Proof-of-funds requirements for non-EU European students moving to the EU
By Muntasir • Published Aug 08, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Education Planning, Study in Europe, Visas & Student Mobility
Non-EU European students, including UK, Turkish, and Western Balkan nationals, must prove the same minimum funds as any other international applicant. Germany requires 11,904 euros a year in a blocked account, the Netherlands 14,700 euros, France 877.50 euros a month, and Spain around 600 euros a month.
💶 Germany: 11,904 EUR/year blocked account (992 EUR/month)
💶 Netherlands: 14,700 EUR/year (1,225 EUR/month)
💶 France: 877.50 EUR/month from August 2026, about 10,530 EUR/year
💶 Spain: around 600 EUR/month, tied to the national IPREM figure
📩 Swiss nationals often get simplified treatment under a bilateral free movement deal, not the standard non-EU process
Who this applies to
If you are a European citizen but not an EU citizen, your study visa runs on a different track from an EU applicant. UK, Turkish, and Western Balkan nationals, from countries such as Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, go through the same non-EU financial requirement as any other third-country applicant, unless the destination country grants a specific exception. Swiss nationals are the exception here: a bilateral Free Movement of Persons Agreement between Switzerland and the EU gives Swiss citizens treatment closer to EU citizens in many member states, so check your specific destination before assuming the full non-EU proof-of-funds package applies to you. These figures cover living costs only. None of them include your tuition fee, which you show separately through an admission or payment confirmation, and none of them include your health insurance, which most of these countries also require before they issue a visa.
Minimum funds required, by country
| Country | Minimum required | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 11,904 EUR/year (992 EUR/month) | Blocked account (Sperrkonto), set by the Federal Foreign Office |
| Netherlands | 14,700 EUR/year (1,225 EUR/month) | IND income norm for study residence permits |
| France | 877.50 EUR/month (about 10,530 EUR/year) | Minimum resources level, raised from 615 EUR/month on 1 August 2026 |
| Spain | Around 600 EUR/month | 100% of Spain's IPREM reference figure |
Germany: the blocked account
Germany requires you to open a blocked account (Sperrkonto) and deposit 11,904 euros before your visa is approved, according to the Federal Foreign Office . You can withdraw only 992 euros a month from it once you arrive, matching the annual figure divided across 12 months. If you hold a scholarship, the scholarship amount counts toward this figure, reducing what you need to deposit yourself. Several providers offer blocked accounts built for this exact requirement, compare their setup fees and release process before you commit, since you cannot access the full sum in one go once it is opened.
Netherlands: a monthly income norm
The Dutch immigration service (IND) sets a study income norm of 1,225 euros a month. For a full academic year, you need to show 14,700 euros available for living costs, on top of your tuition fee, according to IND . Exchange students only need to cover the length of their exchange rather than a full 12 months. You can meet this norm with your own savings, a sponsor's guarantee, or a combination of both, as long as the total reaches the required amount for your full stay.
France: a minimum that just went up
France raised its minimum resources requirement for non-EU students from 615 euros to 877.50 euros a month, effective 1 August 2026, according to InfoMigrants . You meet this through personal bank funds, a scholarship certificate, or a sponsor's guarantee, France accepts all three routes. If you applied before the increase took effect, check with your consulate whether the older 615 euro figure still applies to your file or whether the new threshold applies at your visa interview.
Spain: tied to a national reference figure
Spain calculates your requirement as a percentage of the IPREM, its public multiple-effects income indicator. A student traveling alone needs 100% of the monthly IPREM figure, around 600 euros a month, according to Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs . If your program runs shorter than a full year, you only need to show funds for the actual length of your studies rather than a default 12 months.
Where nationality changes the picture
UK nationals lost automatic free movement after Brexit and now face the same requirements above as any other non-EU applicant, with one exception: Irish universities and the Common Travel Area still treat UK citizens differently in Ireland specifically. Turkish and Western Balkan nationals also go through the standard non-EU process in every EU country, regardless of any candidate status their country holds. Swiss nationals benefit from the bilateral agreement mentioned above, so confirm directly with your destination country whether you qualify for lighter requirements before assuming the full non-EU figures apply to you. Candidate country status, held by countries such as Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia, does not by itself change your visa category or your financial requirement, that only changes once a country joins the EU.
How to prove your funds
A blocked account, required in Germany and accepted as proof in several other countries
Recent bank statements in your own name, usually covering the last 3 to 6 months
A scholarship certificate from a recognized funding body
A formal sponsor letter, usually a parent or guardian, with their own bank statements attached
Check your specific consulate's accepted document list before you apply, requirements shift slightly between consulates even within the same country
Apply for your blocked account or gather bank statements well before your visa appointment, some consulates reject documents issued too close to the interview date