A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special German bank account that holds a fixed sum you cannot withdraw all at once — proving to the visa authorities that you can cover your living costs for a year. Most non-EU student and job-seeker visa applicants must open one and deposit the required amount before their embassy appointment. You then receive a monthly allowance from the account after you arrive in Germany.
This guide is for general information only and is not financial or immigration advice. Required amounts and accepted providers change; always confirm the current rules with the German mission handling your application.
Why your visa needs a blocked account
German authorities will not issue a long-stay visa unless you prove you can support yourself without relying on public funds — the Finanzierungsnachweis (proof of financial resources). A blocked account is the most widely accepted form of this proof because the money is verifiably set aside and released to you in controlled monthly portions rather than spent before you arrive.
You will typically need one if you are applying for:
- A student visa or student applicant (Studienbewerber) visa.
- A job-seeker visa for qualified professionals entering Germany to look for work.
- Some language-course and other long-stay national visas, depending on the mission.
Applicants funded another way — a recognised scholarship, a formal Verpflichtungserklärung (declaration of commitment from a sponsor in Germany), or a blocked-amount equivalent confirmed by the embassy — may not need one. Check your specific mission's requirement list first, because what counts as acceptable proof varies by country and visa type.
How to open one, step by step
Start early. The single biggest cause of missed embassy appointments is leaving the account until the last week.
- Confirm the required amount and accepted providers. Read your German mission's website for your visa type. Some embassies list specific approved blocked-account providers; using an unlisted one can get your application rejected.
- Choose a provider and apply online. Digital providers let you open an account in a day or two with just your passport. Traditional banks can take longer and may require an in-person step.
- Transfer the full required amount. You send the total yearly sum plus the provider's setup fee. Allow several business days for an international transfer to clear and be confirmed.
- Receive your blocking confirmation. Once the money is verified, the provider issues a Sperrbescheinigung (blocking confirmation). This document goes into your visa application.
- Attend your visa appointment with the confirmation alongside your other documents — see the visa overview guide for the full set.
- Activate monthly payouts after you arrive. Once in Germany you complete your address registration and open a regular German current account, then link it so the blocked account pays you your monthly allowance.
How much you must deposit
The required amount is tied to the official annual student maintenance rate and is reviewed every year, so treat any figure you see online as a starting point, not gospel.
As most recently set, the required deposit was €11,904 for a full year — €992 per month — for a standard student visa. Because this number changes, always confirm the current year's amount on your German mission's website or the Federal Foreign Office financing pages before you transfer anything. Transferring last year's lower figure is a common reason applications stall.
A few things to budget for beyond the headline number:
- Provider fees. Setup and monthly account-management fees are charged on top of the blocked sum.
- Transfer costs and exchange-rate margins from your home bank, which can add a meaningful amount on a five-figure transfer.
- A small buffer. Sending a few euros over the minimum avoids a rejection if exchange-rate movement leaves you fractionally short.
Choosing a provider
There are two broad routes, and the right one depends on how fast you need the confirmation and whether your embassy restricts the list.
Digital blocked-account providers specialise in this product for international students and are usually the fastest option — accounts often open within a day or two, fully online, with English support and a digital Sperrbescheinigung. They charge a setup fee and a monthly fee. They are the default choice for most students on a tight timeline.
Traditional German banks also offer blocked accounts. They can cost less in fees and may be preferred by some missions, but the process is slower and more paperwork-heavy, sometimes needing an in-person verification step that is awkward to arrange from abroad.
When comparing, look past the headline fee at: whether your specific embassy accepts the provider, how quickly the blocking confirmation is issued, the monthly payout mechanics once you are in Germany, and the quality of support in a language you read comfortably.
Common mistakes that delay visas
- Starting too late. International transfers and account verification take days, not minutes. Begin as soon as you have your university admission or job-seeker plan.
- Using an unapproved provider. If your mission publishes an approved list, using an off-list provider can mean outright rejection. Check first.
- Depositing an outdated amount. The minimum rises over time. Confirm the current figure rather than copying an old blog post.
- Forgetting the fees and buffer. The blocked sum must meet the minimum after fees and exchange-rate margins — fund slightly above it.
- Losing the Sperrbescheinigung. Save digital and printed copies; you need it for the visa and sometimes again for your residence permit after arrival.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to open a blocked account?
With a digital provider, the account itself can be opened in one to two business days. The slower part is the international money transfer and its confirmation, which can take several more business days depending on your home bank. Plan for one to two weeks end to end, and longer for traditional banks.
Can I withdraw the money whenever I want?
No — that is the point of the account. The balance is "blocked" and released to you in fixed monthly amounts (around the monthly maintenance figure) once you are in Germany and have linked a local current account. You cannot take the full sum out at once.
What happens to the account after my visa is approved?
It stays active and pays you your monthly allowance throughout your stay. When you no longer need it — for example, you start earning enough or finish your studies — you close it according to the provider's process and any remaining balance is returned to you.
Do I still need a blocked account if I have a scholarship?
Often not. A recognised scholarship or a formal sponsor's declaration of commitment can replace the blocked account as proof of financial means, but only if your German mission accepts it for your visa type. Confirm with the embassy before assuming you are exempt.
Is the blocked amount the same for a job-seeker visa as for a student visa?
Not necessarily. The required sum depends on the visa type and the length of stay it covers, and missions can set their own figures. Always check the amount listed for your specific visa rather than reusing the student rate.
A blocked account is only one item in a dependency chain — your visa appointment, health insurance, address registration, and residence permit all connect to it. Build your free personalised German plan to place every required task on a timeline tied to your actual dates, so nothing blocks your move at the last minute.