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Summary: A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is an account in which you deposit the amount needed to cover a year of living costs in Germany; after you arrive, a monthly share is transferred to your current account. For a student visa and the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) it is the most common proof of financial means, and embassies accept it without question.
Who needs a blocked account?
- Students: for the student visa (under §16b of the Residence Act).
- Applicants seeking a university place or a preparatory course (Studienkolleg): for the visa to search for a study place.
- Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): to prove you can cover your costs while looking for work; details in the Chancenkarte guide.
- Some other visas (such as a language course or job-seeker visa), depending on the embassy’s view.
EU citizens do not need one. If you have an employment contract or a work visa (such as the skilled worker visa), the employment contract is usually the main document instead.
Required amount (2026)
| Purpose | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Student | €992 | €11,904 |
| Searching for a study place | €1,091 | €13,092 |
| Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) | €1,091 | €13,092 |
For a stay shorter than a year, the amount is calculated in proportion to the months. For the Chancenkarte, if you have an independent monthly income, part of the amount may be deducted. Amounts from earlier years are obsolete; always check the figure for the current year on the embassy website.
Step by step before you come
- Choose a provider: the most common are Expatrio and Fintiba. Note: providers have their own conditions, permitted countries and payment methods; ask support before registering whether payment from your country is accepted.
- Register online: with your passport, personal details, visa type and length of stay.
- Transfer the full amount plus fees: the name on the passport and the payment reference must exactly match the provider’s instructions. Allow about €80 to €100 extra for transfer fees and exchange-rate fluctuation.
- Get the confirmation: once the money arrives, the provider issues an official confirmation (Sperrkonto-Bestätigung). A screenshot or a simple statement is not enough. Attach this confirmation to your visa file (see the national visa and embassy process).
Cost and timing
Provider costs usually include a setup fee (about €90 to €160) and a monthly fee (about €5 to €10) and may change; in total roughly €150 to €280 for the first year. Some providers (such as Coracle) have temporarily stopped accepting new customers. Another option is opening a blocked account at a branch of a German bank, which is usually only possible in person in Germany itself.
Timing: registration and the money transfer usually take two to three weeks, and an international transfer takes 2 to 7 working days. Start at least four to six weeks before your embassy appointment or the filing deadline.
After arriving in Germany: activation and monthly payout
A blocked account is not activated automatically after you arrive. Usually you need to:
- have completed your address registration (Anmeldung): Anmeldung guide;
- have a German current account with an IBAN: bank account guide;
- present your passport, visa and sometimes a university enrolment certificate and a German mobile number for two-factor authentication.
After activation, the first instalment (for example €992) goes to your current account, and the following months automatically. This money belongs to you; the “beneficiary body” (the embassy or the residence office) only plays a role in releasing the block. None of the active providers pay interest.
If the visa is refused or you do not come
- Visa refusal: the embassy’s refusal letter is enough to release the block and get the full amount back; the refund terms for the setup fee differ per provider, so ask before registering.
- Leaving Germany or withdrawing: a deregistration certificate (Abmeldebescheinigung) and sometimes a consular certificate are required.
- Changing the source of funds (for example a scholarship): the residence office must approve it before you close the account.
Common mistakes
- Registering too late, so the confirmation does not arrive by the day of the embassy appointment.
- A mismatch in the Latin spelling of the name between the passport and the transfer.
- Forgetting the transfer fees and being short of the amount.
- Using unofficial or anonymous services to transfer money; only use official, legal providers and channels. See the rules on transferring money between Iran and Germany in the money transfer guide.
Alternatives
A declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung), a recognised scholarship or proof of parents’ income may be accepted depending on the embassy; details in proof of financial means for a visa. A blocked account is the only option that all embassies accept.
Next steps: checklist before travelling and your first 30 days in Germany.
Note: this article is general guidance and not a substitute for legal or financial advice. Amounts and conditions may change; confirm with the official embassy website, the Federal Foreign Office and the account provider before acting. Last reviewed: October 2026.
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