Every Schengen visa applicant must prove they have enough money to cover each day of their trip. This guide lists the 2026 minimums for every Schengen country. If you are traveling from the UAE or Kuwait, also check Wego’s guides on Schengen visas for UAE residents and Schengen visas for Kuwaiti residents.
What proof of funds means for a Schengen visa
“Means of subsistence” is the term Schengen consulates use for the money you need to cover your stay. It is one of the core entry conditions under the Schengen Borders Code, alongside a valid travel document, purpose of stay, and travel medical insurance.
Each country sets its own daily reference amount, published in Annex 25 of the EU’s Visa Code Handbook. Border guards use this figure to assess whether you can support yourself without working illegally or relying on public funds.
What counts as acceptable proof
Most consulates accept the following as evidence of funds:
- Personal bank statements covering the last 3 to 6 months, stamped and signed by the bank
- Salary slips or employment letter confirming income
- Fixed deposit certificates or investment statements
- A sponsor’s bank statements plus a notarized sponsorship letter and proof of relationship
- Cash, traveler’s cheques, or international credit cards (with credit limit confirmation)
Internet-only bank statements without a physical stamp are routinely rejected by Spanish and French consulates. Always request stamped statements directly from your bank branch.
Why 2026 is different
Several Schengen consulates — particularly Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, and the Czech Republic — have moved from accepting three months of bank statements to requesting six months. Officers also examine balance consistency, flagging accounts where large deposits appear shortly before the application is filed.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is already in operation, and the ETIAS authorization is set to launch in late 2026. If you are planning a summer trip to Europe, also review Wego’s guide to Europe summer travel disruptions in 2026 and the new Europe tourist taxes for 2026.
Country-by-country proof-of-funds threshold list (2026)
The table below summarizes the official daily reference amounts for short-stay Schengen visas as published in Annex 25. Where a minimum total applies, it is shown alongside the daily figure.
| Country | Daily minimum | Total minimum / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | €122.10 per day (10% of 2026 SMI) | Min. €1,098.90 per person regardless of trip length |
| France | €120 (no accommodation proof) / €65 (hotel) / €32.50 (host) | Daily figure tied to French SMIC minimum wage |
| Italy | Variable (see Italy section) | €269.60 fixed sum for trips 1–5 days (solo) |
| Greece | €50 | Min. €300 for stays up to 5 days; 50% for minors |
| Portugal | €40 | Plus €75 fixed entry fee per visit |
| Czech Republic | CZK 1,565 (~€63) | Stays up to 30 days; 50% for under-18s |
| Germany | €45 | Case-by-case assessment, no fixed reference |
| Netherlands | €55 | Applied flexibly based on trip purpose |
| Belgium | €95 (hotel) / €45 (with host) | Return ticket required |
| Switzerland | CHF 100 (~€105) | CHF 30 for students with valid ID |
| Croatia | €70 (no booking) / €30 (with booking) | Letter of guarantee can replace funds |
| Estonia | €70 | Per allowed day of stay |
| Slovenia | €70 | 50% for minors with parents |
| Luxembourg | €67 | Tied to minimum wage |
| Slovakia | €56 | Includes accommodation, meals, and spending money |
| Bulgaria | €50 + €50 accommodation | Min. €500 total |
| Lithuania | €50 | Waived for accompanied minors |
| Finland | €50 | Plus accommodation and ticket costs |
| Romania | €50 | Min. €500 for entire stay |
| Malta | €48 | For full duration of visit |
| Denmark | DKK 350 (~€47) | Plus return-journey funds |
| Sweden | SEK 450 (~€40) | Per day of stay |
| Norway | NOK 500 (~€42) | Indicative only; case-by-case |
| Iceland | ISK 8,000 (~€53) | Min. ISK 40,000 per entry |
| Poland | PLN 75 (~€18) | Min. PLN 300 for stays under 4 days |
| Hungary | €40 per day | Letter of invitation accepted in lieu of cash proof |
| Latvia | €14 (stays up to 30 days) | Lowest in Schengen; sponsorship waives requirement |
| Austria | No fixed amount | Case-by-case at the border |
| Cyprus | No fixed amount | Discretion of immigration officers |
Countries applying stricter financial checks in 2026
Six Schengen states have noticeably tightened how they verify proof of funds this year. If you are applying through any of these consulates, plan for extra scrutiny.
