Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) in Germany: What It Is, Who Needs One, and How Much You Need

If you're applying for a German student visa or the Opportunity Card, there's a good chance you'll be asked for a "blocked account" — and if you haven't budgeted for it, it can catch you off guard. Here's exactly what it is, who actually needs one, and the current 2026 amounts.

What Is a Blocked Account?

A blocked account (Sperrkonto in German) is a special type of German bank account required by immigration authorities as proof that you can financially support yourself during your stay. The money you deposit is "blocked," meaning you can't withdraw it all at once — instead, once you've arrived in Germany and enrolled, the account releases a fixed amount to you each month.

The purpose is straightforward: German authorities want to see, in advance, that you won't need to rely on state welfare to cover rent, food, and health insurance during your first year. It exists specifically so the government can verify what's called your "presumed need" (Regelbedarf) is met before your visa is approved.

Who Actually Needs One?

A blocked account is required for most non-EU nationals applying for:

• A German student visa — this is by far the most common use case

• The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) — Germany's points-based job-seeker visa, which has its own separate, higher requirement

It's worth noting that a blocked account isn't the only accepted way to prove financial means. If you have a formal scholarship (such as DAAD or Erasmus+), a financially strong guarantor in Germany who submits a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung), or another form of confirmed sponsorship, your embassy or consulate may accept that instead. Which proof is accepted is ultimately the embassy's decision, so it's worth confirming with your specific consulate before assuming you need a blocked account at all.

How Much Do You Need in 2026?

The amount is reviewed periodically by the German Federal Foreign Office, based on the BAföG student financial support reference rate. The current 2026 figures:

For a student visa:

• €11,904 total for 12 months

• Released at €992 per month

For the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte):

• €13,092 total for 12 months

• Released at €1,091 per month

The Chancenkarte figure is higher because job-seeker applicants are expected to support themselves fully while searching for work, without the discounts and subsidies available to enrolled students.

These are minimums — you're required to deposit at least this amount, but you're free to deposit more if you want a larger monthly buffer once you arrive.

How the Money Is Released

You deposit the full annual amount upfront, before your visa application. Once you've arrived in Germany, opened a regular German bank account, and provided its IBAN to your blocked account provider, the provider begins releasing your money — roughly one-twelfth of the total each month — into that regular account. You can't access more than the monthly limit, even in an emergency, without special provider approval.

Choosing a Provider

As of 2026, the two fully operational, widely accepted online blocked account providers are Expatrio and Fintiba. A third provider, Coracle, paused new applications in 2025 for a system upgrade with no confirmed reopening date — worth checking directly if you come across it in your research. Providers differ mainly in setup fees, monthly charges, and processing speed, so it's worth comparing current offers before committing, since terms change periodically.

A few practical tips regardless of provider:

• Transfer slightly more than the minimum. International transfers often incur bank or intermediary fees, which can reduce the amount that actually lands in your account below the required threshold. A buffer of a few hundred euros protects you from a shortfall.

• Start early. Account opening and fund confirmation can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, and your visa application typically can't proceed without a valid blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung).

• Check for bundled packages. Some providers offer "value packages" that combine the blocked account with mandatory health insurance, sometimes waiving setup fees.

A Common Mistake

One of the most frequent reasons student visa applications get delayed or rejected is a miscalculated blocked account — either underfunding it, missing the currency-conversion buffer, or misunderstanding which figure applies to which visa type. The student and Opportunity Card figures are different amounts for different purposes, so don't assume the number you saw for one applies to the other.

Our Take

The blocked account requirement is non-negotiable for most non-EU applicants, but it's also one of the more mechanical parts of the visa process — get the numbers right, build in a buffer, and pick a provider your specific consulate accepts, and it stops being a source of stress.

At SWAB Consultants, we help clients work out exactly which financial proof applies to their visa type, how much buffer to add, and how to time the process so it doesn't hold up the rest of the application.

Getting ready to apply and not sure how much you need? Reach out on WhatsApp at +92 337 5193033, or get in touch through swabconsultants.com for a profile evaluation.

Figures above reflect the blocked account amounts in effect as of 2026, as set by the German Federal Foreign Office based on the BAföG reference rate. These amounts are reviewed periodically and can change — always confirm the current required amount with your specific German embassy or consulate, or at auswaertiges-amt.de, before opening an account or applying.