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If you're from outside Europe and aiming to study in Germany, there's a high chance you'll need a German student visa! To ensure your visa application sails through smoothly, you'll need to understand the concept of a Blocked Account (Sperrkonto in German). Why is it so important? Well, without a Blocked Account, you might risk your visa application being declined, preventing you from chasing your dream degree in Germany.
Although most of the study programs in Germany are tuition-free, students still need to plan with a certain budget if they want to pursue a degree in Germany. And the Blocked Account makes up the cornerstone of that budget! In this article, we will inform you about one of the determining aspects of the Blocked Account - the amount of money the international students need to open the German Blocked Account and to maintain it for the required period of time.
It is our goal to inform you honestly and accurately, therefore, we need to add a disclaimer:
You should use this text as a general guide, but it cannot be a legal consultation. The visa regulations are made and executed by the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), and the local Foreigners’ Offices (Ausländerbehörde). Please be aware: Some rules and procedures can vary from embassy/consulate to embassy/consulate (even within one country), and from Ausländerbehörde to Ausländerbehörde in Germany. That is why we highly recommend you also consult the German representation abroad near you, and the local Foreigners’ Office in Germany (which Ausländerbehörde is responsible for you depends on your residence in Germany) for information that applies to your case.
More info about the blocked account
Go to Fintiba💰💰 = We receive a small commission for Fintiba products sold through this link. However, this does not result in any additional costs for the customer.
How much money should be in Blocked Account in Germany?
As of September 2024, the current Blocked Account amount required to apply for a German visa is 11 904 Euros. This amount is blocked on the student's bank account for a year, and the student has access to no more than 992 Euros per month. It is worth mentioning that 11 904 Euros per year or 992 Euros per month is the minimum amount of money in the Blocked Account that is required for a German student visa.
The exact amount of money that you need to allocate to your German Blocked Account is determined by the German government. Although the new German Blocked Account amount for international students in 2025 stands at 11 904 Euros, it is important to emphasize that this amount is not set in stone, and it can often change due to various socio-economic reasons. Let us take a closer look at Table 1, which demonstrates how the German Blocked Account amount has changed since 2019.
Table 1: German Blocked Account Amount for International Students in 2019-2025
| Year | Monthly Amount | Annual Amount |
| 2025 | €992 | €11 904 |
| 2024 | €934 | €11 208 |
| 2023 | €934 | €11 208 |
| 2022 | €861 | €10 332 |
| 2021 | €861 | €10 332 |
| 2020 | €853 | €10 236 |
| 2019 | €850 | €10 200 |
As you can see, the amount that the German authorities require students to pay into the Blocked Account has increased several times, from €10,200 (equivalent to €850 per month) in 2019 to the current amount of €11,904. In other words, over a period of about six years, the amount of the Blocked Account in Germany has increased by more than 16.5%.
Consequently, it is absolutely critical to consistently review the local German Embassy/Consulate's website in order to stay informed about the current minimum amount required for the proof of financial resources. We would also suggest checking the websites of the Blocked Account providers to make sure that the information you possess is correct. Do you wonder why this cross-checking might be required? The answer is simple: interestingly, some German Embassies/Consulates may have outdated information on their web-pages, and, hence, may not accurately reflect all of the details with respect to the existing regulations of the German Blocked Account.
