Own funds at your home bank or Novo Banco Conta 351: Which Is Better in Portugal? (2026)
The short answer
A Portuguese account wins whenever the stakes are high: it is the only evidence format no consulate or AIMA officer questions. Home-country statements are the right call only for low-cost, low-risk files at lenient posts.
Row by row
Fees verified August 2026 against each provider's published data
| Criterion | Own funds at your home bank | Novo Banco Conta 351 |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance reliabilityHow often consulates accept this route | Portuguese statements accepted near-universally; foreign ones refused at strict postsWins | |
| CostWhat the route costs all-in | EUR 0Wins | ~EUR 72/year plus possible USD 350 intermediary |
| Speed | Existing statementsWins | 1-4 weeks to open |
| Nif prerequisite | NoneWins | mandatory NIF |
| Aima renewal usefulness | AIMA prefers domestic statements; foreign income unreported in IRS caused refusalsWins | |
| Post-arrival utility | MB Way, direct debits, rent paymentsWins | |
| Failure mode | Foreign statements fail silently at the counter; a PT account's failure mode is the NIF waitWins |
So which one
Pick Own funds at your home bank if
- Your consulate is known to accept stamped foreign statements and you want zero cost.
Pick Novo Banco Conta 351 if
- You want the safest evidence and post-arrival banking in one move.
Other comparisons
6 more pairsHow we compared these two
The criteria are fixed
Every comparison on this site uses the same 7 rows in the same order, so two pages can be read against each other. We do not add a row because one side happens to win it.
A win is a stated threshold
A row is won on the published number or capability, not on judgement. Ties are declared rather than broken. Figures come from provider price lists and official sources.
How we get paid
Both links earn a commission at the same rate, so the winner of a row is never the higher-paying one. Fees come from each provider's own published price list, not a comparison feed.
Sources: provider price lists and official data, accessed August 2026. Next review: November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Own funds at your home bank or Novo Banco Conta 351?
A Portuguese account wins whenever the stakes are high: it is the only evidence format no consulate or AIMA officer questions. Home-country statements are the right call only for low-cost, low-risk files at lenient posts.
When should I pick Own funds at your home bank?
Your consulate is known to accept stamped foreign statements and you want zero cost.
When should I pick Novo Banco Conta 351?
You want the safest evidence and post-arrival banking in one move.