Can investment accounts, crypto or property count as funds?

Key rules

• Cash only: The balance certificate from your bank is the proof of funds. An investment statement does not replace it.
• Property: Owning property does not count as funds. Money from selling it counts once it is in your account.

Investment accounts

A brokerage or investment statement shows what you own, not cash you can show. It can sit in the file as supporting evidence if it shows your name as owner and the value in euros, but it does not count toward the amount. To count, sell enough to hold the required amount in a bank account and get a bank balance certificate. Do this at least 3 months before you file, so the money has the same holding time as the rest of your funds.

Retirement and pension-plan accounts count the same way: not until the money is paid out into your bank account. A term deposit at a bank is a bank account, and the bank certificate shows its balance.

Crypto

Its value moves a lot and is hard to verify, so it never counts as it stands. Convert it to euros, move the money into a bank account and keep it there for 3 months before you file. The deposit is then older than 3 months and needs no further explanation; if it is more recent, add the written explanation set out in Large deposits and keeping your funds in place after filing.

Property

Property is not liquid funds. Proof of ownership can be added as supporting evidence of your means, but your bank balance or income must meet the required amount without it. If you sell property to reach the amount, the sale deed is the supporting paper for the deposit, and the money counts once it is in your account.