Table 2: German Embassies/Consulates and the Blocked Account Requirement
| Country | German Representation | Page Name | Language | Link |
| Albania | German Embassy in Tirana | Hapja e një llogarie bankare të bllokuar në Gjermani për studentët para udhëtimit | SQ | more info |
| Armenia | German Embassy in Yerevan | Հուշաթերթիկ. ուսանողներ | HY | more info |
| Azerbaijan | German Embassy in Baku | Tələbələr və Almaniyada təhsil almaq istəyənlər | AZ | more info |
| Bangladesh | German Embassy in Dhaka | Information sheet: Visa for students (Section 16b Residence Act) | EN | more info |
| Cameroon | German Embassy Yaounde | Visa for study purposes | EN | more info |
| China | German Missions in China | 留学签证须知 | ZH | more info |
| Colombia | German Embassy in Bogota | Estudios con admisión a un colegio preuniversitario o una universidad | ES | more info |
| Egypt | German Embassy in Cairo | ارشادات بشأن التأشيرة ﻷغراض الدراسة في ألمانيا | AR | more info |
| Georgia | German Embassy in Tbilisi | საინფორმაციო ფურცელი № D3a: ვიზა უმაღლეს სასწავლებელში სწავლისა (სტუდენტური გაცვლითი პროგრამების ჩათვლით) და უმაღლეს სასწავლებლებში განაცხადების შეტანისთვის | KA | more info |
| Ghana | German Embassy in Accra | Student Visa Application | EN | more info |
| India | German Missions in India | Checklist for a German national visa - student – (applicable starting November 1st, 2022) | EN | more info |
| Indonesia | German Embassy in Jakarta | NATIONAL VISA - Students with an unconditional Admission Letter for Bachelor or Master Studies in Germany | EN | more info |
| Iran | German Embassy in Tehran | تحصیل همراه با پذیرش از یکی از دانشگاههای آلمان | FA | more info |
| Kazakhstan | German Missions in Kazakhstan | Жадынама: Жоғары білім алу | KK | more info |
| Kenya | German Embassy in Nairobi | Studies, Language Course to then study | EN | more info |
| Lebanon | German Embassy in Beirut | تأشيرة للدراسة الجّامعيّة | AR | more info |
| Malaysia | German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur | How to open a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) | EN | more info |
| Mexico | German Embassy in Mexico City | Financiamiento | ES | more info |
| Morocco | German Embassy in Rabat | تأشيرة وطنية | AR | more info |
| Nepal | German Embassy in Kathmandu | How to open a blocked account? | EN | more info |
| Nigeria | German Missions in Nigeria | Student visa checklist | EN | more info |
| Pakistan | German Missions in Pakistan | Options to finance your stay | EN | more info |
| Peru | German Embassy in Lima | Requisitos de visado para estudios universitarios, intercambios o maestrías | ES | more info |
| Russia | German Missions in Russia | Обучение в высшем учебном заведении / колледже довузовской подготовки или на языковых курсах в рамках довузовской подготовки | RU | more info |
| Saudi Arabia | German Missions in Saudi Arabia | Checklist study and preparatory courses | EN | more info |
| Singapore | German Embassy in Singapore | Study and preparatory courses | EN | more info |
| South Africa | German Missions in South Africa | Information sheet: national visa Visa for students (Section 16b Residence Act) | EN | more info |
| Sri Lanka | German Embassy in Colombo | Opening a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) for students | EN | more info |
| Thailand | German Embassy in Bangkok | คำแนะนำในการขอวีซ่าเพื่อการศึกษา | TH | more info |
| Tunisia | German Embassy in Tunis | Visas nationaux | FR | more info |
| Turkey | German Embassy in Ankara | MERKBLATT FÜR TÜRKISCHE STUDIENBEWERBER | DE | more info |
| Ukraine | German Embassy in Kyiv | Візи для студентів та абітурієнтів з метою навчання, для відвідання мовних курсів, відвідання школи | UK | more info |
| United Arab Emirates | German Missions in the United Arab Emirates | National Visa – Category D: Study | EN | more info |
| Uzbekistan | German Embassy in Tashkent | Milliy viza (90 kundan ko'p) | UZ | more info |
| Vietnam | German Missions in Vietnam | Thị thực đi du học đại học tại Đức | VI | more info |
German Blocked Account: Fees & Charges
In most cases, international students who need to open a Blocked Account to get a German student visa and/or German student residence permit have to pay for the Blocked Account service. So, having a Blocked Account in Germany is usually not free.
