Reference amounts for the crossing of the external borders, as referred to in Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code)
Date: 2006-10-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Schengen Agreement, administrative formalities, border control, external border of the EU, foreign national

13.10.2006

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/19

Reference amounts for the crossing of the external borders, as referred to in Article 5(3) of Regu-
lation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 estab-
lishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders
(Schengen Borders Code)

(2006/C 247/03)

BELGIUM

It is stipulated in Belgian law that the availability of adequate
means of subsistence should be demonstrated.

tory (Section 13) or a certified invitation not older than 90 days
from the
Police
of
(Sections 15 and 180),

certification

date

the

by

its

The administrative practice is as follows:

Section 13 provides the following:

a) Aliens staying with a private individual

‘Funds to Cover the Stay in the Territory

Proof of means of subsistence may be furnished by means
of a letter of guarantee signed by the person accommo-
dating the alien in Belgium and authenticated by the muni-
cipal administration of his place of residence.

(1) Unless provided otherwise below, the following shall be
submitted to prove the availability of funds for the stay
in the Territory:

The declaration of liability covers the costs of the alien's
stay, health care, accommodation and repatriation in the
event that the alien is unable to pay, so as to ensure that the
public authorities do not have to bear them. The declaration
must be signed by a person who is solvent and,
if this
person is an alien, is in possession of a residence permit or
establishment permit.

If necessary, the alien may also be required to furnish proof
of personal resources.

If he is without any financial credit at all, he must have
access to approximately EUR 38 for each day of
the
planned stay.

b) Aliens staying at a hotel

If the alien is unable to furnish proof of any credit at all, he
must have access to approximately EUR 50 for each day of
the planned stay.

In most cases,
produce a travel
ticket
return to his country of origin or residence.

the person concerned must

in addition
(airline ticket)) enabling him to

(a) funds amounting at least to the following:

— 0,5 times the subsistence minimum set out
under a special legal regulation as required to
cover maintenance and other basic personal
needs (hereinafter the “Subsistence Minimum
for Personal Needs”) per day of stay if the total
period of stay is not to exceed 30 days,

— 15 times the Subsistence Minimum for Personal
Needs if the period of stay in the Territory is to
exceed 30 days while
sum shall be
increased to double the subsistence minimum
for each whole month of expected stay in the
Territory,

this

— 50 times the Subsistence Minimum for Personal
Needs in case of stay for the purposes of busi-
ness activity the total period of which is to
exceed 90 days, or

— a document confirming the payment of services
connected with the stay of the alien in the Terri-
tory or a document confirming that services
will be provided free of charge.

CZECH REPUBLIC

(2) Instead of funds as referred to in sub-section 1, the
following may be used to prove the availability of
funds for the stay in the Territory:

Reference amounts are fixed by Act No 326/1999 Sb. on Resi-
dence of Aliens in the Territory of the Czech Republic and
Amendments of Some Acts.

According to Section 5 of the Act on Residence of Aliens in
the Territory of the Czech Republic on the request of the
Police, an alien shall be obliged to submit a document
confirming that funds are available for his/her stay in the Terri-

(a) a bank account statement in the name of the alien
confirming that the alien is free to use funds in the
amount as referred to in sub-section 1 during his
stay in the Czech Republic; or

(b) another document to certify that funds are avail-
able, such as a valid internationally recognised
credit card.

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(3) An alien who will study in the Territory may submit,
as proof of availability of funds for his stay, a commit-
ment by a state authority or a legal entity to cover the
stay of the alien by providing funds equivalent to the
Subsistence Minimum for Personal Needs for 1 month
of expected stay, or a document confirming that all
costs related to his studies and stay shall be covered by
the receiving organisation (school). If the sum referred
to in the undertaking does not reach this amount, the
alien shall be obliged to submit a document proving
the ownership of funds equivalent to the difference
between the Subsistence Minimum for Personal Needs
and the amount of the commitment for the period of
his expected stay, however, not more than 6 times the
Subsistence Minimum for Personal Needs. Document
on the provision of means for one's residence may be
replaced by a decision or an agreement on the alloca-
tion of a grant acquired pursuant to an international
treaty by which the Czech Republic is bound.

