A blocked account in Germany is a bank account that holds €11,904 for one year of a student’s living costs, and it is the most common proof of funds for a German student visa. The account releases €992 per month, which equals one-twelfth of the total, so the full amount can’t leave the account in the first weeks. You deposit the money before you apply for the visa, and the German mission abroad treats the account as proof that you can support yourself.
This guide explains the blocked account Germany requires for a student visa, step by step: the amount, how the account works, how to choose a provider, the alternatives, and what happens if the visa is refused. Facts come from the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the German mission in Pakistan and a study.eu provider review, and they were checked in October 2026. The account is one step in the wider process described in our Study in Germany guide.
What Is a Blocked Account in Germany?
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a locked bank account that limits how much you can withdraw each month. The Federal Foreign Office describes it as one way to prove that you can pay for daily life in Germany. You can open it at a bank or a similar provider, usually online, and you choose the provider freely.
The account is usually opened for one year, unless your planned stay is shorter. Banking fees apply in addition to the blocked amount, so the provider’s price adds to your cost. The lock exists so that a student can’t withdraw the whole sum on the first day and then run out of money in month three.
How Much Money Do You Need in a Blocked Account Germany?
You need €11,904 per year, which equals €992 per month, for a German student visa in 2026. The monthly figure rose from €934 in January 2023 to €992 from September 2024, according to DAAD. The rate follows the maximum support that German students receive, so it can change again.
The Federal Foreign Office gives no fixed figure on its own page and tells applicants to check the website of the competent mission or the Consular Services Portal. Confirm the amount there before you transfer money. You can deposit more than the minimum, and a larger deposit makes sense in expensive cities, since study.eu notes that €992 can run tight in Munich or Hamburg.
Who Needs a Blocked Account for Germany?
Non-EU students who apply for a German student visa usually need a blocked account, and EU and EEA citizens generally don’t. A student from Pakistan, India or Nigeria who applies for a national visa falls into the first group. The mission decides which proof it accepts, so ask it before you open an account.
Other proofs exist, and the table compares the three main ones.
| Proof of funds | What you provide | Notes |
| Blocked account (Sperrkonto) | €11,904 deposited with a provider | Most common; releases €992 per month |
| Declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) | A sponsor living in Germany signs at the foreigners’ office | Hard to obtain; the sponsor takes financial responsibility |
| Scholarship | Letter from a German or EU public body, DAAD for example | A full scholarship can replace the account; a partial one usually needs a second proof |
How Does a Blocked Account Work Step by Step?
You open the account online, transfer the full amount, download the blocking confirmation and submit it with your visa application. Six steps cover the process:
- Check the amount on the Consular Services Portal or the mission website.
- Choose a provider and register online with your passport and admission details.
- Name the mission where you apply as the account beneficiary.
- Transfer €11,904 from your bank, which can take several days for international transfers.
- Download the blocking confirmation and attach it to your visa application.
- After you arrive and register your address, the provider starts the monthly payout of €992 to your German bank account.
The beneficiary is the mission abroad before the visa is granted and used, and the foreigners’ office after you arrive. The beneficiary can’t withdraw your money. It only agrees when the block is lifted. A student who plans to start in October 2027, for example, should open the account about two months before the visa appointment, so the confirmation is ready when the file is screened.
How Do You Choose a Blocked Account Provider?
Choose a provider that is regulated by BaFin (the German financial supervisor), publishes clear fees and has a record of paying out on time. The Federal Foreign Office makes no recommendation, has no business relationship with any provider and accepts no liability for failed payments. It deleted its old list of providers in 2022.
study.eu reports that one lesser-known provider failed to pay out all funds to students on time. It adds that BaFin-regulated private institutions are generally considered safe, although risks remain. Use these checks before you pay:
- Regulation: confirm the provider’s BaFin status on the BaFin website.
- Fees: compare the opening fee, monthly fee and any fee for closing the account, because providers use several plans and change prices.
- Payout: check how fast the monthly transfer arrives and which German bank accounts it supports.
- Embassy acceptance: ask the mission whether it accepts the provider’s confirmation.
- Support: look for English-language help and clear steps for closing the account if the visa fails.
Expatrio and Fintiba are two providers named in student visa guides for Pakistan. Treat them as a starting list for your comparison, and don’t treat the names as an endorsement.
What Happens If Your Visa Is Refused or You Don’t Travel?
The block is lifted with the beneficiary’s agreement, and a visa refusal notice is enough proof for a refused applicant. The Federal Foreign Office lists four other cases in which the mission abroad can issue a consular certificate to lift the block. The student:
- never applied for a visa and didn’t travel to Germany,
- applied and then withdrew the application,
- received a visa and didn’t use it, or
- received a visa and left the Schengen area before the foreigners’ office issued a residence permit.
