Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) for Germany: Amount, Providers and How It Works

The blocked account, or Sperrkonto, is how you prove to the German embassy that you can fund your first year. It is not a fee — it is your own money, held in a German account and released to you in monthly instalments after you arrive.

How much do you need?

The requirement is set by the German Federal Foreign Office and is revised most years. For 2025 it is €11,904 for twelve months, released at roughly €992 per month. Always confirm the current figure on the Federal Foreign Office or your local German mission's website before transferring, because applying with last year's amount means a rejected file.

How it works, step by step

1. Choose a provider and open the account online (you need your passport and, usually, your admission letter).
2. Transfer the full annual amount plus the provider's fees from India.
3. Receive the blocking confirmation — this is the document you submit with your visa application.
4. After arriving, complete your address registration and activate the account.
5. Withdraw your monthly allowance to a normal German bank account.

Choosing a provider

The realistic options for Indian students are Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle and, for some applicants, Deutsche Bank. They differ on setup fee, monthly fee, whether health insurance is bundled, and how fast the confirmation arrives. We keep a side-by-side breakdown on our Sperrkonto comparison page so you can compare total first-year cost rather than just the headline setup fee.

Things that matter more than a €10 difference in fees:

• Speed of confirmation. Some providers issue in 1–3 working days, others take a week. When you are chasing a visa slot, that is the deciding factor.
• Whether health insurance is bundled. A combined package is one less document to chase.
• Refund policy if your visa is refused. Check this before you transfer.

Sending the money from India

Use the LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme) route through your bank. You will need Form A2 and your admission letter. Two practical warnings:

• Transfer slightly more than the required amount so that intermediary bank charges do not leave you short. A €50 shortfall can invalidate the confirmation.
• Do not fund the account with a sudden unexplained deposit into your sponsor's account days before the transfer. Visa officers check the money trail; keep six months of statements that show where the funds came from.

Alternatives to a blocked account

A blocked account is the standard route, but these are also accepted in many cases:

• A formal Verpflichtungserklärung (declaration of commitment) from a sponsor residing in Germany
• A recognised scholarship covering living costs (DAAD and similar)
• A bank guarantee from a German bank

Closing the account

Once you finish your studies or leave Germany, submit a closing request with proof of deregistration; the remaining balance is transferred to the account you nominate.

Compare providers before you transfer, and confirm the current annual amount the same week you apply — those two checks prevent most blocked-account delays.