One of the requirements for obtaining a German visa to study and work in Germany is to secure a specific amount of money. This demonstrates to the German authorities that you have sufficient finances to support yourself in Germany, allowing them to grant you the visa. This specified sum should be deposited into a bank account known as a Blocked Account.

Since January 2023, the amount required to be deposited into the blocked account while applying for a German student visa was €11,208 (€934 per month). However, according to Studing-in-Germany.org starting in September 2024, this fee will rise to €11,904 for 12 months, or €992 a month. The additional amount is €696 per year.

The BAföG rate, which is Germany’s student financial aid program, serves as the basis for this criterion. The minimal amount of money you need to have in your blocked account to prove you have the necessary funds (Finanzierungsnachweis) for a student visa is this deposit. This monthly limit also applies to the amount that you can withdraw or transfer, unless you have deposited more than the minimum amount.

With a blocked account, you can provide evidence during the visa application process that you have adequate financial resources. The blocked account must have sufficient credit to cover the costs arising for the duration of your planned stay in Germany unless other proof of financial support is presented in the visa procedure.

The blocked account may only be closed with the consent of the blocked account beneficiary. The blocked account beneficiary is either the mission abroad or, after entering Germany, the competent foreign authority. A blocking notice therefore only ensures that sufficient funds to cover living expenses are always available. It does not entitle the blocked account beneficiary to withdraw money from the blocked account.

Many countries have providers that offer blocked accounts. Furthermore, certain banks in Germany offer special blocked accounts for students/language students for educational institutions located at their place of business.

Blocked Account in Germany

Only a certain sum of money can be withdrawn from a blocked account every month. The foreigners authorities accept a blocked account as proof that international students can support themselves financially. There should be enough money in the blocked account to finance one academic year.

It is important to request the necessary documents early on. The completed forms, together with a copy of your passport, must be certified by a German diplomatic mission in your home country before submitting them to the bank of your choice.

Banks charge a fee of between 50 and 150 EUR to set up a blocked account. Once you have arrived in Germany, you will be issued with an EC card which you can then use to access the money. The account may only permit the withdrawal of a certain amount per month (for students currently 934 euros, soon to be 992 euros).

Many international students use a blocked account to fund their studies in Germany. The money you transfer to a blocked account cannot be accessed until you enter the country.

With 458,210 foreign students overall as of the 2022–2023 academic year (of which 90,632 are resident international students), Germany boasts a sizeable population of international students. This figure is projected to rise sharply in the 2024–2025 academic year.