In the first case, contact the mission in your place of residence. In the second to fourth cases, contact the mission where you applied. After arrival in Germany, the foreigners’ office handles the request. In Pakistan, the German mission issues a Blocked Account Release Letter with consular attestation for people who were refused, withdrew their application or are on a waiting list. The fee is €36, which is about PKR 12,000 depending on the exchange rate, and you bring your passport, the blocked account confirmation and the refusal letter or withdrawn admission letter. Ask your bank or provider first whether the letter is needed.
Is €992 Per Month Enough to Live in Germany?
€992 per month covers the DAAD average of €842 and leaves about €150, but it falls short in expensive cities. A shared room costs €512 per month on average in 2026 and about €800 in Munich, according to the Moses Mendelssohn Institute. In Munich, rent alone takes 81% of the payout.
A student in Saxony, where rooms average €372, keeps a larger buffer. Part-time work helps, since non-EU students can work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. Our guide on the cost of studying in Germany adds up tuition, rent and one-time costs. You can read how this fits the full application route in our Germany student visa guide, and the Visa Cost Calculator helps estimate your fees.
What Does a Blocked Account Cost?
The blocked amount is your own money, and the provider charges fees on top of it. The Federal Foreign Office states that banking fees apply in addition to the blocked amount. study.eu adds that providers offer several plans, that fees may change and that surcharges can apply.
Fee levels differ between providers and between plans, and published prices from comparison sites conflict, so this guide doesn’t quote a number. Ask each provider for the full price list in writing before you pay. The list should cover the opening fee, the monthly account fee, any fee for the payout transfer and the cost of closing the account.
Is a Blocked Account Needed for Other German Visas?
A blocked account fits only certain visa categories, and a student visa is the most common one. The Federal Foreign Office describes it as one way to prove funds for “certain visa categories” and sends applicants to the mission’s page for the exact rule. The amount depends on the purpose of the stay, so a language-course visa or an exchange semester can follow different figures.
Check the page of the German mission in your country, or the Consular Services Portal, before you decide on the proof of funds. Many missions list the accepted options and the amount in one place.
What Mistakes Cause Blocked Account Problems?
Transferring the wrong amount, naming the wrong beneficiary and choosing an unchecked provider cause most problems. Each mistake has a fix:
- Old amount: a student who sends €934 per month, the 2023 figure, falls short, so check the current rate with the mission.
- Wrong beneficiary: the mission abroad must be named before the visa is granted, and the foreigners’ office takes over after arrival.
- Unchecked provider: confirm BaFin status and fee plans before you pay.
- Late transfer: international transfers take days, and the confirmation must be ready for the file screening.
- No exit plan: keep the refusal notice and the release steps in case the visa fails.
Applicants from Pakistan can follow the full route in our guide on how to study in Germany from Pakistan, and the study in Germany for free guide explains which states charge tuition.
How Does the Monthly Payout Work After You Arrive?
The provider sends €992 to your German bank account every month after you arrive and register your address. The monthly cap keeps the minimum amount available for each month of the year and prevents a student from withdrawing the whole sum at the start of the stay.
You need a regular German current account to receive the payout, and many students open one in the first week. A student who arrives in October 2027, for example, receives the first payment after the address registration and the following eleven payments month by month. If the stay is shorter than a year, the account can be opened for a shorter period. Keep the provider’s login and your payout settings up to date, because a wrong IBAN delays the transfer and leaves you without rent money.
FAQs
How much money is needed in a blocked account for Germany?
You need €11,904 for twelve months, which equals €992 per month. Confirm the amount with your mission, since the rate can change.
Is a blocked account compulsory for a German student visa?
No, but it is the most common proof. A declaration of commitment from a sponsor or a full scholarship can replace it.
Can you get your money back if the visa is refused?
Yes. The refusal notice is enough for the beneficiary to lift the block, and the provider then returns the money minus its fees.
How long does the opening take?
Online registration is quick, but the international transfer takes several days. Open the account before the visa appointment.
Who is the beneficiary of a blocked account?
The German mission where you apply is the beneficiary before the visa is granted. The foreigners’ office takes over after you arrive in Germany.
Can you deposit more than €11,904?
Yes. A larger deposit gives a bigger buffer, which helps in expensive cities such as Munich and Hamburg.
Does the Federal Foreign Office recommend a provider?
No. It has no business relationship with any provider and accepts no liability for failed payments.
Do EU citizens need a blocked account?
No. EU and EEA citizens generally don’t need a student visa or a blocked account.
Conclusion
A blocked account in Germany holds €11,904 for twelve months and pays out €992 per month after you arrive. Check the amount with your mission, choose a BaFin-regulated provider, name the correct beneficiary and attach the blocking confirmation to your visa application.
The account is your own money, and the provider charges fees on top of it. The Federal Foreign Office makes no provider recommendation.