(4) An alien who has not attained 18 years shall be obliged
to prove the availability of funds for his stay pursuant
to sub-section 1 equivalent to a half of the amount.’

and Section 15 provides the following:

‘Invitation

In an invitation, the person inviting an alien shall undertake
to cover the costs:

(a) related to the maintenance of the alien throughout his

stay in the Territory until he leaves the Territory;

(b) related to the accommodation of the alien throughout
his stay in the Territory until he leaves the Territory;

(c) related to the provision of healthcare to the alien
throughout his stay in the Territory until he leaves the
Territory, and the transfer of the alien when ill or of
the remains of the deceased;

(d) arising to the Police in connection with the alien
staying in the Territory and leaving the Territory in
case of administrative expulsion.’

DENMARK

account of information on his or her possibilities with regard
to accommodation and the return journey.

For the purpose of determining whether an alien has adequate
means, the administration has set a figure for adequate means
of subsistence of, in principle, of DKK 350 per 24 hours. This
is the sum which the alien must have at his disposal

In addition, the alien must be able to prove that he or she has
adequate means for the return journey, for example in the
form of a return ticket.

GERMANY

Pursuant to Article 15(2) of the Residence Act of 30 July 2004,
an alien may be refused entry at the border if he does not fulfil
the conditions for entry into the territory of the Member States
in accordance with Article 5 of the Schengen Convention. This
is the case if an alien does not have the necessary financial
means, or cannot lawfully acquire the necessary means, to pay
including the return journey to his country of
for his stay,
origin or a third country,
for which he holds a residence
permit entitling him to return to that country.

Mandatory reference amounts per day have not been set.
Instead, border control officials need to examine each situation
individually. Account should be taken of the alien's personal
circumstances, such as the nature and purpose of the journey,
length of the stay, whether he is staying with relatives or
friends, and subsistence costs.

If the third-country national is unable to produce evidence of
such circumstances or at least make credible statements, he
should have EUR 45 per day at his disposal. It is also necessary
to ensure that the third-country national's return or onward
journey is possible. Proof may, for example, take the form of
an onward or return travel ticket.

Proof of financial means may take the form of cash, credit
cards and checks but may also include:

— a legal guarantee from a credit institution authorised to

operate in the Federal Republic of Germany,

— a letter of guarantee from the host,

— a telegraphic money order,

Under the Danish Aliens Law, an alien entering Danish territory
must have means adequate for his subsistence and for the
return journey.

— a guarantee deposited by the host or a third party with the

immigration authorities responsible for the stay,

In each case it is for the border control services at the point of
entry to determine whether this is the case by conducting a
specific appraisal of the economic situation of the alien, taking

If there is reason to doubt the alien's non-cash liquidity, the
case should be examined prior to entry.

— sponsorship declaration

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ESTONIA

FRANCE

Under Estonian law, aliens arriving into Estonia without a letter
of invitation, shall upon request by a border guard official
upon entry into the country provide proof of sufficient mone-
tary means to cover the costs of his/her stay in and departure
from Estonia. Sufficient monetary means for each allowed day
is considered to be 0,2 times the monthly minimum salary
implemented by the Government of the Republic, i.e. 600 EEK.

The reference amount for adequate means of subsistence for
the planned duration of an alien's stay or for his transit via
France to a destination in a third state is equal to the amount
of the guaranteed minimum wage in France (SMIC) calculated
daily on the basis of the rate fixed on 1 January of the current
year.

Otherwise the person inviting shall assume responsibility for
the costs of the alien's stay in and departure from Estonia.

This amount is regularly reassessed on the basis of the French
cost of living index:

GREECE

Ministerial decree No 3011/2/1f of 11 January 1992 fixes the
amount for the means of subsistence which foreign nationals
— with the exception of nationals of the Member States of the
European Community — must have at their disposal if they
wish to enter Greek territory.

— automatically whenever the retail price index rises more

than 2 %,

— by a government decision — after consultation with the
national commission for collective bargaining — to grant a
rise higher than the rise in the retail price index.

As of 1 July 2003, the daily amount of the SMIC (minimum
wage) is EUR 50,40.

Pursuant to the abovementioned ministerial decree, the amount
of foreign currency enabling foreign nationals of non-member
states of the European Community to enter Greece is fixed at
the equivalent of EUR 20 in foreign currency per person per
day, and a minimum total amount of EUR 100.

Persons holding proof of accommodation (‘attestation d'accueil’)
must possess a minimum amount of money, equivalent to half
the SMIC, in order to stay in France. This amount is therefore
EUR 25,20 per day.

The amount of foreign currency required per day is reduced by
50 % for minors who are members of the alien's family.

Nationals of non-Community countries which oblige Greek
nationals to change currency at the borders are also subject to
this obligation in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.