There are four possible scenarios that you may encounter depending on the German Blocked Account provider that you choose:
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You will need to pay money to open a Blocked Account in Germany, AND you will have to pay monthly fees for having a Blocked Account;
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You will not need to pay money to open a Blocked Account in Germany, but you will have to pay monthly fees for having a Blocked Account;
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You will need to pay money to open a Blocked Account in Germany, but you will not have to pay any monthly fees for having a Blocked Account;
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You will neither need to pay money to open a Blocked Account in Germany nor will you have to pay monthly fees for having a Blocked Account.
There is no "universal" amount of money that international students might need to pay to open and maintain a Blocked Account in Germany. Put differently, every German Blocked Account provider is different, which is why they have their own regulations and fees. Below you can find the list of German Blocked Account providers with information about the costs related to opening and maintaining the blocked account.
Table 3: Fees of German Blocked Account Providers
| Provider* | Country | Availability | Type of service | Banking Model | European Deposit Protection | Set up fee | Monthly fee | Extension fee** |
| Fintiba | Germany | 🌎*** | Online | German Partner Bank | ✅ (Germany) | 159 EUR💰 | 9.90 EUR💰 | 159 EUR 💰 |
| Expatrio | Germany | 🌎*** incl. USA | Online | Italian partner bank with German branch | ✅ (Italy) | 89 EUR 💰 | 5 EUR 💰 | 89 EUR 💰 |
| Care Concept | Germany | 🌎*** | Online | Vietnamese partner bank with German branch | ✅ (Germany) | 50 EUR 💰 | 4.90 EUR 💰 | 50 EUR 💰 |
| Edubao | Germany | 🌎*** | Online | Escrow model with payment service provider in France | ✅ (France) | 99 EUR | 6 EUR | 49 EUR |
| Studely | France | 🌎*** | Online | Escrow model with payment service provider in France | ✅ (France) | 127 EUR | 0 EUR | 127 EUR |
| RemitX | India | Only India | Online | Escrow model with lawyer in Germany | ✅ (Germany) | 89 EUR | 5 EUR | Not applicable |
| Kotak Mahindra**** | India | Only India | Online | Own Indian banking license | ❌ (India)***** | 0 EUR | 0 EUR | No information |
| DDKonto | China | Only China | Online | No Information | No Information | 89 EUR | 4.90 EUR | 89 EUR |
| Coracle [temporarily no new accounts] | Germany | 🌎*** | Online | Escrow model with payment service provider in France | ✅ (France) | 99 EUR | 0 EUR | 60 EUR |
| ICICI [temporarily no new accounts] | India | Only India | Online | Own British bank with German branch | ✅ (Germany) | 150 EUR | 0 EUR | 8 EUR per month |
| DropMoney [temporarily no new accounts] | Spain | 🌎*** | Online | Escrow model with payment service provider in France | ✅ (France) | 70 EUR | 5 EUR | 60 EUR |
* Partnership: We partner with the following blocked account providers: Fintiba, Expatrio, Care Concept. The relevant links 💰 in this article are so-called affiliate links (you can easily recognize them by the 💰 symbol following). We receive a small commission when someone clicks on the link and makes a purchase.
**Usually, the maximum duration of the German Blocked Account is 12 months. So, for instance, if you need it for 24 months, you should extend it for another 12 months after the initial 1-year period. However, there are some blocked account providers, like Fintiba, with whom you can at once set up a blocked account for 24 months and avoid an extension fee for the 2nd year.
*** There may be exceptions for individual countries (e.g. high-risk countries).
**** Kotak Mahindra charges a fee per transaction.
***** Statutory deposit insurance for Indian banks covers only a part of the blocked account amount.
The sorting within the list comes from the following criteria (in the order mentioned):
- banking model
- Direct Bank integration (with German banks vs. other European banks vs. Non-European banks)
- Escrow Model (Payment Service Provider vs. Personal Model)
- availability (worldwide vs. only specific countries)
- total number of customers
- and provider name (A-Z).
