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Study-Abroad Funding Facts 2026: Proof of Funds & Post-Study Work by Country
A free, citable reference comparing how much money you must show for a student visa, and how long you can work after graduating, across the top study destinations.
Proof of funds / blocked-account requirement by country (2026)
| Country | Amount to show | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 Germany | EUR 11,904 / year (EUR 992 / month) | Blocked account (Sperrkonto) — released to you monthly after arrival. Federal Foreign Office ↗ |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | CAD 20,635 (plus first-year tuition) | Proof of funds for a study permit, commonly shown via a GIC (returned to you in instalments). The Student Direct Stream ended in November 2024 — all applicants now use the regular stream. IRCC ↗ |
| 🇬🇧 UK | GBP 1,529 / month (London) · GBP 1,171 / month (elsewhere), up to 9 months | Maintenance funds held 28 consecutive days before you apply (UKVI). GOV.UK ↗ |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | AUD 29,710 / year (indicative living-cost benchmark) | Financial capacity under the Genuine Student requirement — assessed case-by-case, no single fixed figure. Home Affairs ↗ |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | EUR 10,000 / year | Proof of funds shown to immigration (ISD). Irish Immigration Service ↗ |
| 🇺🇸 USA | First-year cost of attendance (varies by university) | Financial evidence for the Form I-20 (F-1 visa); your school verifies funds before issuing it. US Dept of State ↗ |
Amounts are living-cost / proof-of-funds figures and usually exclude tuition. Always confirm the current requirement on the official immigration website before applying.
Post-study work visa duration by country (2026)
| Country | Post-study work visa | How long you can stay & work |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | OPT (F-1) | 12 months, plus 24 months for STEM degrees = up to 36 months |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) | 8 months to 3 years (by programme length; a language test is required for applications since Nov 2024) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) | 2–4 years depending on qualification |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Post-study work visa | Up to 3 years |
| 🇬🇧 UK | Graduate Route | 2 years (3 years for PhD) — reduces to 18 months for applications from January 2027 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | Third Level Graduate Programme | 12 months (Level 8) to 24 months (Level 9+) |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Residence permit to seek work | 18 months after graduating |
Durations depend on your qualification level and current immigration rules. Use each country guide for the full step-by-step path from study to work to PR.
Education-loan facts (studying abroad from India)
- Secured loans (with collateral): typically ~8.5–11% p.a. — the cheapest option.
- Unsecured / no-collateral loans: typically ~11–15% p.a.; the limit varies by lender, course and university.
- Moratorium: most education loans don't charge full EMIs during your course plus 6–12 months — paying the simple interest during study cuts the total a lot.
- Model your repayment with the free education-loan EMI calculator, or read the guide to loans without collateral.
Methodology & sources
Last verified: 2026-07-17. Every figure is checked against the primary official authority linked in the tables above — the German Federal Foreign Office, IRCC (Canada), UKVI (UK), Australian Department of Home Affairs, Irish Immigration Service and US Department of State. Requirements change every year and are set by each government, not by us — this page is a free reference, not legal advice. Confirm the exact current figure with the official authority before you apply or transfer money. You may cite this page with a link to https://landingprep.com/study-abroad-funding-facts-2026/.
Cite this study: LandingPrep (2026). Study-Abroad Funding Facts 2026: Proof of Funds & Post-Study Work by Country. Retrieved from https://landingprep.com/study-abroad-funding-facts-2026/
Frequently asked questions
- How much money do I need to show for a student visa in 2026?
- It varies by country. Germany requires about EUR 11,904 per year in a blocked account; Canada about CAD 20,635 in proof of funds (commonly a GIC); the UK about GBP 1,171–1,529 per month of maintenance for up to 9 months; Australia around AUD 29,710 per year as an indicative benchmark; Ireland about EUR 10,000 per year. The USA has no fixed figure — you prove the first-year cost of attendance for your university. Always confirm the current amount with the official authority before applying.
- Which country gives the longest post-study work visa?
- Canada's PGWP (up to 3 years), Australia's subclass 485 (2–4 years) and New Zealand's post-study work visa (up to 3 years) are the longest. The UK Graduate Route is 2 years (3 for a PhD) for applications up to the end of 2026, dropping to 18 months from January 2027; US OPT is 12 months plus 24 months for STEM graduates.
- Is the German blocked account or Canadian GIC refundable?
- Both are your own money. A German Sperrkonto releases roughly EUR 992 to you each month once you arrive and register; the Canadian GIC is returned to you in instalments over your first year. Neither is a fee — they are proof of funds.
- Do these funding figures change?
- Yes — most countries update proof-of-funds amounts every year, and exchange rates move. Treat the figures here as indicative 2026 values and confirm the exact current requirement on the official immigration website before you apply.