A German blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special bank account where you deposit a fixed sum before your visa is issued — for 2026 the required amount is €11,904 (€992 per month). The money is 'blocked': you can only withdraw one twelfth per month after arrival. The main providers are Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle. Alternatives exist — scholarships, a Verpflichtungserklärung (formal obligation letter from a German resident), or proof of parental income — but the blocked account remains the simplest and most widely accepted proof of funds.
If you're applying for a German student visa, language-course visa or job-seeker visa, you'll meet the Sperrkonto — the blocked account. German immigration law wants proof you can support yourself for a year, and the blocked account is the standardised way to show it: you transfer the full annual amount into a special account before you travel, and the funds are released to you monthly once you're in Germany.
This guide covers the 2026 required amount, the three main providers compared, how the process works step by step, and the genuine alternatives — because a blocked account isn't the only legal option, just the most convenient one.
The 2026 blocked amount
| 2026 requirement | |
|---|---|
| Annual blocked amount | €11,904 |
| Monthly payout | €992 |
| Applies to | Student visa, language course visa, job-seeker visa, Ausbildung visa |
The amount is set by the German government and typically rises each year with the BAföG rate. For 2026 the figure is €11,904 — confirm it on the Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) website or your local German embassy before transferring, as the amount is what your visa officer will check against.
Note: this is separate from your everyday bank account. You'll still want a normal Girokonto for salary, rent and daily spending — see our best bank accounts in Germany guide. The blocked account is purely a visa instrument.
Providers compared: Expatrio vs Fintiba vs Coracle
| Provider | Setup fee (illustrative) | Monthly fee (illustrative) | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expatrio | ~€49 | ~€5 | Value package bundles (health insurance, free incoming transfers) |
| Fintiba | ~€89 | ~€4.90 | Longest track record; Plus packages with insurance |
| Coracle | ~€0–49 | ~€5 | Newer, streamlined onboarding |
All three are officially recognised by German embassies and consulates worldwide — that's the key criterion. Differences are in fees, how quickly they issue your blocking confirmation (Sperrbescheinigung — the document your visa appointment needs), and bundled extras like health insurance.
- Expatrio is popular for its bundled "value package": blocked account plus incoming health insurance (e.g. TK) in one flow, which simplifies the visa paperwork.
- Fintiba is the veteran — operating since 2016, widely known at embassies, with a slightly higher setup fee but a polished process.
- Coracle is newer and competes on simpler pricing and fast digital onboarding.
Choose based on total first-year cost (setup + 12 months of fees) and how fast you need the blocking confirmation for your visa appointment.
How it works, step by step
- Open the blocked account online from your home country (passport + admission letter or visa paperwork, ~15 minutes).
- Transfer €11,904 (plus fees) from your home bank. International transfer takes 2–5 business days — use a cheap transfer service, not your bank's wire desk.
- Receive the blocking confirmation (usually within days of the funds arriving).
- Attend your visa appointment with the confirmation + admission letter + health insurance.
- After arrival: complete Anmeldung, open a regular German account (e.g. N26 without Anmeldung), and the blocked funds pay out at €992/month into it.
Alternatives to a blocked account
A blocked account is the easiest proof of funds, not the only one. German immigration law accepts several alternatives — but each has caveats:
| Alternative | How it works | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship | DAAD or university scholarship letter stating the monthly amount | Must cover living costs; partial scholarships may need topping up |
| Verpflichtungserklärung | A German resident formally guarantees your costs at the Ausländerbehörde | The guarantor's income is checked; it's a serious legal commitment for them |
| Parental income proof | Parents' bank statements + income proof + declaration | Accepted inconsistently — many embassies prefer the blocked account |
| Part-time work contract | A German work contract covering living costs | Rarely accepted alone for first-time student visas |
Honest advice: unless you have a full scholarship or a willing guarantor in Germany, open the blocked account. It's what visa officers process fastest, and fighting for an alternative at the appointment is a gamble with your semester start date.
Blocked account vs regular account
Don't confuse the two. The Sperrkonto proves funds for your visa and drips €992/month. Your Girokonto (N26, DKB, etc.) is where salary lands, rent leaves, and daily life happens. You need both: the blocked account for the embassy, a regular account for Germany. Open the regular account as soon as you arrive — or even before, since N26 needs no Anmeldung.
Health insurance: the other half of the visa file
Your visa appointment needs two financial documents, not one: the blocked account and health insurance. Students typically need incoming travel insurance covering the first weeks (around €30–50/month from providers like MAWISTA, Care Concept or EDUCARE24), then switch to German public student insurance (~€130–140/month in 2026 with TK, AOK or Barmer) after enrolment. Expatrio's value package bundles both — one reason it's popular. Don't show up with only the Sperrkonto confirmation; the insurance certificate is equally mandatory.
When to start: a realistic timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 6 months before | University admission secured; choose blocked-account provider |
| 4 months before | Open blocked account; arrange the €11,904 transfer (allow 2–3 weeks for international transfer + confirmation) |
| 3 months before | Blocking confirmation in hand; book embassy appointment; arrange incoming health insurance |
| 1 month before | Visa issued; book flights; arrange first-month housing |
| After arrival | Anmeldung → open regular bank account → monthly €992 payouts begin |
The most common delay is the international transfer itself — home-country banks can take a week, and provider confirmation a few more days. Start the transfer the moment your admission is certain, not the week of your appointment.
- 2026 amount: €11,904 (€992/month) — confirm with the Auswärtiges Amt or your embassy before transferring.
- Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle are all officially recognised — compare total first-year cost and confirmation speed.
- Start the transfer early: international transfer + blocking confirmation can take 2–3 weeks combined.
- Alternatives exist (scholarship, Verpflichtungserklärung, parental proof) but the blocked account is what visa officers process fastest.
- Don't forget health insurance — it's the second mandatory document at your visa appointment.
- You still need a regular bank account for daily life in Germany — the Sperrkonto is a visa instrument, not a Girokonto replacement.
Next step: pick a provider and initiate the transfer, then open your everyday account with our no-Anmeldung guide.
Can family top up the blocked account later?
Yes — and this is a common pattern. If your costs exceed the €992 monthly payout (Munich rents, for example), family can transfer additional funds to your regular German account; the blocked account itself generally can't receive top-ups beyond its structure. Some students also open a second blocked account year in advance of their visa extension — the Ausländerbehörde wants to see the next year's €11,904 secured before extending your residence permit, so start that transfer 3–4 months before your permit expires. Treat the blocked account as an annual ritual, not a one-time task: every extension year needs fresh proof.
Sources & further reading
Primary sources consulted for this guide (Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) — visa requirements among them). Figures change — always verify against these official sources:
- Auswärtiges Amt — blocked account requirements for student visas
- Your local German embassy/consulate — current Sperrkonto amount
- BaFin — German banking supervision
How we compared
We compared Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle on setup/monthly fees and blocking-confirmation speed as listed on their official sites in October 2026; fee figures are illustrative and providers revise them regularly. The €11,904 annual requirement reflects the German government's 2026 blocked-account amount — verify it against the Auswärtiges Amt or your local German embassy before transferring, as visa officers check the exact figure. Alternatives (scholarship, Verpflichtungserklärung, parental proof) reflect German immigration law as applied at embassies; acceptance varies by consulate. We did not accept payment for placement. This guide is educational, not immigration advice.