The sorting criteria are explained and justified in more detail below:
1) Banking model (direct banking integration vs. escrow model): In the direct banking model, the blocked account is opened in the customer's name at a bank without anyone else in between - whereas, in the escrow model, the account is opened in the name of a third party (the so-called trustee). The direct banking model is, therefore, much easier for customers to understand than the escrow model because fewer parties are involved. The protection mechanism is also easier to understand: in the case of a direct banking model, the deposit guarantee takes effect, while in the escrow model (as in the case of the French deposit guarantee) two different mechanisms come into play depending on the scenario: in the event of the trustee's insolvency, ringfencing (segregated accounts) takes effect and only in the event of the bank's insolvency does the deposit guarantee take effect. The fact that both models are very secure is unaffected by this.
The direct banking model fully complies with the General Administrative Regulation on the Residence Act of October 26, 2009 by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) since the account is set up in the name of the student and at a financial institution which is permitted to carry out banking services in the federal German territory. In the escrow model, where the account is set up in the name of a trustee and not in the name of a student and opened with a payment-service-provider instead of a financial institution which is permitted to carry out banking services in the federal German territory, does not strictly comply with this requirement - but is also accepted in most of the cases.
The sorting within providers with a direct banking model is as follows:
We list providers that have a partner bank with a European banking license before providers with a partner bank that does not fall under European regulation. This is due to the fact that banks in Europe are subject to a harmonized deposit protection scheme (100,000 euros). Non-European banks that do NOT have a banking license for Germany (e.g. Kotak Mahindra) are listed only after the escrow models - since they do not comply with the General Administrative Regulation on the Residence Act of October 26, 2009.
2) Availability (worldwide vs. only in a certain country): We list providers who generally offer their blocked accounts worldwide (although individual countries may be excluded) before those providers who are only available for certain countries.
3) Number of customers: We sort providers with the same direct banking or escrow model according to their total number of customers (i.e. total blocked accounts opened since their foundation) published on their website. Providers who do not publish any information on this are ranked behind those who provide figures.
4) Name of the provider (A-Z): In the case of equality in the above criteria, providers are sorted alphabetically.
Providers that are still active but currently do not accept new customers are listed at the end of the list.
CLICK HERE to find out what criteria you need to consider while choosing the best-fitting German Blocked Account Provider for you.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the charges mentioned in Table 3 can vary over time, and there might be extra fees that are not included in this list (e.g., buffer fees). We try our best to provide you with the latest information possible. For more details and the most up-to-date information regarding the pricing, refer to the homepages of the providers. The links to the websites of the listed providers are integrated in Table 3.
Table 3 makes it evident that German Blocked Account providers are different in many ways, including their prices. Depending on the provider, to open a blocked account students might need to pay approximately between 0 and 150 Euros. As for the monthly costs, the German Blocked Account might cost you monthly more or less between 0 and 6 Euros.
Geeky Stuff Box
If you're a student applying for a German student visa and you plan to use a blocked account to prove your financial capability, Deutsche Bank is no longer an option. They will stop offering this service from July 2022. Therefore, you will no longer be able to open a blocked account with Deutsche Bank to prove your finances for your German student visa.
Do I need a Blocked Account every year in Germany?
Table 3 also provides valuable insight into how much approximately you as an international student should budget for the whole German Blocked Account issue depending on the length of your study course. It is noteworthy that international students in Germany who opt for a Blocked Account for their German student visa application need the Blocked Account for each year of their studies - as long as they cannot provide a proof of finances through alternative ways for the 2nd (or any other additional) year (as a general rule). In particular, if you want to do a 1-year Master's in Germany, you need to deposit 11 904 Euros to a German Blocked Account. In case you chose to pursue a 2-year Master's degree in Germany, you would need a total deposit of 23 808 Euros over two years; for a 3-year Bachelor's study program in Germany, you would need 35 712 Euros total deposit over three years and so on.
