Using Your Blocked Account
If you used a blocked account (Sperrkonto) to get your student visa, you need to set up monthly withdrawals once you arrive. Here's how to unlock your funds.
How much you need, and which provider to use
Public reporting as of 2026 puts the required amount at roughly €992/month (€11,904/year) for a student visa — higher than the €934/month figure previously stated here — and roughly €1,091/month if you’re applying for a Chancenkarte instead — Germany’s points-based route for skilled job seekers, not the student visa.
| Provider | Monthly withdrawal | Open before arrival | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fintiba | Yes | Yes | Widely used by student-visa applicants; fully online setup. |
| Expatrio | Yes | Yes | Bundles blocked account with health insurance sign-up in one flow. |
| Deutsche Bank | Yes | No | A traditional-bank option, but typically needs more paperwork before arrival than the fintech providers. |
The exact required amount is reviewed periodically by German authorities and this session could not fetch the Auswärtiges Amt's own page to confirm today's figure (network access to that domain was unavailable) — always check auswaertiges-amt.de or your specific embassy's page before funding an account.