The blocked account (Sperrkonto): Germany's student visa money proof

What a Sperrkonto is, and why you need one

Germany requires student-visa applicants (and some other visa types) to prove they can fund themselves - the Finanzierungsnachweis. The standard way is a blocked account (Sperrkonto): you deposit a fixed sum before the visa decision, and the "blocked" part means you can't withdraw it freely - only a capped monthly amount after you arrive. It's Germany making sure you don't land broke in month three.

The current numbers:

The amount rises periodically with the BAföG rate - always confirm the current figure on the Federal Foreign Office's Sperrkonto page before transferring, and note some missions ask for a buffer on top.

How it works, end to end

1. Open the account from abroad, online. You can't walk into a German bank branch from Delhi or Lagos - the market is served by specialised online providers that open Sperrkonten remotely for visa applicants.
2. Transfer the full €11,904 (plus the provider's setup fee, typically €50-150, and any required buffer). International transfer fees apply - a cheap transfer service beats a bank wire.
3. Receive the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung) - the document your consulate wants in the visa file. Providers issue it within days of the money landing.
4. After arrival: activate the payout. The provider releases up to €992/month into a normal German current account - which you need anyway (Opening a German bank account as an expat).
5. Renewing your permit? You'll top the account back up (or show other funding) for each extension year.

Start the account before booking your visa appointment - the money transfer and confirmation are on the critical path, and consulates won't look at an incomplete file.

Choosing a provider (the 2026 reality)

The consulates don't endorse specific providers; they accept any bank/provider that issues a compliant blocking confirmation. But the market has narrowed sharply, and outdated guides list options that no longer work - here's the current picture:

So as of 2026 the two realistic online options for a new applicant are Expatrio and Fintiba. What actually differentiates them:

• Fee model: Expatrio is a flatter one-time-ish fee; Fintiba is a lower setup plus a monthly charge - over a full year Fintiba often totals more, but check current pricing.
• Speed to Sperrbestätigung: both issue the confirmation 1-5 business days after your money lands, with express options if your visa slot is close. Book the account before you're up against the deadline.
• The bundle question: both offer a combined blocked account + German health insurance + travel insurance package (Expatrio with TK, Fintiba Plus with DAK). If you arrive not wanting to juggle three separate sign-ups, the bundle is genuinely convenient - you land with the Sperrkonto, your KVdS-ready insurance, and the arrival travel cover all handled. The trade-off is a small premium and less freedom to shop the cheapest health fund later.
• Your country's consulate list: a few missions publish accepted providers - check yours, though Expatrio and Fintiba are accepted essentially everywhere.

Funding it without losing money on the transfer

Sending €11,904+ internationally is where hidden costs bite. A normal bank wire can cost €30-50 in fees and use a poor exchange rate, sometimes landing you *short* of the required amount (which stalls the visa). Cheaper, more accurate routes:

• Use a low-cost transfer service (Wise-style) for the international leg - transparent mid-market rate, low fee, and the exact amount arrives. See Wise for Germany.
• Send a small buffer (€100-200 over) so exchange-rate wobble never leaves you under the threshold - the buffer is your money and comes back on closing.
• Keep the transfer receipt - providers match your deposit to your application by it.

The exceptions: when you don't need one

A blocked account is the *default* proof, not the only one:

• Scholarship holders (DAAD etc.): the scholarship letter substitutes if it covers the required rate.
• Verpflichtungserklärung: a person in Germany formally guarantees your costs at the Ausländerbehörde - common when family lives here.
• Parental income proof works at some missions (bank statements + guarantee) - country-dependent.
• EU/EEA citizens don't need any of this - no visa, no Sperrkonto.

Full visa mechanics, including where the money proof fits in the application, are in The German student visa.

Getting your money back (closing the account)

The part nobody explains up front: when you leave Germany, switch to a work permit, or otherwise no longer need the account, you close the Sperrkonto and reclaim the balance. The process: prove to the provider that the blocking purpose has ended (deregistration/Abmeldung, a new residence title, or the visa refusal letter if you never came), and they release the remainder. Refusals also unwind cleanly - if the visa is denied, the money comes back, minus fees.

Keep the paperwork from opening day; it speeds up the exit.

Common mistakes

1. Transferring the old amount. The figure rises with BAföG - sending last year's number stalls your visa file.
2. Leaving it until the visa appointment is booked. Transfer + confirmation takes days to weeks; do it first.
3. Ignoring transfer costs. A bank wire can eat €50+ and land short; a specialist transfer service usually lands the exact amount cheaper.
4. Confusing the Sperrkonto with a normal account. You still need a regular Girokonto for rent and daily life - the Sperrkonto only drips €992/month into it.

1. Forgetting the renewal. Yearly permit extensions need the funding proof again - budget for the re-fill.

Frequently asked questions