Besides, do not forget to add to these numbers the set-up, monthly and extension (when applicable) fees. For example, if you are going to do a 2-year Master's in Germany and you want to open a Blocked Account with Fintiba, the total amount of money that you will need for the Blocked Account (including Fintiba's set-up, monthly and potential extension fees) will be around 24 204.6 - 24 363.6 Euros over two years. If instead of Fintiba you choose Care Concept, then the total amount will be around 24 028.6 Euros.
Table 4: Total (approximate) amount of money required for the German Blocked Account based on the duration of the study course and the provider
| 1-year study program | 1.5-year study program | 2-year study program | 2.5-year study program | 3-year study program | 3.5-year study program | 4-year study program | |
| Fintiba* | 12 181.8 EUR | 18 352.2 EUR | 24 363.6 EUR | 30 534 EUR | 36 545.4 EUR | 42 715.8 EUR | 48 727.2 EUR |
| Expatrio | 12 053 EUR | 18 124 EUR | 24 106 EUR | 30 177 EUR | 36 159 EUR | 42 230 EUR | 48 212 EUR |
| Care Concept | 12 012.8 EUR | 18 044.2 EUR | 24 028.6 EUR | 30 057 EUR | 36 038.4 EUR | 42 069.8 EUR | 48 051.2 EUR |
| Edubao | 12 075 EUR | 18 112 EUR | 24 100 EUR | 30 137 EUR | 36 125 EUR | 42 162 EUR | 48 150 EUR |
| Studely | 12 031 EUR | 18 110 EUR | 24 062 EUR | 30 141 EUR | 36 093 EUR | 42 172 EUR | 48 124 EUR |
| RemitX | 12 053 EUR | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Kotak Mahindra** | 11 904 EUR | At least 17 856 EUR | At least 23 808 EUR | At least 29 760 EUR | At least 35 712 EUR | At least 41 664 EUR | At least 47 616 EUR |
| DDKonto | 12 051.8 EUR | 18 122.2 EUR | 24 103.6 EUR | 30 174 EUR | 36 155.4 EUR | 42 225.8 EUR | 48 207.2 EUR |
| Coracle [temporarily no new accounts] | 12 003 EUR | 18 015 EUR | 23 967 EUR | 29 979 EUR | 35 931 EUR | 41 943 EUR | 47 895 EUR |
| ICICI [temporarily no new accounts] | 12 054 EUR | 18 054 EUR | 24 054 EUR | 30 054 EUR | 36 054 EUR | 42 054 EUR | 48 054 EUR |
| DropMoney [temporarily no new accounts] | 12 034 EUR | 18 076 EUR | 24 058 EUR | 30 100 EUR | 36 082 EUR | 42 124 EUR | 48 106 EUR |
*If you opt for the 24-month blocked account(s) with Fintiba instead of the 12-month account(s), the total amount of money that you will need for the whole blocked account procedure will be lower. For instance, for a 2-year study program, you will have to budget approximately 24 204.6 EUR instead of 24 363.6 EUR.
**Transaction fees and potential fees charged for extending the Blocked Account beyond the first year are not included.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the charges mentioned in Table 4 can vary over time, and there might be extra fees that are not included in this list (e.g., buffer fees). We try our best to provide you with the latest information possible. For more details and the most up-to-date information regarding the pricing, refer to the homepages of the providers.
Note: According to the official guidelines, a Blocked Account is mandatory only for the first year of university studies. If your studies extend beyond the first year, you are (as a general rule) required to demonstrate sufficient funds to extend your residence permit. It's important to note that proving financial sufficiency for subsequent years doesn't necessarily require a Blocked Account. You can prove your finances through alternative ways, e.g., a full scholarship.
