If you are coming to Germany from outside the EU to study, you will meet two requirements in the visa process that often come up together: the blocked account (Sperrkonto) and health insurance (Krankenversicherung). This guide explains which amounts a German diplomatic mission’s information sheet lists, what the visa requires as proof of health cover, and how insurance works after you arrive.
Short answer: A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is proof of sufficient financial means for the visa. An information sheet from a German diplomatic mission (status August 2025) lists at least 992 euros per month, which makes 11,904 euros for one year. The visa also requires proof of sufficient health insurance cover. Each mission sets the exact requirements. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The blocked account is proof for the visa process, not part of your health insurance.
- An information sheet from August 2025 assumes at least 992 euros per month and 11,904 euros for a year. This reflects the 2025/26 status.
- The mission also requires proof of sufficient health insurance cover. A travel policy alone is not always enough.
- After enrolment, enrolled students at state universities are generally covered by compulsory student health insurance (section 5 (1) no. 9 SGB V).
- Requirements differ between missions. Ask the mission responsible for you before you apply.
What is a blocked account and why do you need one?
A blocked account shows the visa office that you can finance your living costs during your studies. The mission decides in which form this proof must be provided. The information sheet of the Embassy in San José lists proof of sufficient financial means next to admission to a course, language proof and a visa fee of 75 euros.
Whether you need a blocked account depends on your country of origin and on the visa process. The information sheet refers explicitly to the student visa. Other purposes of stay follow their own rules.
How high is the blocked account for 2025/26?
An information sheet of a German mission from August 2025 lists the following amounts. They are a reference point for the 2025/26 status, not a promise for later years.
| Item | Amount | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly amount | at least 992 euros | Student visa information sheet, Embassy San José, status August 2025 |
| Annual amount | at least 11,904 euros | Same information sheet, calculated as 12 × 992 euros |
| Other missions | not transferable | Ask the mission of your country for the current amount |
Calculation example (assumption: study starts in one year, stay of twelve months, amount as in the information sheet): 12 × 992 euros = 11,904 euros. Your mission will tell you whether this amount applies to you. The sources checked do not give a reliable figure for 2027, so check the current amount before you apply.
Which health insurance does the visa require?
The information sheet from San José lists proof of sufficient health insurance cover as a visa document. If you enter the country before enrolment, the same sheet says that you must take out private health insurance until enrolment and statutory insurance apply. Travel insurance may be excluded for long-term stays.
For a student residence permit, the Residence Act requires admission to a full-time course at a state or state-recognised university (section 16b AufenthG). Health insurance is therefore closely linked to enrolment. A guide for students from the US, who face a similar question, is available in German: Health Insurance for US Students: What the EHIC Does Not Cover.
How does health insurance work after you arrive?
Under section 5 (1) no. 9 SGB V, enrolled students at state or state-recognised universities are compulsorily insured up to age 30. Under section 190 (9) SGB V, membership ends at the end of the semester in which you are de-registered. If you do not meet the duty through the fund, you must clarify an exemption or private cover.
For 2026, the GKV-Spitzenverband sets a contribution base of 855 euros per month. Without long-term care insurance, this gives a contribution of 112.18 euros per month (assumption: additional contribution of 2.9 percent, status 1 January 2026). Background on the calculation is in our guide Student Health Insurance 2026: What It Costs.
Planning your finances
The blocked account is only one part of your financial planning. On top of it come regular costs: rent, living costs, study materials and health insurance. Student health insurance is a monthly contribution and is not included in the semester fee. Each university sets its own semester fee, so check the figure on your university’s website.
Plan with two numbers: the amount the mission gives for the blocked account and your monthly expenses. If you ask the mission for the current amount and write your expenses into a simple table, you will see early whether your plan works. There is no fixed sum for everyone, because rent and living costs vary a lot between cities.
Keep in mind that a blocked account does not replace insurance. Health insurance must run for the whole period in which you live in Germany. If you treat these two topics separately, you avoid a missing visa document while your enrolment is already waiting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always have to show a blocked account?
The information sheet names the blocked account as part of the student visa. Whether your case requires it is decided by the responsible mission. Ask there for the current documents before you transfer money or open an account.
Is travel insurance enough for the visa?
The information sheet requires proof of sufficient health insurance cover and, for the time before enrolment, names private health insurance. Travel insurance may be excluded for long-term stays. Clarify this with the mission and with a health insurance fund in advance.
Does the blocked account also apply to students from the EU?
The information sheet refers to the student visa for people from non-EU countries. Students who do not need a visa follow different rules, which relate to their residence and not to this information sheet.
How long must the money stay in the account?
The period depends on the requirements of the mission and on your study plan. The amount in the information sheet refers to one year. The sheet does not name a fixed period, so ask the mission directly.
How to proceed now
- Get the current information sheet of your responsible mission and check the amount and form of the blocked account.
- Find out which health insurance proof the visa requires, and book travel or international health insurance if you enter before enrolment.
- Ask your university which health insurance proof it needs for enrolment and plan the notification from your fund.
- Keep all documents together in one folder so you can show them quickly on arrival and at enrolment.
Related guides
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Student Health Insurance in Germany 2026: Key Figures
- Private Health Insurance Abroad During Your Studies
- Health Insurance and Blocked Account for Students from Nepal
Sources: Student visa information sheet, German Embassy San José (status August 2025, in German); GKV-Spitzenverband, contribution parameters 2026 (status 1 January 2026, in German); Section 5 SGB V (current version, in German); Section 16b AufenthG (current version, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
