German Student Visa Blocked Account: Funding Evidence and Practical Steps

A blocked account is one way to demonstrate financial resources for study in Germany. Check the amount and accepted evidence with the responsible German mission before transferring money or choosing a provider.

For 2026 the required deposit is €11,904 — €992 released for each month of a twelve-month stay. The figure is set by the German Federal Foreign Office and linked to the BAföG student needs calculation, so it changes only occasionally. This guide explains what the blocked account (Sperrkonto) proves, how the monthly release works, what providers charge, and where the requirement falls short of what you will actually spend in cities like Munich or Berlin.

Confirm the accepted funding evidence

Read the responsible German mission instructions for your visa category. A blocked account is one possible form of financial evidence; whether other evidence is accepted depends on the applicable rules and your circumstances. A recognised scholarship, a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) or a German guarantor can replace or supplement the account on some routes. Ask which document the mission needs: most providers issue a blocking confirmation (Sperrbescheinigung) once the transfer arrives, and that document — not a transfer receipt — is what the visa appointment requires.

How much is the German blocked account for a student visa in 2026?

For a standard student visa, the 2026 requirement is €11,904, which is twelve monthly releases of €992. Language-course and training or apprenticeship applicants are asked for roughly 10 per cent more — about €13,094, or €1,091 a month — because their routes carry a higher support threshold. Each additional month of planned stay adds €992 to the deposit. Applicants for Germany’s separate job-seeker route, the Chancenkarte, face a different and higher figure that should be checked on its own terms rather than borrowed from student guidance.

The requirement has risen roughly 16 per cent in six years, from €10,236 in 2020 to €11,904, and it moves again whenever the BAföG needs rate moves. Budget on the figure your mission quotes on the day you apply, not on an older guidance page. When the amount is confirmed, transfer the full sum in a single payment: partial or split transfers are one of the most common reasons confirmations are delayed.

How the monthly release actually works

The blocked account holds money that remains yours, but access is throttled by design. After you arrive, you complete the provider’s activation steps — identity verification, address registration (Anmeldung) and, for many providers, linking a German current account — and only then do monthly payouts begin, at a maximum of €992 a month on a standard student account. Money you do not spend in one month does not roll forward into a larger payment the next month; the release caps at the monthly figure.

That mechanics matters for arrival planning. The first release lands only after activation, which can take a week or two once you are in Germany, while rent deposits, the first month’s rent and initial insurance payments are typically due immediately. Keep accessible money — roughly €1,000 to €1,500 beyond the deposit — for that interval instead of assuming the account will fund your first fortnight.

Compare the account terms

Three specialist intermediaries handle most applications made from abroad: Expatrio, Fintiba and Studely. All work through partner banks or escrow arrangements, all issue the blocking confirmation electronically, and their headline costs sit in a narrow band — one-off setup fees from about €50 to €160 and monthly fees around €9 or €10, which puts a 12-month account near €12,100 to €12,200 in total including the deposit. Deutsche Bank, once the default choice, stopped offering new student blocked accounts in July 2022. Fees change often, so treat any total you read as a snapshot and confirm it on the provider’s own pricing page before you pay.

Check the provider, opening charges, ongoing fees, release arrangements and the procedure if the visa is refused or plans change. Read the transfer and identity-verification instructions carefully. Keep the official confirmation and understand when you can access the monthly funds. The name on the account must match your passport character for character, and providers typically ask for your admission letter before opening.

Budget beyond the account

The required financial evidence is not a complete forecast of your actual expenses. Plan for travel, housing deposits, insurance and costs before the first release of funds. Check whether tuition or semester charges are payable separately. If using a scholarship as evidence, confirm that its amount and duration satisfy the specific instructions. The split below shows how the €992 release typically breaks down for a student outside the priciest cities.

Treat the release as a floor for visa arithmetic, not a lifestyle guarantee. Public student health insurance runs about €141 to €151 a month, food and household costs cluster around €200 to €280, and rent decides almost everything else. The gap between cities is wide enough to change whether the minimum figure works at all, which is why the next section looks at rents directly.

Compare access, service and refund terms

Do not choose an account solely because an advert says it is approved, fastest or cheapest. Check the current mission guidance, the provider’s legal identity and the full pricing terms. A comparison article cannot approve a provider for your individual application. When something is unclear, ask a written question and retain the answer alongside the terms that applied when you opened the account.

A practical arrival example

Imagine that your room requires a deposit and the first rent payment before you move in. Your blocked funds will only be released after you complete the provider’s activation steps. Even if the annual balance satisfies the visa evidence requirement, you still need accessible money for that interval. List the deposit, travel, temporary accommodation and initial insurance payments separately. This is a cash-flow example, not a statement that every account uses the same release schedule.

Once you arrive, check that the first payment reaches the correct account and that the amount matches your agreement. Keep a small record of release dates and any charges. If a release is missing, contact the provider promptly with the account reference and relevant confirmation; avoid sending passport scans through an unverified email address.

Questions applicants often ask

How much is the German blocked account for a student visa in 2026?

€11,904 for twelve months — twelve monthly releases of €992. Language-course and training visas need about 10 per cent more, roughly €13,094 or €1,091 a month, and each extra month of stay adds €992. Confirm the figure with your mission on the day you apply, because the amount is revised whenever the BAföG needs rate moves.

Does every international student need a blocked account?

Do not assume so. The accepted evidence depends on the residence route and the instructions for your circumstances. A recognised scholarship or another accepted form of support may be relevant. Ask the responsible German mission which evidence applies to your case before moving a large sum.

Is the €992 monthly release enough to live in Germany?

It depends almost entirely on your rent. Outside the most expensive cities, €992 covers a shared room, public health insurance, food and transport with a small margin. In Munich, where the median shared room is about €850 a month, the release is not enough without savings or subsidised housing, so plan additional funds before you rely on the minimum figure.

Is the required balance my complete study budget?

No. It establishes a specified amount of financial evidence. Your actual costs depend on the city, accommodation, insurance, course charges and household. Use the official requirement for the application and a separate, realistic budget for living there.

Keep a record for account closure as well as opening

Before committing, read how the account is closed if the visa is refused, you defer the course or another accepted source of support becomes available. Ask which authority must release the blocking arrangement and which documents the provider needs. A refund can involve an approval step; it should not be assumed to happen as soon as you request it. Record any non-refundable charge and the destination account for returned funds. Keep the original account terms, transfer confirmation and later correspondence together. This also helps if a bank asks you to explain the origin or purpose of a transfer. The right provider comparison includes the exit process as well as the advertised opening fee.

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