Blocked account & cost calculator
See exactly how much you must show in a blocked account (Sperrkonto) for a student visa, the Opportunity Card, or an Ausbildung — in euros and your home currency — and how a training salary can shrink it, sometimes to €0.
Required blocked account · Student visa
Monthly drawdown (blocked ÷ 12): €992 · ≈ Rs312,480 released to you each month after you arrive.
Blocked-account provider fees
The deposit is your money; these service fees are the real cost of opening the account (additional to the sunk fees above).
| Provider | Setup | Monthly | First year (setup + 12×monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expatrio | €89 · ≈ Rs28,035 | €5 · ≈ Rs1,575 | €149 · ≈ Rs46,935 |
| Fintiba | €159 · ≈ Rs50,085 | €10 · ≈ Rs3,119 | €278 · ≈ Rs87,507 |
| Coracle | €99 · ≈ Rs31,185 | €0 | €99 · ≈ Rs31,185 |
These figures move. The blocked amount is tied to the BAföG subsistence rate and changes most years; provider fees and FX rates also shift. Numbers were verified 2026-07-20 against official sources — always confirm the current amount with the embassy and your provider before transferring money.
Ausbildung path or an unusual case? Ask us to confirm your exact proof-of-funds — embassy practice on stipends varies.
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Frequently asked questions
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special German bank account where you deposit a year's living costs before your visa is approved, proving you can support yourself. The bank 'blocks' the balance and releases a fixed amount to you each month once you arrive in Germany. It is the standard proof-of-funds method for student and Opportunity Card visas.
For a German student visa the blocked account is currently €11,904 for the year — about €992 per month, the BAföG-linked subsistence minimum. The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) requires more: €13,092. These amounts are set by the German government and change most years, so confirm the current figure with the embassy before you transfer any money.
Often yes. With a signed Ausbildungsvertrag your monthly training salary counts toward proof of funds, so you usually only need to block the gap between your net stipend and about €992 per month. A well-paid stipend — nursing, for example — can reduce the required blocked amount to €0. Embassy practice varies by consulate, so confirm your specific case before relying on it.
A student visa needs €11,904 blocked (€992 per month), while the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) requires €13,092. The Opportunity Card is a jobseeker route with no enrolment or employer backing you, so Germany asks you to prove more savings to cover your stay. A student has a confirmed university place, which is why the figure is lower.
The money you deposit is not a cost — it's your own funds, held and released back to you monthly. The only real cost is the provider fee: a one-time setup of roughly €89–€159 plus a small monthly service charge, depending on the provider. Compare providers on setup fee, monthly fee and how fast they open and confirm the account.
Yes. A blocked account holds your own money — it is not a fee. Once you arrive in Germany and activate the account, it releases roughly €992 to you each month to live on, and any remaining balance stays yours. The only non-refundable part is the provider's setup and monthly service fee. Budget the deposit as savings you will spend, not money lost.
- Subsistence / blocked-account minimum (BAföG-linked) — German Federal Ministry of Education (BMBF) (official)
- Visas for Germany — German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) (official)
- Make it in Germany — official government portal — German Federal Government (BMAS / BMWK) (official)
- Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) — Make it in Germany (official) (official)
Figures are checked against these sources and reviewed each application intake. Last verified: 2026-07-20. Always confirm the current rule for your case with the official source before you act.
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