or legal guardian—not relatives or friends generally.
A promise to support you is not enough
Appendix Finance does not accept promises of future third-party support unless the route specifically permits them. A consent or gift letter does not by itself turn an ineligible third-party account into an eligible one.
If money is transferred
Once money is in an eligible account you control, it is assessed as money in that account. The full required balance will normally need to complete a qualifying 28-day period before you apply. The transfer itself does not carry over days from the donor’s account.
Partner accounts are a separate rule
A partner’s account can qualify in circumstances specified by FIN 5.1, including where the partner is applying at the same time or has already been granted permission. That is different from general support by another relative.
Where this answer stops
Official sources
Checked against the live sources on .
Permitted account holders
FIN 5.1–5.3 →Third-party support
FIN 6.1 →