SPAIN

Aliens must prove that
subsistence. The minimum amount is given below:

they have the necessary means of

(a) for the costs of their stay in Spain: EUR 30, or the equiva-
lent in foreign currency, multiplied by the planned number
of days of the stay in Spain and by the number of family
members travelling with the person concerned. Regardless
of the planned duration of the stay, the minimum amount
for which he must provide proof must always be EUR 300
per person.

(b) for their return to the state of origin or for transit via third
states: the non-transferable and fixed-date ticket or tickets,
bearing the name, for the intended mode of transport.

Aliens must prove that they have the above means of subsis-
tence either by producing them if they are in cash, or by
producing certified cheques, traveller's cheques, receipts, letters
of credit or a bank certificate confirming the existence of these
means.
these documents, any other
supporting documents recognised by the Spanish border police
authorities may be produced.

In the absence of

ITALY

their residence and that

Article 4(3) of the ‘Consolidated text of provisions governing
immigration and the status of aliens’ No 286 of 28 July 1998
states that Italy, in accordance with the obligations entered into
by adherence to specific international agreements, shall allow
entry into its territory to aliens who can prove that
they
possess suitable documentation to confirm the purpose and
they have sufficient
conditions of
means of subsistence for the duration of their stay and, except
in the case of residence permits for work purposes, for their
return to the country of origin. Means of subsistence are
defined in the relevant directive issued by the Minister for the
Interior. Aliens who do not satisfy these requirements or who
are considered a threat to national security or public order of
the State or of one of the countries with which Italy has signed
agreements for the abolition of internal border controls and the
free movement of persons may not enter Italy, subject to the
limits and derogations laid down in those agreements.

The directive in question, which was issued on 1 March 2000
and has the title ‘Definition of means of support for entry and
residence of aliens in the national territory’, lays down that:

— the availability of means of support may be demonstrated
by producing currency or equivalent bills of exchange or
guaranteeing
bank
payment, by means of documents attesting to prepaid
services or documents proving the availability of sources of
income in the national territory;

insurance policies

guarantees

or

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Official Journal of the European Union

13.10.2006

— the monetary amounts laid down in the directive are to be
reviewed annually, after application of
the parameters
relating to average annual variation produced by ISTAT and
calculated on the basis of the general consumer price index
for
and accommodation
services;

foodstuffs, drinks,

transport

— the alien must indicate that he has suitable accommodation
in Italian territory and that he possesses the sum needed for
repatriation; he may also present a return ticket;

— the minimum means of support needed per person for the
issue of a visa and for entry to Italian territory for the
purpose of tourism are defined in accordance with Table A
below.

TABLE A

Table for determining the means of support required for entry to
italian territory for the purpose of tourism

LATVIA

According to the Immigration Law, in order to be able to enter
and stay in the Republic of Latvia an alien must prove that he
or she has the necessary means of subsistence.

The following amounts are required:

— the daily amount required is LVL 10, if the inviter provides
an alien with accommodation and no extra resources are
needed for accommodation;

— if the alien has booked a hotel reservation, the means of
subsistence are computed based on the hotel charge, taking
into account that the total of per diem and accommodation
fee shall be at least LVL 30 per day.

In cases when the electronic information system — invitation
data base — contains information that the host or any other
person will cover the expenses related to the alien's entrance
and stay in the Republic of Latvia, the alien does not have to
submit the documents proving availability of the necessary
means of subsistence.

Number of participants in trip

LITHUANIA

Duration of trip

One participant

Two or more
participants

EUR

EUR

269,60

212,81

44,93

26,33

51,64

25,82

36,67

22,21

206,58

118,79

27,89

17,04

1 to 5 days
overall fixed sum

6 to 10 days
daily sum per person

11 to 20 days
fixed sum

+
daily sum per person

more than 20 days
fixed sum

+
daily sum per person

CYPRUS

to the Aliens

According
and Immigration Regulations
(Regulation (9(2)(B)) the entry of aliens for temporary stay in
the Republic depends on the discretionary power of the immi-
gration officers at the borders, which is exercised according to
the general or specific instructions of the Minister of Interior or
to the provisions of
the abovementioned Regulations. The
immigration officers at the borders decide on the entry on a
case by case basis, taking into consideration the purpose and
length of stay, possible hotel reservations or hospitality by
persons normally residing in Cyprus.

