Proof of Funds for a Visitor Visa: How Much Is Enough, and How to Show It

"How much bank balance do I need?" is the most common question we are asked, and no country publishes a fixed figure for visitor visas. What officers actually assess is whether your funds are genuine, traceable and proportionate to the trip you have described.

The three tests your funds must pass

1. 1 Ownership — the money is in your name, or a declared sponsor's name with a documented relationship.
2. 2 Source — every significant credit can be explained: salary, business income, rent, a matured deposit, a property sale.
3. 3 Sufficiency — the balance covers flights, stay, daily costs and a margin, for exactly the duration you applied for.

Work out your own figure

Rather than guessing, price your trip. Return airfare, accommodation per night, a realistic daily spend, local travel, insurance and a contingency. A two-week trip planned honestly is far more credible than a three-month plan you cannot fund.

The documents to prepare

• Six months of bank statements, stamped and complete — no missing pages.
• Income tax returns for the last two to three years.
• Salary slips, or business income and GST documents if self-employed.
• Fixed deposits, mutual fund or property documents as supporting assets.
• A short written explanation for any unusual credit, with its supporting proof.

If someone else is paying

Sponsorship is normal and accepted, provided it is explained. Include the sponsor's letter stating what they will cover, their bank statements and income proof, and documents establishing the relationship — birth or marriage certificates, or long-standing family records.

What weakens a funds file

• A round-figure lump sum credited days before applying.
• Balances borrowed from a friend or agent and returned after the decision.
• Statements without the bank's stamp or with pages removed.
• Funds inconsistent with declared income and tax returns.
• An itinerary far more expensive than the money on record.

Want this checked against your own case?

Share your travel purpose and circumstances and we will tell you what is likely to matter — honestly, including when it is not the right time to apply.