Means Of Subsistence How Much Money Do You Need For A Schengen Visa

Proofing financial sufficiency when applying for a Schengen Visa or entering the Schengen Area
Returning to the subject of Schengen Visa application requirements, whenever you decide to travel to a Schengen country, enjoying the ability to cope with the required necessary means of subsistence, or otherwise said, demonstrating your financial readiness to cope with existential costs for the period of stay abroad, must absolutely be on your priority list.

The Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country where you plan travelling to, amongst other things when applying for the visa, will ask you to provide some supporting documents, one of which is “means of subsistence”. This is an accepted document to evidence that you as an applicant seeking to enter a Schengen Country have the needed financial ability to travel and reside abroad in the specific country of the Schengen Area, complying with the living standard of that Schengen hosting country.

Generally, there are several recognized ways to prove your financial sufficiency:

* A personal bank statement indicating your financial movements (for at least 3 last months)
* Credit card
* Cash
* Traveller’s cheques
* Payslips
* Proof of employment
* Supporting document to attest sponsor’s readiness to cover your expenses during your stay
* Proof of prepaid accommodation
* Document about accommodation in private
* Proof of prepaid transport
* Other

Regarding the means of subsistence, the Regulation (Ec) No 810/2009 of The European Parliament and of The Council of 13 July 2009, establishing a Community Code on Visas also known as “Visa Code” stipulates:

In its Article 14 (c):

“Documents indicating that the applicant possesses sufficient means of subsistence both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his country of origin or residence, or for the transit to a third country into which he is certain to be admitted, or that he is in a position to acquire such means lawfully, in accordance with Article 5(1)(c) and (3) of the Schengen Borders Code”

While In its Article 21 (5) augments:

“The means of subsistence for the intended stay shall be assessed in accordance with the duration and the purpose of the stay and by reference to average prices in the Member State(s) concerned for board and lodging in budget accommodation, multiplied by the number of days stayed, on the basis of the reference amounts set by the Member States in accordance with Article 34(1)(c) of the Schengen Borders Code. Proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation may also constitute evidence of sufficient means of subsistence.”

Despite that this “Visa Code” is created to boost uniformity between Schengen countries, yet, each of the Schengen countries is free to apply specific national rules. This means that every Schengen nation is allowed to have certain independence when setting the reference or fixed amount of financial means of subsistence towards foreign visa applicants. This also involves the fact that this set amount does not necessarily match with the amount of financial means that another Schengen country might apply towards foreigners who seek to get its country’s Visa.

Next, we will introduce you to country-specific rules, as regards the amount of means of subsistence that each Schengen country applies towards their foreign visa applicants.