Under the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, an alien entering
the territory of the Republic of Lithuania if necessary must
prove that he has adequate means of subsistence or the sources
of those means for the stay in the Republic of Lithuania, a
return trip to his country or for proceeding to another country
which he has the right to enter.

For the purpose of determining whether the alien has adequate
the Ministry of Social Security and
means of subsistence,
Labour has set the appropriate amounts of financial means per
24 hours which the alien must have at his disposal: , i.e. 550
LTL for an alien applying to obtain a residence permit in the
Republic of Lithuania and 275 LTL for the members of his
family under the age of 18.

Order No. 1V-280/V-109 of the Minister of the Interior and
the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued on 2 September 2004
establishes the amount of means for subsistence that an alien
entering Lithuania must have at his disposal, which corre-
sponds to EUR 40 per day.

LUXEMBOURG

The law of Luxembourg does not provide for any reference
amount for border controls. The official conducting the check
decides on a case-by-case basis whether an alien arriving at the
border has adequate means of subsistence. In this regard the
official takes particular account of the purpose of the stay and
the type of accommodation.

HUNGARY

A reference amount is specified in the aliens policing legisla-
tion: under Decree No 25/2001. (XI. 21.) of the Minister of
Interior, currently at least HUF 1 000 is required upon each
entry.

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Under Article 5 of the Aliens Act (Act XXXIX of 2001 on the
Entry and Stay of Foreigners), the means of subsistence required
for entry and stay may be certified by the presentation of:

— Hungarian currency or foreign currency or non-cash means

of payment (e.g. cheque, credit card etc.),

— a valid letter of invitation issued by a Hungarian national,
an alien holding a residence permit or settlement permit or
a legal entity if the person inviting the alien declares to
cover the costs of the accommodation, lodging, health care
and return (repatriation). The official consent of the aliens
policing authority shall be attached to the letter of invita-
tion,

— confirmation of board and lodging reserved and paid in

advance by means of a travel agency (voucher),

— any other credible proof.

MALTA

means — Dz.U. 2003, No. 178, poz. 1748 and No. 232, poz.
2341).

Amounts indicated in the above regulation are as follows:

— PLN 100 per day of stay for persons over 16 years old, but
in a foreign

less then 500 PLN or the equivalent

not
currency,

— PLN 50 per day of stay for persons under 16 years old, but
in a foreign

less then 300 PLN or the equivalent

not
currency,

— PLN 20 per day of stay, but not less then 100 PLN or the
equivalent in a foreign currency for persons participating in
tourist trips, youth camps, sport competitions or having
costs of stay in Poland covered or arriving to Poland for
health treatment in a sanatorium,

— PLN 300 or the equivalent

in a foreign currency for
persons over 16 years old, whose stay in Poland does not
exceed 3 days (including transit),

It is the practice to ensure that persons entering Malta have a
minimum amount of MTL 20 per day for the duration of their
visit.

— PLN 150 or the equivalent

in a foreign currency for
persons under 16 years old, whose stay in Poland does not
exceed 3 days (including transit).

THE NETHERLANDS

The amount which border control officials take as the basis
when checking means of subsistence is currently EUR 34 per
person per day.

This criterion is applied flexibly, since the required amount of
the means of subsistence is determined on the basis of the
planned duration of the stay, the reason for the visit and the
personal circumstances of the person concerned.

AUSTRIA

Pursuant to Article 41(2) of the Aliens Act, aliens shall be
refused entry at the border if they have no place of residence in
Austria and do not have sufficient means of subsistence to
meet the costs of their stay and return.

However, there are no reference amounts for the above. Deci-
sions are made on a case-by-case basis depending on the
purpose, type and duration of the stay. Cash and — depending
on individual circumstances — traveller's cheques, credit cards,
bank guarantees or letters of guarantee from solvent persons
living in Austria may also be accepted as a proof.

POLAND

Amounts required for crossing borders are determined in the
Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administra-
tion of 29 September 2003 on the amount of means to cover
expenses concerning to entry, transit, stay and departure of
aliens crossing the border of
the Republic of Poland and
detailed rules of documentation evidencing possession of these

Aliens must prove that they have the above means of subsis-
tence either by producing them in cash, or by producing:

— traveler's checks or credit card,

— a letter of legal guarantee from a Polish bank (confirming

the existence of these means),

— a letter of guarantee from the host,

— a ticket entitling the holder to travel to a country of origin

or any other country,

— a document entitling the holder to use a means of transport

possessed by the person concerned.

