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The short answer
Most Nigerian banks let you download an ordinary statement in the app, but a visa or embassy statement is usually requested at a branch, where it is printed, stamped and signed. The CBN's 2020 Guide to Charges says monthly statements are free and special statements can cost up to ₦20 a page. Turnaround and any separate letter fee vary by bank, so ask before you order.
Ordinary statement versus embassy statement
An ordinary statement is the list of transactions you download from your app or internet banking. An embassy or visa statement is the same information produced by the bank, usually on letterhead and stamped and signed on each page, so a consulate can treat it as coming from the bank rather than from you. Some routes want more: Canada's Express Entry page asks for a letter from the bank on its letterhead that lists every account, the date each was opened, the current balance, the six-month average balance and any outstanding debts. Read your route's checklist first, because it decides which one you need.
Bank letter versus statement
A statement lists transactions. A bank letter, sometimes called a reference letter or balance confirmation, is a short document on letterhead confirming that you hold the account, when it was opened and what the balance is. Some routes want both. Canada's Express Entry route asks specifically for a letter covering every account, debts and a six-month average balance, which an ordinary statement does not give. Others, such as UK student applications under Appendix Finance, focus on the statement covering the required period, with the latest evidence dated within 31 days of the application. Ask the branch for whichever your checklist names, and check the wording before you leave, since a missing item means another trip.
The request routes, bank by bank
| Bank | Routes on its own pages | Noted limits |
|---|---|---|
| GTBank | Branch; email request to gtassistant@gtbank.com in a set format | Emailed statements cover at most the last six months; stamped statements via branch |
| UBA | Chat banking with Leo (mini and full statements) and branch | Embassy turnaround not on pages we read |
| Kuda | App: profile > Statements & Reports; "signed" statement option | Kuda describes it as signed, not stamped |
Sources: GTBank's complaints and enquiries page, UBA's Chat with Leo page and Kuda's help centre, read in October 2026. Fees and turnaround for stamped embassy statements were not published on any of these banks' pages we read, so ask at the branch.
What the CBN allows banks to charge
The CBN's Guide to Charges (effective 1 January 2020) sets monthly statements as free and special statements at up to ₦20 a page. The CBN has consulted on a revised guide; check its website for any newer version before relying on these ceilings. Reference letters are a separate service, and banks may charge for them.
If a branch quotes a charge that looks far above these ceilings, ask which item on the bank's published tariff it falls under, and keep the receipt.
Worked example
Example only. A six-month statement for a busy salary account runs to 18 pages. At the CBN ceiling of ₦20 a page, the printing charge is at most 18 × ₦20 = ₦360. Two stamped copies come to ₦720. Any embassy letter fee is extra; ask for the full cost before the bank prints.
Steps: ordering a statement that will not be sent back
- Check your route's period. The UK student route needs funds held 28 days, with the latest evidence dated within 31 days of your application (Appendix Finance FIN 7.1). Canada study permit applicants send six months.
- Check the name on the account matches your passport exactly. If not, update it with the bank first.
- Go to your branch, or use the bank's official email route, and ask for a stamped statement for the exact dates, addressed to the embassy if required.
- Ask whether each page will be stamped and signed, and whether a bank letter with balances is available.
- Ask for the fee and collection date in writing or by email.
- Order close to the application date so the latest date is recent, but leave time to fix errors.
- Check every page before you leave: name, account number, dates, page numbers, stamps.
Statements for a sponsor or second account
If a parent or sponsor is paying, they request their own statement from their own bank; no one else can order it for them. If your money is spread over two banks, get a statement from each and add a one-page summary listing each account and its balance, so the officer can follow the total. Where your route also asks for a bank letter, as Canada's Express Entry does, ask both banks for one. And keep a scanned copy of every page before you hand anything in, because visa centres often keep the originals.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme customers can generate a regular or a verifiable statement in the app through receipts and statements, in partnership with VerifyDoc.ai; the recipient can check a verifiable one is unaltered. Read the bank-specific guide for GTBank embassy statements if you also bank there.
Questions people ask
How much is embassy statement in Nigerian banks?
The CBN's 2020 Guide to Charges caps special statements at ₦20 a page; monthly statements are free. Any separate letter fee depends on the bank, so ask the branch before printing.
How long does it take to get a stamped bank statement?
None of the banks we checked publishes a turnaround for embassy statements. Many branches can do it quickly, but ask for a collection date and order early enough to fix mistakes.
Can I get an embassy statement on my bank app?
Apps produce ordinary statements; Kuda offers a signed version. A stamped statement usually requires a branch request. Check your route's checklist to see which one it wants.
How many months of bank statement do I need for a visa?
It depends on the route: the UK student route needs a 28-day holding period, Canada's study permit page accepts six months of statements, and visitor visas vary.
Sources
- CBN: Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Financial Institutions (effective 1 January 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: Complaints & Enquiries · accessed Oct 2026
- UBA: Chat with Leo · accessed Oct 2026
- Kuda Help: Get your account statement · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Proof of funds, Express Entry (table updated 7 July 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix Finance · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.