A blocked account is one way to prove student-visa funding. For 2026, the amount is €11,904 (€992/month); a qualifying scholarship or declaration of commitment may also be accepted.
Fast digital setup for newcomers. English-language onboarding, no German bank account required.
Most popular blocked account for students
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Established digital blocked account
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Simple, student-focused process
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Trusted public or traditional options — lower cost but more effort.
Traditional German bank blocked account
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The name is misleading. A blocked account is not a fee and the money is not taken from you. It is your own money, held in an account you cannot empty at will, which is precisely what makes it acceptable as proof that you can support yourself for a year without working.
You transfer the full amount before your visa appointment. The provider verifies it and issues a blocking confirmation, the Sperrbestätigung, which is the document the embassy wants. After you arrive and activate the account, it releases €992 to your ordinary German current account each month. Anything left when you finish is returned to you, and if your visa is refused the whole balance is refunded minus the setup fee.
The 2026 figure is €11,904, which is €992 multiplied by twelve. It is set by the federal government and tied to the BAföG student support rate, so no provider can offer you a lower threshold. Applicants for the Opportunity Card and job-seeker visa face a higher requirement of €1,091 per month.
Compare confirmation requirements, total fees and included services. Confirm acceptance with the authority handling your application.
Processing depends on identification, receipt of funds and the provider’s checks. Ask for current processing times and the fee schedule. Do not assume that online or branch-based providers offer free setup or a guaranteed completion time.
Some providers bundle health insurance with the account, which is genuinely convenient because it satisfies two visa requirements in one application. Check what the insurance element actually is before accepting it, since a bundled private travel policy is not the same thing as statutory health insurance and may not be accepted for university enrolment.
Follow the provider’s transfer instructions, including any separate fees or buffer. Do not guess an extra amount; confirm the total required before transferring.
Check that the name on the account matches your passport exactly, including every middle name and the precise spelling. Name mismatches are among the most common reasons a Sperrbestätigung is rejected, and they disproportionately affect applicants whose names transliterate from a non-Latin script.
For longer courses, check the authority’s required proof period and renewal process. Do not assume that you must block two years of funds upfront.
Public routes may involve paperwork, waiting times, or German-only portals: