If you’re applying for a German student visa — or the Opportunity Card job-search permit — you’ll almost certainly run into the blocked account requirement at some point. It trips up more applicants than almost any other step, not because it’s complicated, but because the amount changes periodically and a surprising number of blog posts online are quoting outdated figures. Here’s what’s actually current for 2026.
What a blocked account actually is
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special German bank account that holds the money you need to prove you can support yourself, but restricts how much you can withdraw each month. You deposit the full required amount before your visa interview; once you arrive in Germany and your residence permit is issued, the provider releases the funds in equal monthly instalments rather than all at once. It exists specifically so immigration authorities can verify you have a genuine, ongoing source of living costs — not just a one-time bank balance that could be withdrawn and spent before you even land.
The 2026 amount
For 2026, the standard blocked-account requirement is €11,904 for the year, released at approximately €992 per month. This figure applies to most non-EU student visa applicants and to Opportunity Card applicants who don’t have another accepted source of funds.
A practical note that catches people out: if you wire exactly €11,904 from abroad, international transfer fees or the provider’s own setup charge can shave off enough that your account falls short of the required balance when the embassy checks it. Most guidance recommends sending €12,000–€12,100 instead, so the fees come out of the buffer rather than the required minimum.
Who needs one — and who might not
Most non-EU students applying for a German student visa need a blocked account unless they can show an accepted alternative, such as:
- A scholarship that covers your living costs for the relevant period (full DAAD scholarships, for instance, often substitute directly).
- A formal letter of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone legally resident in Germany who takes on financial responsibility for you.
- In some cases, a parent or sponsor’s declared income and assets, depending on what your specific embassy or consulate accepts.
Opportunity Card applicants face a similar but separate requirement — demonstrating roughly €1,091/month in available funds for the duration of the card, most commonly also satisfied through a blocked account.
Opening one from abroad
The two most widely used approved providers for opening a blocked account entirely online, without a German bank visit, are Expatrio and Fintiba — both recognised by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office for this purpose. (Deutsche Bank, which used to offer a comparable product, ended its blocked-account program in 2022, so don’t rely on older guides pointing you there.)
Open the account well before your visa appointment — most guidance suggests 6–8 weeks ahead, since you need the provider’s confirmation letter as a supporting document, and that letter itself takes time to process after your deposit clears.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Depositing the exact minimum and getting caught short after transfer fees.
- Opening the account too close to your appointment and not having the confirmation letter ready in time.
- Assuming a partial scholarship covers everything. A partial award usually needs to be combined with a reduced blocked-account deposit or a Verpflichtungserklärung to cover the gap — check the math against the full €11,904 requirement, not just your scholarship amount.
- Relying on an outdated figure. The required amount is reviewed periodically; always check it against the Federal Foreign Office or your provider’s current published figure before depositing, rather than trusting a number from an older article.
Related resources
- Germany Student Visa Guide
- Germany Student Visa Checklist
- Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) Guide
- Blocked Account glossary entry
Figures here reflect 2026 guidance from blocked-account providers and should be reconfirmed against the German Federal Foreign Office’s own published amount before you deposit funds — this is not legal or financial advice. Want help keeping track of every document and deadline across a multi-step application like this? Join the VisaMet waitlist.
Sources: Prodigy Finance — German blocked account 2026, CBS — Opening a German Blocked Account 2026, Expatrio — Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte).