'Blocked Account in Germany: Amount, Opening, and Alternatives for a Visa

A blocked account is a special account through which a foreign applicant proves that they have enough money to live in Germany. In German it is called a Sperrkonto. It is most often opened by students for a national D visa, but a similar way of proving funds is also used for other purposes of stay if the consulate requires proof of financial self-sufficiency.

The main feature of a Sperrkonto is that the money cannot be withdrawn all at once. The provider blocks the amount for the period of stay, and the account holder gets access only to the established monthly limit. This allows the German consulate and the Ausländerbehörde to see that the funds are distributed across the whole period instead of being shown once before the documents are submitted.

Who needs a Sperrkonto

A blocked account is usually needed if you are applying for:

• a student visa under Section 16b of the Residence Act;
• an applicant visa or preparatory measures before admission;
• a language course if it requires a national visa;
• the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) or another status where the consulate asks you to prove funds through a blocked account.

For students from non-EU countries, this is one of the clearest ways to prove financial solvency. But it is not the only one: in some cases you can use a scholarship, an official guarantee, or another document accepted by the specific German mission.

How much money a student needs

For a student visa in 2026, official guidance from German missions usually states 992 EUR per month, meaning 11,904 EUR for one year. The account must show not only the total balance but also the monthly amount available to the account holder.

If the program is shorter than a year, the amount is usually calculated according to the actual months of stay. If the studies last longer, for the first visa they usually ask for proof at least for the first year, and when extending a residence permit in Germany the Ausländerbehörde may request proof of funding again.

Important: for other purposes of stay, the amount may be higher. For example, for the Chancenkarte in 2026 a benchmark of 1,091 EUR per month is often used. So you cannot mechanically apply the student amount to work, language, or immigration visas.

Which expenses the amount is meant to cover

The minimum amount does not mean a comfortable budget in every city. It is required for visa proof and is meant to cover basic expenses:

• rent and utilities;
• food;
• health insurance;
• transport;
• study materials;
• phone and internet;
• basic personal expenses.

In expensive cities such as Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, or Berlin, the real cost of living may be higher. Before applying, it is worth calculating rent, insurance, semester fees, a housing deposit, and initial expenses after arrival separately.

How to open a blocked account

The general process looks like this:

1. Check the guidance from the German consulate or the Consular Services Portal for your country and purpose of stay.
2. Choose a bank or a specialized Sperrkonto provider. The Federal Foreign Office does not recommend specific providers and is not responsible for how they operate.
3. Apply online or through the bank and upload your passport and the documents the provider requires.
4. Transfer the required amount and pay the provider’s fees.
5. Receive official confirmation that the account was opened with the total amount and monthly limit.
6. Attach the confirmation to the visa application.
7. After arriving in Germany, activate the payouts, usually by providing a regular German bank account for the monthly transfers.

Some providers also offer a package with insurance or a regular bank account. This can be convenient, but before paying you should check the fees, how long confirmation takes, the refund terms, and whether your consulate accepts the document.

What must be included in the confirmation

For a visa, a letter saying that the account is open is usually not enough. The confirmation should show:

• the account holder’s name;
• the total amount deposited;
• the monthly limit available to the account holder;
• the blocking period;
• the bank’s or provider’s details;
• the beneficiary of the block: the German mission before entry or the Ausländerbehörde after arrival.

If the document does not show the amount and the monthly limit, the consulate may refuse to accept it as proof of funding.

Alternatives to a blocked account

You can prove funding not only through a Sperrkonto. Possible alternatives include:

• formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a person who lives in Germany and passes a financial solvency check;
• a scholarship, for example from DAAD or another recognized foundation;
• proof of income or funding if the specific Ausländerbehörde or German mission accepts that option;
• a combination of a scholarship and your own funds if the scholarship amount is below the required minimum.

The guarantee must be arranged in Germany through the responsible Ausländerbehörde and usually must include confirmation that solvency was checked. The scholarship must be confirmed by an official letter stating the amount and the payment period.

How to unblock or close the account

You usually cannot remove the block just at the account holder’s request. A procedure agreed with the authority named as the beneficiary of the block is required.

Most often, unblocking is possible if:

• the visa was refused;
• the visa application was withdrawn;
• the visa was issued, but the trip did not take place;
• the applicant entered Germany but left before receiving a residence permit;
• the issue is handled by the local Ausländerbehörde after arrival.

If the visa is refused, the provider usually asks for the official refusal or consular confirmation. The exact documents and fees depend on the bank or platform.

Common mistakes

• Opening the account with an outdated amount, for example 934 EUR per month from older materials.
• Not taking provider and international transfer fees into account.
• Submitting confirmation without a monthly limit.
• Choosing a provider whose document is not accepted by the specific consulate.
• Expecting to withdraw all the money immediately after opening.
• Confusing the amount for a student visa with the amount for the Chancenkarte or a language course.

Brief conclusion

For a student visa to Germany, a Sperrkonto remains one of the main ways to prove that you have enough money to live on. In 2026, the benchmark for students is 992 EUR per month or 11,904 EUR per year, but the final requirement should always be checked against the German mission where you apply and the purpose of your visa. If you have a scholarship or an official guarantee, a blocked account may not be necessary.