The bank statement is the most discussed document in a visa package and the one most often prepared wrongly. People ask each other “how many thousands should it be”, whereas the consulate looks not at the figure but at the movement. How the money appears in your account, when it arrived there and in what order it changed is the real question. Below I have explained that.
What they look at in a bank statement
The first indicator is stability. Regular incoming payments over three to six months, that is, a salary arriving every month, is the strongest proof. The second indicator is the remaining balance, that is, money still being in the account after the trip ends.
The weakest version is a large amount placed in the account a week before the application. The consulate sees that immediately and it raises a question, because the money looks borrowed. The same logic applies to an amount withdrawn right after the application.
How much money should be in the bank statement
| Schengen, on average | 50–100 euros a day, varying by country |
| A week-long trip | Roughly the equivalent of 700–1000 euros |
| A two-week trip | Roughly the equivalent of 1200–1800 euros |
| With the family | Calculated separately for each person |
These figures are a general guide; every country publishes its own daily norm openly. If the hotel and the ticket have already been paid for, the amount required goes down, because the main costs are settled. Submitting the payment documents together with the statement is useful in that case.
Preparing the statement properly
The statement has to be on the bank’s official letterhead, with a stamp and a signature. A plain table printed from internet banking is not accepted at many consulates. Have your name written in Latin letters on the document, as it is in the passport.
The period is usually the last three months, and some countries ask for six. Let the date of the statement be as close as possible to the day of the application; a document more than a month old counts as weak. If the currency is manats there is no problem, the consulate converts it itself.
Read more: A visa for Spain: the summer queue, the documents and the fine points of a trip to the islands
If there is not enough money in the account
In that case the sponsor option works. A close relative takes your costs upon themselves and submits a sponsorship letter together with their own bank statement. The relationship has to be confirmed with a document.
The second option is a savings account or property documents; they show financial stability additionally. A credit card limit is accepted in some countries and not in others, so confirm that in advance. The daily amount norms are published in the European Commission’s home affairs section.
A short conclusion
In a bank statement the movement and the stability matter more than the figure, and money placed at the last moment brings no benefit. Show three to six months of regular incoming payments, get the official letterhead, prepare the document close to the application date. To assemble the document package together, fill in the application form.
Note: financial requirements vary by country, so check the consulate’s current list before applying.