Hence, the total amount that students need to invest into the Blocked Account differs depending on the provider they choose. As you can see, the difference per year is not really significant across the providers. Hence, it should not be the sole decisive factor when choosing the Blocked Account provider. The overall amount of money that is involved in this process is quite a significant sum, that's why you should take your time and find out the answers to the questions like:
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Am I eligible to open a blocked account with the given Blocked Account provider? For example, not all of the providers offer a service for minors. Also, some providers cannot offer a service to students from particular countries, while others may be just for the students from specific countries.
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Which Blocked Account provider promises more safety for my money? Here check the banking model.
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How reliable is the Blocked Account provider? How experienced it is? For instance, pay attention to the number of students that have already opened an account with the provider. Also, for example, check the reviews on Trustpilot and Google.
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How easy it is to open a Blocked Account with the given Blocked Account provider? Research what are the documents that the provider requires (aka assess the level of bureaucracy), and how quickly you can open an account and receive the blocking confirmation.
After answering these questions, you can combine the acquired information with the details regarding the pricing, and then you will be able to make quite an informed decision and choose the right provider that is suitable to you based on your preferences.
Advice Box
We recommend that students regularly check the offers of the providers, as sometimes you can even open the account for free. As a specific example, Fintiba offered interested students to open an account for free in May 2023.
Besides, it is a good idea to explore various packages that the providers might be offering (e.g., Blocked Account + Health Insurance), which might make the total fees of the Blocked Account itself cheaper for you.
Do I need another bank account alongside the German Blocked Account?
Yes, students in Germany need to have a regular (also known as "current") bank account in addition to the German Blocked Account. Why is this important? There are two main reasons:
- If you have ever asked yourself "How can I withdraw money from the Blocked Account", here comes the answer: without a regular bank account, international students will not be able to withdraw their money from their German Blocked Account. In other words, having a regular bank is indispensable for students to get their monthly payouts of 992 Euros from the Blocked Account.
- You should remember that students cannot use their German Blocked Account for standard transactions. To be more specific, you cannot use the Blocked Account to pay in shops or cafes, to transfer money for your health insurance or rent, etc. It is the regular bank account that you should use for your "daily business".
Geeky Stuff Box
11,904 is only the minimum amount that international students must have in their blocked account to qualify for a German student visa. If you decide to deposit more than the required annual minimum of €11,904 into your German Blocked Account, your monthly withdrawal limit will increase in line with the additional deposit. Note that not all blocked account providers allow students to deposit more than the official minimum.
How can I transfer the money to the German Blocked Account?
To put it simply, there are two key ways through which you can transfer your money to the German Blocked Account:
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Via special money transfer companies;
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Via international bank transfer.
Bear in mind that some of the German Blocked Account providers partner with particular money transfer services and suggest you the best options when it comes to money transfers tailored to their company.
Open your Blocked Account Now Advertising
You can also visit the Fintiba website to open your blocked account: 
Can I get my money back if my visa application is rejected?
In case your application for a German student visa is rejected, your Blocked Account provider will give your money back to you. In other words, your money is safe! Make sure to get an official letter of rejection from the local German Embassy/Consulate that is responsible for your student visa application. This document is crucial for getting your refund.
Besides, the procedure of closing your Blocked Account because of the visa rejection can differ from provider to provider. Thus, it is of utmost importance to be directly in touch with your Blocked Account provider and find out what are the exact steps that you need to undertake to close the Blocked Account and get your money back into your pocket. It is noteworthy that the whole refund procedure might take over a month.
Geeky Stuff Box
Actually, it is quite easy to get a German student visa. As per our research conducted in 2022, the German student visa success rate is over 90%. Thus, it is very unlikely that your application for the study visa will be rejected. All you need to do is to complete the seven basic steps correctly. After you do that, your chances of getting a visa to study in Germany are very high.
Is the Blocked Account money enough to live in Germany?
