Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) for Germany: Everything You Need to Know

The blocked account is the single most misunderstood requirement in the German student visa process. It is not a fee, it is not lost money, and it is not something the German government keeps. It is your own money, held in escrow, released back to you in monthly instalments once you arrive.

Understanding that changes how you plan for it. Here is everything: the 2026 amount, which provider to use, how long each takes, and the mistakes that delay visas.

What it is and why it exists

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special-purpose German bank account that proves you can support yourself for a year without working or claiming public funds. You deposit a fixed sum before your visa appointment. The account is "blocked" in the sense that you cannot withdraw the whole balance — only a set amount per month.

Germany requires this because public universities charge no tuition. The state is not checking that you can pay fees; it is checking that you can live.

The 2026 figures

The figure is set nationally and rises most years, tracking the official assessment of student living costs. Always confirm the current amount on your consulate's page before transferring — depositing last year's figure is a common and avoidable cause of delay.

Note what €992 a month means in practice: it is comfortable in Leipzig or Dresden and genuinely tight in Munich, as our cost of living by city guide sets out. The blocked account is a legal minimum, not a budget.

The providers

Several companies specialise in blocked accounts for international students, and traditional banks also offer them. They differ mainly in speed, fees and how much of the process is online.

Fees change, so treat these as indicative and check current terms before choosing.

The honest comparison: Deutsche Bank is free but slow and paperwork-heavy, and the process typically requires posting documents. The specialist providers charge a fee and complete in days, entirely online.

If your appointment is months away and you enjoy paperwork, Deutsche Bank saves you around €50–€100. If your appointment is soon — which it usually is, because appointments are the bottleneck — the specialist providers buy you weeks for a fee smaller than one month's rent. Most students should choose speed.

Several providers also bundle health insurance. That can be convenient, but compare the insurance separately rather than assuming the bundle is the best price; see our guide to student health insurance.

How it works, step by step

Choose a provider and apply online. You will need your passport and, usually, your admission or application details.

Verify your identity — normally a video call with an ID agent, taking a few minutes.

Receive your account details, including the IBAN and a reference number.

Transfer €11,904 from your home country. Add a margin for exchange rates and transfer fees — see the warning below.

Receive the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung), the document your consulate wants.

Attend your visa appointment with that confirmation.

After arriving in Germany, activate the account, complete your Anmeldung, and link a normal current account.

€992 is released monthly into your current account.

The transfer trap

This is the mistake that delays the most visas.

You must arrive at €11,904 in the account after all fees and currency conversion. If your bank deducts an intermediary charge, or the exchange rate moves between initiating and settling, the balance can land at €11,860 — and the confirmation will not be issued for the required amount.

Protect against it:

• Send a buffer — €150–€250 over the required figure. The surplus is yours and is released along with everything else.
• Ask your bank about intermediary fees, which are deducted en route and are easy to overlook.
• Send a single transfer where possible. Several small transfers multiply the fees and complicate matching.
• Use the exact reference number your provider issued. Transfers without it can sit unmatched for days.
• Start early. International transfers can take 3–7 working days, longer if compliance checks trigger.

Alternatives to a blocked account

A blocked account is the most common route, not the only one. Germany accepts several forms of proof:

• A scholarship from a recognised body — DAAD, Erasmus+, your home government — covering at least the equivalent amount. The award letter replaces the blocked account entirely.
• A Verpflichtungserklärung — a formal declaration by someone resident in Germany accepting financial responsibility for you. They must prove their own income at the local Ausländerbehörde.
• A bank guarantee from a German bank, in some consulates.
• An education loan sanction letter, accepted by some consulates depending on the lender and terms.

Our guide comparing blocked account, scholarship and sponsor works through which is realistic for whom.

For most self-funded students the blocked account is simplest, because it is the option every consulate recognises without question.

Timing

Work backwards from your visa appointment:

The compressing factor is almost always the transfer, not the account opening.

After you arrive

The account does not release money automatically the moment you land. You generally need to:

Activate the account, which usually requires confirming your arrival and address

Provide your German current account IBAN for the monthly transfers

In some cases, supply your residence permit or enrolment certificate

Until activation completes, no money moves — which is why you should arrive with a few weeks of funds accessible independently. Students who assume €992 lands on day one have a difficult first month.

Frequently asked questions

Is the money refunded if my visa is refused?

Yes. Providers return the deposit on presentation of the refusal letter, usually retaining an administrative fee. Keep the letter.

Can I withdraw more than €992 in a month?

Not normally. Some providers allow a limited increase in specific circumstances, but assume the cap is firm.

What happens to the money left at the end of the year?

It is yours. Once the blocking period ends the balance is released, and any buffer you sent over the required figure comes back with it.

Do I need to top it up for a second year?

Usually yes. Residence permit renewals typically require fresh proof of funds for the coming period.

Can my parents send the money directly?

Yes, and most students fund it this way. Some providers ask for a short declaration of the relationship or the source of funds — a straightforward anti-money-laundering step.

Can I use the blocked account to pay my semester fee?

Not directly. Money must first be released into your current account, then paid from there.

Does working reduce the amount I need?

No. The requirement is fixed at €11,904 regardless of what you expect to earn, and earnings do not reduce it.

Which provider is best?

There is no universal answer, but the practical rule is: if your appointment is more than two months away and you want to save fees, a traditional bank works. Otherwise pick a specialist provider and pay for the speed.

Next steps

Do two things now. Confirm the current required amount on your own consulate's page rather than trusting any article, including this one — the figure moves. Then open the account before your documents are complete, because the transfer is the slow part and it runs in parallel with everything else.