Spain: €122.10 per day in 2026
Spain calculates its short-stay reference amount as 10% of the gross national minimum wage (SMI) per day, set under Order PRE/1282/2007. With the 2026 SMI set at €1,221 per month (Royal Decree 126/2026), the daily entry requirement is €122.10 per person, with a floor of €1,098.90 regardless of trip length.
Spanish consulates in 2026 are insisting on six months of stamped bank statements rather than three, and are flagging applications where the closing balance has fluctuated sharply. Wego’s Spain Tourist Visa guide covers the full document checklist.
For long-stay or non-lucrative visa applicants, Spain uses the IPREM benchmark — currently €600 per month — and requires 400% of IPREM (€28,800/year) plus 100% per dependent.
France: €120 per day without accommodation proof
France ties its proof-of-funds figure to the French minimum wage (SMIC). Per France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the daily reference is:
- €120/day if you have no proof of accommodation
- €65/day if you have a confirmed hotel reservation for the full stay
- €32.50/day if you have an “attestation d’accueil” (a notarized invitation from a French resident)
French consulates are widely considered the strictest in 2026 for documentary review. They look at balance trends across six months and will reject applications showing sudden top-ups in the weeks before submission.
Booking hotels in Paris in advance lowers your daily threshold from €120 to €65.
Italy: Fixed sum based on trip length
Italy uses a sliding scale set by the Ministry of the Interior’s 1 March 2000 directive on means of support, also reproduced on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
| Trip length | Solo traveler | Two or more |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 days (fixed sum total) | €269.60 | €212.81 per person |
| 6–10 days (daily) | €44.93/day | €26.33/day |
| 11–20 days (fixed + daily) | €51.64 + €36.67/day | €25.82 + €22.21/day |
| More than 20 days (fixed + daily) | €206.58 + €27.89/day | €118.79 + €17.04/day |
Italian consulates accept three months of bank statements, but in 2026 they are increasingly scrutinizing the source of large deposits. Salary credits are preferred over lump-sum transfers. Once approved, search flights to Rome or flights to Milan on Wego.
Greece: €50 per day, €300 minimum
Greece’s threshold is set by Common Ministerial Decision No. 3021/22/10-f:
- €50 per person per day
- Minimum €300 total for stays up to 5 days
- 50% reduction for minor children
Applicants in 2026 report higher approval odds when showing €70–€100/day, particularly first-time travelers. Greek consulates also expect prepaid hotel and flight bookings — search hotels in Athens on Wego before applying.
Portugal: €75 entry fee plus €40 per day
Per the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, applicants must show:
- €75 fixed amount for each entry into Portugal
- €40 per day for each day spent in the country
For a 10-day trip, that works out to €475 minimum. Travelers with prepaid accommodation may be exempted from the daily portion, but you must show the booking confirmation. Portuguese consulates have moved to six-month bank statement checks for applicants from MENA and South Asian markets.
Czech Republic: CZK 1,565 per day
Per the Czech Ministry of Interior, the requirement is:
- CZK 1,565 per day (~€63) for stays of 30 days or fewer
- CZK 46,950 (~€1,890) plus CZK 6,260 per additional month for stays exceeding 30 days
- 50% of the above for applicants under 18
The Czech Republic has tightened its review of bank statement authenticity in 2026, and now requires originals or certified digital statements rather than printouts. Note that the Czech subsistence minimum (on which the daily figure is based) is being revised upward in 2026, which may increase this threshold — check the Czech Ministry of Interior for the latest figure before applying.
How consulates evaluate your funds beyond the numbers
Meeting the official minimum is not the same as getting approved. Consulates in 2026 look at four signals beyond the headline number: balance consistency over time, the source of your funds, whether you are self-funded or sponsored, and how your funds match your itinerary costs.
