A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is the usual way for many international students to prove, when applying for a visa, that they can cover their living costs in Germany. The money sits in an account in Germany and can only be withdrawn in monthly instalments. This guide shows which amount to plan for, how opening the account works and where to find the binding amount for your visa.
In short: The federal portal Make it in Germany names at least 11,904 euros for the blocked account (2025), which equals 12 times 992 euros and therefore the BAföG maximum rate. What counts for your visa is the amount the German mission responsible for you requires when you apply. Check it there before you pay in. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- According to a leaflet of the German embassy in Bern (December 2025), the blocked account is the standard way to prove living costs for a student visa under section 16b of the Residence Act (AufenthG).
- Make it in Germany names at least 11,904 euros (2025). The figure equals 12 times 992 euros.
- The amount is linked to the BAföG maximum rate. A planned BAföG reform may change it in future, but it has not been enacted.
- According to authority leaflets, payouts are made only in monthly instalments, and closing the account requires approval.
- The embassy leaflet says the choice of account provider is free, and the confirmation must be available when you apply.
- A declaration of commitment or a scholarship are alternatives, but come with special conditions.
How high is the blocked account amount for 2026 and 2027?
The federal portal Make it in Germany (in German) names at least 11,904 euros for the blocked account, with the note 2025. Divided by twelve months, this gives a monthly amount of 992 euros. That equals the BAföG maximum rate for students aged 25 to 29 living away from their parents, as shown by the student services organisations in their BAföG FAQ (in German) (January 2026). The calculation is: 12 times 992 euros equals 11,904 euros.
The link to BAföG is intended. A leaflet of the Mannheim immigration office explains that the BAföG maximum rate applies as a flat rate for living costs, under section 5(1) no. 1 in conjunction with section 2(3) AufenthG, and that twelve times that amount must be available when you apply (leaflet, 2022 with the then rate of 934 euros (in German)). The amount therefore follows the maximum rate at the relevant time.
The Make it in Germany page is dated 2025 and names no updated amount for the 2026/27 study year. Pages of German missions abroad also give 992 euros per month, for example the embassy in Italy (page dated 1 July 2025) and the embassy in Georgia (page dated 18 August 2025). These are examples as of 2025, not a confirmed figure for 2026/27 and not a figure for your mission. A reform of the BAföG rates is in the legislative process: the draft of the 30th BAföG Amendment Act (Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 (in German) of 7 October 2026) provides for raising the housing allowance for students living away from their parents from 380 to 440 euros from the summer semester 2027. The procedure has not been concluded, so this is not enacted. If you apply for a visa later, check the current amount with the mission.
| Item | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blocked account, minimum amount | 11,904 euros | 2025 | Make it in Germany |
| Monthly amount by calculation | 992 euros (11,904 divided by 12) | 2025 | Own calculation |
| BAföG maximum rate, age 25 to 29, living away | 992 euros | January 2026 | German Student Services (DSW) |
| Planned housing allowance away from parents from summer semester 2027 | 440 euros instead of 380 euros | Draft, not enacted | Bundestag paper 21/8405 |
Where do I find the binding amount for my visa?
Your visa is handled by the German mission in your country of residence. Its leaflets are decisive and can differ by country. Therefore do not transfer a value from another mission’s leaflet to your case. The leaflet of the embassy in Bern (December 2025) refers to section 16b AufenthG as the legal basis and describes the blocked account as the standard case. Check the website of your responsible mission to see which amount it currently names.
How does opening a blocked account work?
The exact process depends on the account provider. According to the leaflets cited, the choice of provider is free. The sequence is as follows:
- Ask the responsible mission which amount you must prove and which form of confirmation it requires.
- Choose a provider for the blocked account and read the terms on fees, payout and closing.
- Open the account following the provider’s requirements, usually with identity verification and details of your study place.
- Pay in the amount the mission requires.
- Have the blocked account confirmation issued. According to the Bern leaflet, a copy must be available on the day of application.
- Submit the confirmation with your visa application and the other documents.
- After arrival, set up the monthly payout to your current account.
Start early, because identity checks and payment can take several days or weeks depending on country and bank. Factor this in before your appointment at the mission.
How is the money paid out?
The account is blocked so that the money is available spread across the year. According to the Mannheim leaflet, no more than the monthly amount may be paid out each month, and the blocked account may only be closed with the authority’s approval. The provider sets the rules in detail. Read them before opening the account and pay particular attention to fees and to the date of the first payout.
You also need a normal current account to receive the instalments. Which documents international students need for that is covered in Girokonto als internationale Studierende (in German).
Which alternatives to a blocked account exist?
Besides the blocked account, the Bern leaflet names the declaration of commitment and a scholarship. The declaration of commitment is provided only in exceptional cases, is given by a person living in Germany under sections 66 to 68 AufenthG and comes with its own conditions. A scholarship confirmation must state duration and amount as well as details on accommodation and health insurance. Make it in Germany notes that scholarships are rarely awarded from the first semester. An overview is in Stipendien für internationale Studierende in Deutschland (in German).
What about health insurance?
In addition to the blocked account you need health insurance for enrolment. What you need for registration is described in Sperrkonto und Krankenversicherung: Was du bei der Anmeldung brauchst (in German), and an overview is in Health Insurance for International Students in Germany. For a general start to studying in Germany see Studieren in Deutschland als internationaler Studierender (in German).
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need in the blocked account?
Make it in Germany names at least 11,904 euros (2025). What counts is the amount your mission requires when you apply.
Why exactly this amount?
It equals 12 times 992 euros and therefore the BAföG maximum rate as a flat rate for living costs. According to the Mannheim leaflet, the legal basis in residence law is section 2(3) AufenthG.
Can I pay in more than the minimum?
That depends on the provider. The minimum is the threshold for the proof; a higher deposit may be possible depending on the provider’s terms.
Do I have to close the account after my studies?
According to the Mannheim leaflet, closing is only possible with the authority’s approval. The provider sets the terms for any remaining balance.
Is there a provider the authorities prefer?
According to the embassy leaflet from Bern, the choice of provider is free. This guide does not recommend any particular provider.
What to do now
- Ask the responsible mission for the current amount and the form of confirmation.
- Compare the terms of several providers before opening an account.
- Pay in the amount and secure the blocked account confirmation for your visa application.
- Plan the current account and health insurance for the time after arrival.
Related guides
- Geld, Konto und Kredit: Der Überblick für junge Erwachsene (in German)
- Girokonto als internationale Studierende: Welche Unterlagen du brauchst (in German)
- Sperrkonto und Krankenversicherung: Was du bei der Anmeldung brauchst (in German)
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Studieren in Deutschland als internationaler Studierender: Der Überblick (in German)
Sources: Finanzierung sichern, Make it in Germany (2025); Leaflet on studies, German embassy Bern (December 2025); Leaflet on proof of financing, Mannheim immigration office (2022); BAföG FAQ, German Student Services (January 2026); Printed paper 21/8405, German Bundestag (7 October 2026); Federal Foreign Office, German Embassy Rome, opening and release of a blocked account (page dated 1 July 2025, in German); Federal Foreign Office, German Embassy Tbilisi, leaflet on proof of financing (page dated 18 August 2025, in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
