My partner and I are traveling together but we’re not married. Most of our travel funds are in a joint account. When applying for a Schengen visa, is a joint bank statement enough, or do consulates usually require an additional consent or support letter?
History has taught us that ambiguity is the enemy of bureaucracy. Ancient records were precise, and your visa application should be too. In my experience guiding groups, consular officers prefer absolute clarity. While the account is joint, ‘Look closer’ at how the funds are perceived—without a marriage certificate, you are essentially two individuals. A support letter is the wisdom you need here.
A joint bank statement alone is usually not enough when you are not married.
You should include a short financial support/consent letter from your partner to avoid doubts.
Shared bank accounts are great for budgeting, but they can trigger extra scrutiny during the visa process. No, a joint bank statement alone is usually not enough for unmarried partners. Because you lack a marriage certificate, the consulate has no legal proof that both individuals have equal, unrestricted access to the total balance.
A joint bank statement is generally acceptable for Schengen applications, even if you’re not married. Consulates mostly care that the funds are accessible to the applicant and sufficient for the trip. That said, many embassies prefer things to be very explicit. To be safe (and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth), it’s strongly recommended to include a short support/consent letter from the partner, stating that the funds in the joint account are available to cover the trip costs. This is especially important if only one of you is the main applicant, or if income isn’t clearly shown elsewhere. It doesn’t need to be fancy — just clear, signed, and consistent with the documents.