💰 How Much Money Do You Need for Schengen Visa?
Quick answer: You need €50-100 per day of your stay, shown through 3-6 months of bank statements with consistent income. For a 10-day trip, that's €500-1000 minimum. The exact amount varies by country - Bulgaria requires only €50/day (lowest) while Switzerland needs €100/day (highest).
💶 Bank Balance Requirements by Country (2026)
| Country | Per Day | 10 Days | 30 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | €50 | €500 | €1,500 |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | €50 | €500 | €1,500 |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | €60 | €600 | €1,800 |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | €60 | €600 | €1,800 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | €65 | €650 | €1,950 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | €70 | €700 | €2,100 |
| 🇫🇷 France | €65 | €650 | €1,950 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | €70 | €700 | €2,100 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | €55 | €550 | €1,650 |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | €75 | €750 | €2,250 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | €100 | €1,000 | €3,000 |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | €85 | €850 | €2,550 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | €65 | €650 | €1,950 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | €60 | €600 | €1,800 |
🧮 How to Calculate Your Required Amount
Simple Formula:
Required Amount = (Days × Per Day Rate) + Safety Buffer
Example 1: 10-day France trip
- France requires: €65/day
- Minimum: 10 days × €65 = €650
- Recommended: €650 + €350 buffer = €1,000
Example 2: 21-day multi-country trip (France 7, Germany 7, Italy 7)
- Apply to: France (first country, equal days)
- France requires: €65/day
- Minimum: 21 days × €65 = €1,365
- Recommended: €1,365 + €635 buffer = €2,000
📋 Bank Statement Requirements
How Many Months?
- Standard: Last 3 months (most countries)
- Preferred: Last 6 months (shows stability)
- France, Germany: 3-6 months recommended
- Spain, Italy: 3 months acceptable
✅ What Embassies Look For
- Consistent Monthly Income - Regular salary deposits or business income
- Stable Balance - Not fluctuating wildly
- No Large Sudden Deposits - Red flag for borrowed money
- Matches Your Salary/Income - Consistent with employment letter
- Sufficient Closing Balance - Enough for trip at time of application
❌ Red Flags to Avoid
- Large deposit 1-2 weeks before application (looks like borrowed money)
- Empty account suddenly filled before applying
- Income doesn't match employment letter salary
- Account opened less than 6 months ago
- Mostly cash deposits with no source explanation
- Balance drops to zero frequently
💼 What If You Don't Have Enough?
1. Use Sponsor's Bank Statement
If traveling with family or being sponsored:
- Submit sponsor's bank statements
- Include sponsorship letter (notarized)
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate)
- Sponsor's ID/passport copy
2. Combine Multiple Accounts
- Savings account + Current account
- Fixed deposits (include certificates)
- Investment portfolios (mutual funds, stocks)
- Property documents showing assets
3. Show Alternative Proof of Funds
- Prepaid hotel bookings (already paid)
- Prepaid tour package receipts
- All-inclusive vacation bookings
- Company paying for business trip (include company letter)
4. Choose Budget-Friendly Destination
- Bulgaria: Only €50/day required!
- Greece: €50/day + beautiful islands
- Poland: €60/day, great value
- Czech Republic: €60/day, Prague is affordable
👨💼 Self-Employed / Freelancers / Business Owners
If you don't have regular salary deposits:
Required Documents:
- Business bank statements (3-6 months)
- Personal bank statements (showing withdrawals for personal use)
- ITR (Income Tax Returns) for last 2-3 years
- Business registration documents
- CA certified financials (if large business)
- Client contracts/invoices (for freelancers)
- Letter explaining income sources
🚀 Expert Tips for Bank Statements
- Start early - Open account 6+ months before applying if you don't have one
- Maintain consistent balance - Don't let it drop below required amount in last 3 months
- Show regular income - Monthly salary deposits or business income
- Don't borrow money - Visa officers can spot this easily
- Get statements properly - Bank stamped & signed, not just printouts
- Submit all pages - Don't skip any pages, they check transaction history
- Highlight salary credits - Makes it easy for visa officer to see income
- Add cover letter explanation - Explain any unusual transactions
- Match with other docs - Salary should match employment letter
- Keep buffer amount - 50-100% more than minimum shows strong finances
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I show my savings account instead of salary account?
Yes, but it must show consistent deposits over 3-6 months. A savings account with regular monthly deposits works. An account that was empty and suddenly filled will be rejected.
What if I just got a large payment/bonus?
Include a letter from your employer explaining the bonus/payment. Attach salary slips showing it was expected. This removes suspicion of borrowed money.
Do I need to maintain the balance after applying?
Technically no, but it's smart to keep it until after your trip. Some embassies do random re-checks, and you'll need the money for your actual trip anyway.
Can my spouse sponsor me?
Yes! Submit spouse's bank statements + sponsorship letter + marriage certificate. Very common for homemakers, students, or unemployed applicants.
What currency should my bank statements be in?
Any currency is fine. The visa officer will convert to Euros. Just ensure the equivalent amount meets the requirement. Some applicants include a conversion note to make it clear.
Online bank statements or physical bank stamp required?
Most embassies accept stamped & signed statements from bank. Some accept online statements if they have bank logo, your name, and dates clearly visible. Check your specific embassy requirements.
💡 Final Pro Tip
Don't just show the minimum required amount. Aim for 50-100% more. This dramatically increases approval chances and shows you're financially secure for the trip.
Example: For France (€65/day, 10 days), don't show €650. Show €1,000-1,300. Small difference, huge impact on approval!