To get a German student visa you must prove you can fund your first year — and the standard way is a Sperrkonto, or blocked account. It is a special account that holds your living-cost money and releases it to you in equal monthly instalments after you arrive.
How much you need (2026)
For 2026 the required deposit is €11,904 for a year. The account then releases €992 per month — exactly one twelfth — so you cannot withdraw it all at once. The money is always yours; the monthly release simply demonstrates to the authorities that you can cover rent, food, insurance and daily costs without public assistance.
How it works, step by step
- Open a blocked account with an approved provider (Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle, Deutsche Bank and others).
- Transfer the full €11,904 (plus the provider's setup fee).
- Use the confirmation as proof of funds in your visa application.
- After you arrive and register your address, the account releases €992 to you each month.
Good to know
A scholarship, a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor in Germany, or a recognised bank guarantee can substitute for part or all of the blocked account. The blocked amount is reviewed most years and tends to rise with the cost of living, so confirm the figure for your intake.
The blocked-amount figure is set by German federal authorities and updated periodically — confirm the current amount with the German mission in your country before you transfer funds.