The general answer is YES, the requested amount of money in the German Blocked Account should be enough to live in Germany. You should understand that the exact amount of money that the German authorities demand you to have on your Blocked Account is not a number out of nowhere. The sum of 11 904 Euros (aka 992 Euros per month) is the result of the meticulous calculation conducted by the German government itself, and it is connected to the BAföG rate. Thus, German authorities believe that international students need at least 11 904 Euros to manage their basic living expenses (like rent, food, transportation, etc.) in Germany for at least one year.
The BAföG (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz in German), or the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act, is a form of need-based financial aid provided to students requiring financial support for their studies in Germany. This national standard, known as the BAföG rate, represents the minimum amount of money a student would need for a decent life in Germany. Currently, the BAföG rate is 992 Euros, and it is made up of four components: costs for basic needs, which amounts to 480 Euros, costs for housing at 382 Euros, health insurance surcharges of 100 Euros, and long-term care insurance surcharges of 30 Euros. This total sum is deemed necessary to cover a student's essential living expenses in the country.
In the context of student visa applications, the required Blocked Amount amount is tied to this BAföG rate. This means the minimum financial requirement for obtaining a student visa aligns with the established cost of living standards defined by the BAföG rate.
In addition to that, it is also noteworthy that there are two important aspects that students need to remember when contemplating whether the Blocked Account money will be sufficient for them:
- The lifestyle
- The area of residence
It goes without saying that different students have different basic needs, and that is why the basic living costs vary from individual to individual. For example, the student who prefers to eat at home and live in a shared flat will need much less money per month to live a decent life in Germany rather than the one who eats in a restaurant every day and lives in a luxurious apartment. Thereby, whether 992 Euros per month will be enough for you depends on the lifestyle you follow.
However, it may also happen that students with the same lifestyle will need different amounts of money to live a quality life in Germany. Here comes the importance of the area of residence: the city/town where the students live in Germany is a significant determinant of the monthly budget required. For instance, according to the statistics for 2020, living in an unfurnished single room in a shared apartment (incl. costs for heating) in Münich would cost students about 2.7 times more than living in the same setting in Magdeburg.
Advice Box
If you feel that you need more than 992 per month due to your lifestyle, location or for any other reason, you should consider keeping the extra money in your regular bank account rather than depositing more than the required minimum into the Blocked Account.
Is it possible to avoid a Blocked Account in Germany?
Yes, it is possible to avoid a Blocked Account requirement for a German student visa. Put differently, there are alternatives for a Blocked Account in Germany, which prospective students can use to prove their funds and, hence, get a visa to study in Germany. For instance, you do not need a Blocked Account for a German student visa if you have a:
Let us delve into these alternatives.
- First, there's the Letter of Obligation (also known as Verpflichtungserklärung, declaration of commitment, or letter of commitment). This is a special document from a German resident who pledges to financially back you during your stay in Germany.
- Second, you can prove your financial sustainability for a German student visa via the full scholarship, aka the scholarship that provides you with 992 euros per month. Keep in mind that in order to use this option as proof of funds, the scholarship should be from either German or EU public institutions.
Summary Box
- Currently, the German Blocked Account Amount stands at 992 Euros per month, aka 11 904 Euros per year.
- The Block Account Amount is not a fixed number; it can change over time.
- There are various German Blocked Account providers, and they are different in many ways, including in terms of the fees they charge for the Blocked Account.
- Fees charged by the Blocked Account providers is an important, but not the most important criterion when choosing the provider. There are some other crucial aspects that international students should take into consideration when selecting the provider (e.g., the security of the account).
- Students need a regular bank account alongside the German Blocked Account to receive their monthly payouts.
- Two key ways to transfer your money to the Blocked Account are through special money transfer companies or through international bank transfers.
- If your visa application is rejected (which is a rare occurrence), you will get your money back.
- 11 904 Euros (or 992 Euros per month) is the minimum amount required by the German government, and it should be enough for international students to live in Germany. However, students might need more money if they follow a fancy lifestyle and/or live in an expensive city.
- International students can study in Germany without a Blocked Account. For instance, they can opt for a scholarship or a formal letter of obligation.