A steady balance over six months is more convincing than a sudden top-up. If your balance was €500 for five months and jumped to €5,000 a week before applying, expect questions or refusal.
Salary credits, business income, and rental income are all easy to explain. Cash deposits or transfers from third parties are not — the consulate may demand documentation for any deposit larger than your typical income.
If a sponsor is funding your trip, the sponsor’s bank statements and a notarized sponsorship letter are required. Most consulates also need proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, employment contract).
Consulates also calculate your expected trip cost — flights, hotels, daily spending — and compare it to your shown funds. If you show the bare minimum but your booked itinerary suggests higher spending, the application looks inconsistent. If your application is refused, Wego’s guide on Schengen visa refusal reasons and how to appeal explains your next steps.
How to prepare your bank documents in 2026
Bank statement preparation is now the single biggest cause of avoidable rejection.
Get six months, not three
Even where the consulate’s published checklist says three months, six is now the safer default for Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Italy, and the Czech Republic. The extra months give the officer comfort that your finances are stable.
Insist on physical bank stamps
Internet-banking PDFs without a stamp are routinely rejected. Visit your bank in person and request statements stamped on every page, signed by a bank officer.
Avoid last-minute deposits
If you need to top up your account, do so at least 90 days before applying. A deposit appearing in the last 30 days of your statements is a red flag.
Show the full picture
Include salary slips, employment letter, ITR (income tax returns), and fixed deposit certificates alongside your bank statement. Your total financial profile is what gets approved, not the bank statement alone.
Match funds to itinerary
Calculate your expected trip cost: flights + hotels + daily spending × number of days. Show 1.5x that amount in your account. This margin reassures the officer you can handle unexpected costs.
For help booking your Schengen visa appointment or understanding the first entry rule, check Wego’s dedicated guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ETIAS applicants need to show proof of funds?
No. ETIAS is a pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt nationals (such as US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and GCC passport holders). The ETIAS application only asks for your passport details, contact information, travel and background questions, and a €20 fee — no bank statements or financial proof. The proof-of-funds requirements in this article apply only to Schengen visa applicants. However, border guards may still ask any traveler to show means of subsistence at the point of entry under the Schengen Borders Code.
Can I show fixed deposits as proof of funds for a Schengen visa?
Yes, fixed deposits are accepted as supplementary proof, but they should not replace your primary bank statement. Most consulates want to see liquid funds in a current or savings account, with FDs as supporting evidence of broader financial health.
Does the proof-of-funds amount include flights and hotels I have already paid for?
No. The daily minimum is meant to cover your costs once you arrive — meals, local transport, incidentals — and is in addition to prepaid flights and accommodation. Some countries like Croatia and Portugal reduce the daily figure if you can prove prepaid accommodation, but most do not.
Which Schengen country has the lowest proof-of-funds requirement in 2026?
Latvia has the lowest official requirement at €14 per day for stays up to 30 days. Poland (PLN 75/day, ~€18) is the next lowest. Low minimums do not necessarily mean easier approval — overall application quality, travel history, and documentation matter more than which country has the lowest number.
If I have a sponsor, do I still need to show funds in my own account?
It depends on the country. Spain, France, and Italy generally require the sponsor’s bank statements plus a notarized declaration, and may not require the applicant to show their own funds. Germany accepts a “Verpflichtungserklärung” (formal sponsorship declaration). Always check the specific consulate’s checklist before applying.
Sources
- European Commission — Annex 25 of the Visa Code Practical Handbook (Reference Amounts)
- Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Conditions for entry into Spain
- SEPE — Spain 2026 SMI (Royal Decree 126/2026)
- BoletÃn Oficial del Estado — Order PRE/1282/2007 (Spain financial means)
- France Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs — Visa Requirements
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Financial means required for entry into Italy
- Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Means of subsistence (Schengen)
- Czech Ministry of Interior — Proof of funds requirements
- EUR-Lex — Schengen Borders Code (Regulation 2016/399)
- European Commission — What is ETIAS
- European Commission — ETIAS will cost EUR 20
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