Furthermore, an alien entering the territory of Republic of
Poland must have 300 PLN to cover medical expenses for each
day of stay or its equivalent in foreign currency. Documents
which can confirm that the alien has the required financial
means to cover medical treatment are:

— original invitation;

— insurance policy valid on the territory of Poland.

An alien entering the State with the purpose of studying or
continuing the studies, taking part in scientific research or
trainings must have:

— 1 600 PLN or its equivalent in foreign currency to cover
accommodation and board expenses for the duration of the
first 2 months of stay on the territory of Republic of
Poland;

— 300 PLN or its equivalent in foreign currency to cover
medical treatment expenses for each day of stay during the
one month period starting from the day of entry.

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PORTUGAL

Aliens must be in possession of the following amounts if they
wish to enter or stay in Portugal:

— EUR 75 — for each entry

— EUR 40 — for each day spent on the territory

Aliens who are able to prove that their board and lodging are
guaranteed for the duration of their stay may be exempted
from paying the above amounts.

SLOVENIA

According to article 7 of the Instructions on refusing entry to
aliens, conditions for issuing visas at border crossings, condi-
tions for issuing visas for humanitarian reasons and procedure
for revoking visas (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia,
No. 2/01 — hereinafter referred to as ‘Instructions’), an alien
has to, prior to entry into the country and upon request of a
police officer, provide information regarding the way in which
means of subsistence and return to the home country or
further travel to the third country will be secured for the time
of the alien's stay in the Republic of Slovenia.

As an adequate proof of existence of the required means of
subsistence an alien has to present the prescribed amount of
money in cash, or traveler's checks, internationally recognized
letters of credit, or any other verified
debit or credit cards,
proof of existence of such means in the Republic of Slovenia.

As an adequate proof that an alien may return to his home
country or may travel to the third country, an alien has to
submit either paid travel tickets or sufficient means to pay
travel expenses.

The adequate amount of cash is obtained by multiplying the
daily means of subsistence by the number of days an alien is
staying in the Republic of Slovenia. If an alien does not have
secured means of subsistence (family, paid accommodation
within a tourist package, etc...), the daily means of subsistence
shall be fixed at EUR 70, converted in SIT according to the
valid exchange daily rate.

for minors accompanied by their
The prescribed amount
parents or legal representatives shall consist of 50 % of the
prescribed amount in the previous paragraph.

SLOVAKIA

Pursuant to Article 4(2)(c) of Act No 48/2002 Z. z. on the Stay
of Aliens, an alien is obliged, upon request, to prove that he or
she has a financial amount for the stay, in convertible currency,
corresponding to at least half the minimum wage in Slovakia,
as provided for in Act No 90/1996 Z. z. on minimum wage, as

amended, for each day of the stay . An alien younger than
16 years old is obliged to prove he or she has the financial
means for the stay corresponding to half of this.

The amount corresponding to the minimum wage in Slovakia
is currently 6 900 SKK.

FINLAND

According to the Aliens' Act (301/2004, paragraph 11) an
alien shall prove, upon entry, that he/she posseses sufficient
means of subsistence, considering both the length of
the
intended stay and return to the country of departure, or transit
to a third country to which his/her admittance is guaranteed,
or that such funds can legally be acquired. Funds are considered
as sufficient on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the funds, or
tickets, required for the departure and accommodation during
the stay, approximately EUR 30 per day is considered neces-
sary, depending on the arrangements for accommodation and a
possible sponsor.

SWEDEN

As of 1 October 2006, the reference amount for crossing the
border is set by Swedish legislation at an amount of 370 SEK
per day.

ICELAND

Under Icelandic law, aliens must prove that they have enough
money to meet their needs in Iceland and to make the return
journey. In practice, the reference amount is set at ISK 4 000
per person. If the expenses connected with the stay are borne
by a third party, the amount is halved. The total minimum
amount is ISK 20 000 for each entry.

NORWAY

Under Article 27(d) of the Norwegian Immigration Law, any
foreign national who is unable to prove that he or she has
adequate funds for his or her stay in the Kingdom and for the
return journey, or that he or she can count on such funds, may
be refused entry at the border.

The amounts deemed necessary are fixed individually and deci-
sions are taken on a case-by-case basis. Account is taken of the
length of stay, whether the foreign national will be staying with
family or friends, whether he or she has a ticket for the return
journey and whether a guarantee has been given for the stay
(as an indication, an amount of NOK 500 per day is deemed to
be adequate for visitors who are not staying with relations or
friends).