When applying for Schengen visa, you must show the proof of “means of subsistence”. This simply means that you must prove that you have enough money for your trip, including the travel expenses, accommodation and food expenses, as well as other incidental expenses. You must present the documentation that shows that you have enough money to support yourself for the entire duration of stay in the Schengen area as well as to return to your country of residence or for transit to a third country.
You can show means of subsistence, through one or more of the following:
- Bank account statement – Last three months, preferably of six months, of bank statements. They should not be more than three months old. Many consulates don’t accept online statements. Therefore, if you get them by postal mail, you can use those original statements. Otherwise, it would be safer to get them signed from the bank along with their seal.
- Sponsorship letter – A letter from a sponsor that shows that they will take care of your expenses during your trip to the Schengen area. This letter must be accompanied by the sponsor’s bank statements for the past three months and should not be more than three months old.
- Cash in convertible currency
- Travelers checks
- Check books for a foreign currency account
- Credit cards
- Pay stubs (pay slips)
- Employment verification letter with salary mentioned
- Proof of prepaid accommodation and/or transport
- Documentation about private accommodation
- In case of students that received a scholarship, an original attestation of an official scholarship. Minimum 631 € / month.
- Any other means that guarantees funds in hard currency
Europe Travel Insurance
Read ArticleReference Amounts – Means of Subsistence
Actual levels of means of subsistence should be proportional to the length and purpose of the stay and to the cost of living in the Schengen country or countries to be visited. The amounts are generally determined according to the average prices for board and lodging in budget accommodation, multiplied by the number of days stayed. Many Schengen countries have established reference amounts for this purpose, as described below:
Austria
- No firm guidelines. Determined on a case by case basis.
Belgium
- Hotel accommodation: 95€/day
- Accommodation with private individual: 45€/day
Czech Republic
- For stay up to 30 calendar days: 1,100 CZK, equivalent to 42.50€/day
- For stay over 30 calendar days: 33,000 CZK, equivalent to 1,274€/day
- Long-term visa: 15-times the subsistence minimum (2,200 CZK or 85€) plus 33,000 CZK or 1,274€ plus 4,400 CZK or 170€ for each additional month of stay.
- Long-term business visa: 50-times the subsistence minimum, 110,000 CZK or 4,245€.
- Long-term student visa: 2,200 CZK or 85€ / month of stay unless you get a confirmation from a state authority or an organization for covering your expenses during your stay.
Minors (persons under 18 years of age) need 50% of the above listed minimum amounts.
Denmark
- Hotel accommodation: 500 DKK or 67.24€/day
- Hostel or other cheaper accommodations: 350 DKK or 47.07€/day
Estonia
- 100€/day
Finland
- 30€/day
France
- No prepaid accommodation: 120€/day
- Prepaid accommodation: 65€/day
- Proof of cheaper forms of accommodation: 32.25€/day
Germany
- 45€/day
Greece
- 50€/day, minimum of 300€ for stay up to 5 days.
Minors (persons under 18 years of age) need 50% of the above listed minimum amounts.
Hungary
- 1,000 HUF or 3.19€ for each entry.
- No other means of subsistence specified.
Iceland
- 4,000 ISK or 28.83€/day
- 20,000 ISK or 144.13€ for each entry
Italy
- Stay up to 5 days: 269.60€/person, 212.81€ for each additional person.
- Stay 6-10 days: 44.93€/day/person, 26.33€/day/person for each additional person.
- Stay 11-20 days: Overall 51.64€/person and 36.67€/day/person, plus 25.82€/person and 22.21€/day/person for each additional person.
- Stay over 20 days: Overall 206.58€/person and 27.89€/day/person, plus 118.79€/person and 17.04€/day/person for each additional person.
Latvia
- 14€/day
Liechtenstein
- 100 CHF or 92.34€/day
- For student who has a valid student ID, 30 CHF or 27.70€/day.
Lithuania
- 40€/day
Luxembourg
- No reference amount is specified. Decided on a case-by-case basis.
Malta
- 48€/day
Netherlands
- 34€/day
Norway
- 500 NOK or 53.34€ minimum per entry.
Poland
- Stay up to 3 days: 300 PLN or 67.76€ overall
- More than 3 days: 100 PLN or 22.59€ /day
- If a third party will cover accommodation or will be prepaid prior to travel, 20 PLN or 4.52€/day
Portugal
- 40€/day
- For each entry, travelers must have 75€.
Slovakia
- 56€/day
Slovenia
- 70€/day
Minors (persons under 18 years of age) need 50% of the above listed minimum amounts.
Spain
- Stay up to 10 days: 573.23€ overall
- Stay over 10 days: 70.77€/day
Sweden
- 450 SEK or 48.26€/day
Switzerland
- 100 CHF or 92.34€/day
- For student who has a valid student ID, 30 CHF or 27.70€/day.
