This article will provide you with detailed information about German Blocked Account- Providers, Process & Documents.
Before getting a German visa, and well before starting a course at a German higher education institution, foreign students need to open what is called a Blocked Account or “Sperrkonto” in German. Most probably, not many of you have encountered this kind of account before, but if you decide to move to Germany, it’s important to understand how it works to ensure a seamless visa application experience as well as a comfortable stay in the country.
Keep on reading this article to know more about the German Blocked Account and everything related to it!
What is German Blocked Account?
Basically, a Blocked Account is a way of proving to the German state that students have the financial means to support themselves for a certain period. In many cases, the Blocked Account is a visa requirement. A Blocked Account is not a regular current bank account that all of us are used to. The main difference is that by opening a Blocked Account you will not get direct access to your funds and you will not get an ATM card. There will be no opportunity to pay for goods/services directly from your Blocked Account. Instead of that, you will be receiving regular monthly disbursements from your Blocked Account to your regular current bank account. You can treat it as a monthly allowance which should cover your living expenses.
Normally a Blocked Account is required for those people who do not have a stable and sufficient income within Germany. For example, students or language students, au-pairs, scholars, interns, etc. From January 1, 2021, the monthly required blocked amount is €853, which sums up to €10,236 per year. (75k-10lakhs)
Important Note -
It would be useful to remember that apart from the amount you need to “block”, there will be additional costs connected to the Blocked Account set-up and maintenance.
Those costs will vary depending on the Blocked Account provider you choose.
German Blocked Account - Tips
Consult with the local German Authorities to make sure you are applying for the Blocked Account you are required to have.
Choose the Blocked Account provider deliberately by comparing.
Open your Blocked Account only with providers that are officially accepted by the German Federal Foreign Office and compliant with the requirements of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (German Bank & Blocked Account in the name of the student).
Conclude a bundle including German Health Insurance and further additional benefits, like a free Travel Health Insurance, as you will save time and money.
Apply in advance to allow unexpected delays – ideally a few weeks prior to your visa appointment.
Research the cheapest and most convenient international money transfer options – usually remittance services are cheaper than traditional banks.
Come to Germany having some additional funds, don’t rely on the Blocked Account only as it will take some days to activate it and get the first pay-out
Open a current bank account as you will need it later on to receive the monthly transfers from your Blocked Account
German Blocked Account - How to open German Blocked Account?
Opening a blocked bank account in Germany is as easy as the following steps:
Choose the provider.
Apply online for your blocked account.
Deposit funds.
Get your block account confirmation.
German Blocked Account - Documents Requirements
Depending on what country you’re from, you may be asked to supply different documents to have your blocked account application approved.
With some of the banks that provide blocked accounts for international students, you’ll only be asked to upload an image of your ID or passport, but with some banks, you may be asked to provide more than that.
Here are some of the documents that you may be asked for when applying for a blocked account in Germany:
A filled-in application form will be provided by the bank
An image of your valid passport or ID card
The admission letter from the university you’ll be studying at
A recent bank statement
German Block Account - Providers and Process How to Apply
There are 3 main providers that you can choose to use for your blocked account, Here are the most popular blocked account providers in Germany:
Fintiba
Expatrio
Coracle
Blocked Account at Fintiba
Fintiba is one of the most popular banks to use for a blocked bank account with international students because it’s a very quick and simple process that can be done completely online.
They also only ask you to provide a valid passport in order to be approved for a Fintiba blocked account.
To open a German blocked account as an international student with Fintiba, you’ll need to
Register on the Fintiba website
Fill out the application form
Transfer the money required for your blocked account, and the additional processing fee
Receive confirmation of your opened blocked account to use in your visa application
Blocked Account at Expatrio
Expatrio is a website that helps international students move to Germany by offering Blocked Accounts and Health Insurance.
To open a German blocked account with Expatrio, you’ll need to:
Fill in the online application form on Expatrio’s website where they’ll ask for your visa information
Once the account has been opened, transfer the minimum funds required (Total Blocked Amount)
As soon as the funds have been transferred (which can take 3-5 business days), you’ll be automatically sent your blocked account confirmation - which you can use in your visa application
Blocked Account at Coracle
This is a popular provider amongst students as it’s one of the few that doesn’t charge you a monthly fee to have the account.
To open a German blocked account with Coracle, you’ll need to
Use Coracle’s online form to apply for a blocked account where they’ll ask for your details and an image of your passport
Once the account is opened, you can transfer the minimum funds required
Receive your blocked account confirmation to take to your German embassy
How long does it take to open a blocked account in Germany?
This will depend on the provider you use to set up your blocked account. Some providers require you to visit your local German Embassy to get your documents certified which can take time.
Once you have your documents ready and you’ve submitted your application form to your banking provider, it should take up to a week for the account to be open. However, sometimes there may be delays that make this process longer.
How much does a blocked account cost?
The cost of your blocked account will vary depending on the banking provider that you use.
The two costs that you can expect to pay for your account is the set-up fee which is paid when you sign up for an account, it can range from €49 (4k-5k)with Expatrio to €150 (13k-14k) with Deutsche Bank.
You may also have to pay a monthly fee with some providers, but this won’t cost more than €6.90 a month. (600-700Rs)
How to Withdraw Money From the Blocked Account?
Once you settle at a registered address in Germany, you can withdraw money from your blocked account. But, keep in mind that you won’t have direct access to your blocked account in Germany. With that said, the only way you can withdraw your money is by opening an international student bank account in Germany, where your blocked money will be transferred every month.
Currently, you’re allowed to withdraw a maximum of €934 (80k-82k) per month unless you’ve deposited more money than the required minimum.
German Blocked Account - Important Pointers
Note that not only non-EU students may need a blocked bank account in Germany. Au-pairs or job seekers who want to move to Germany will also need to have a blocked bank account in Germany to secure their visas.
As of October 2022, the annual requirement that must be paid into the blocked account when applying for a visa is 11,208 euros. (up to 9 lakhs)
Deutsche Bank no longer offers blocked account services.
Based on over 2000 student reviews and its excellent reputation in the market, Expatrio is the favorite choice for international students.
Conclusion
Non-EU residents will need to get a German student visa or student residence permit if they want to study in Germany. One of the requirements to get a German student visa is to prove that they can support themselves financially in Germany. There are different ways to provide financial proof. The most common way is to open a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) in Germany.
So, In this article, we have tried to cover everything related to the German Blocked Account. We hope you like this article!
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