- \n
- Rent<\/span><\/li>\n
- Food<\/span><\/li>\n
- Health insurance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In addition to a <\/span>declaration of commitment<\/b> (Verpflichtungserkl\u00e4rung)<\/b><\/a>, the <\/span>blocked account (Sperrkonto)<\/b> is the most common way to provide this proof of financial means.<\/span><\/p>\n
In this article, you will learn how to safely open a blocked account in order to start your German language course at German Institute in Stuttgart-S\u00fcd.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
What Is a Blocked Account?<\/b><\/h2>\n
A blocked account is a special German bank account for international students and language learners that serves as proof of financing for a visa. It is characterized by the fact that only a legally defined amount may be withdrawn each month (in 2026 the legal minimum is<\/span> \u20ac992<\/b>) to ensure living expenses are covered for the entire duration of stay.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Key Features of a Blocked Account<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Blocked:<\/b>
<\/b>The money is locked in the account, and distributed to you during the duration of your visa.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nMonthly payout:<\/b>
<\/b>You receive only a fixed amount each month.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>\ud83d\udc49 <\/span>As of 2026:<\/b> A minimum of \u20ac992 per month for language students and university students. However, you can add more if you wish. The monthly distribution method guarantees that your funds will last for your entire stay. For a German visa, this is considered a particularly secure method.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nHow Much Money Must Be in the Blocked Account?<\/b><\/h2>\n
The required amount depends on the length of your stay:<\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- 12 months:<\/b> \u20ac11,904<\/span><\/li>\n
- 6 months:<\/b> approx. half of that amount<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc49 <\/span>Important:<\/b> Always check with the German embassy in your country, as the amounts may be adjusted due to rising living costs.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Step by Step: How to Open a Blocked Account<\/b><\/h2>\n
If you plan your German language course in Germany properly, you should start the process of opening a blocked account as early as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Choose a Provider<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Select a certified provider, for example:<\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- Fintiba<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
- Expatrio<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
- Coracle<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Many providers allow you to complete the entire process online.<\/span><\/p>\n
Most providers such as Fintiba or Expatrio now offer <\/span>value packages including private health insurance (Privatkrankenversicherung)<\/b>, which are especially convenient because you must also provide proof of public or private health insurance for your visa. When you book both together, you often receive confirmation within minutes, significantly speeding up the visa process.<\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Submit the Application<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- \n
- Complete the online form<\/span><\/li>\n
- Upload your passport<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
Transfer the Funds<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Transfer the total required amount plus the processing fee to the blocked account.<\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Receive the Blocking Confirmation<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Once the payment has been received, you will get an official <\/span>blocked account confirmation (Sperrbest\u00e4tigung)<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Apply for Your Visa<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
With this confirmation, you go to the German embassy and apply for your visa.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Blocked Account or Declaration of Commitment \u2013 Which Is Better for your Visa?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Blocked Account<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- You are financially independent<\/span><\/li>\n
- Ideal if you do not have a sponsor in Germany<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Declaration of Commitment<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n
- \n
- A friend or relative in Germany acts as your sponsor<\/span><\/li>\n
- No large personal savings required<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\ud83d\udc49\"](\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/1f449.svg\")
<\/span>Both options are seen as equivalent proof of financial means by German embassies.<\/b><\/p>\nComparison Overview<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n \n Criterion<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Blocked Account<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Declaration of Commitment<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Financial source<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Own funds<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Sponsor in Germany<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Advantage<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Full financial independence<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n No initial capital required<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Effort<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Fast online process (approx. 1\u20132 weeks)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Sponsor must visit authorities<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n Embassy acceptance<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Very high<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Equally accepted<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Common Mistakes and Practical Tips When Opening a Blocked Account<\/b>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Plan a buffer:<\/b>
<\/b>International transfers involve fees. Transfer an extra buffer of \u20ac50\u2013100 to the account to ensure the required amount arrives in full.<\/span><\/p>\nActivate the account:<\/b>
<\/b>After arriving in Germany, you must activate your blocked account. You usually need:<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n- \n
- City registration (<\/span>Anmeldung<\/b>) (e.g. Stuttgart)<\/span><\/li>\n
- A German or European bank account where the funds can be sent. Fintiba and Expatrio offer their own online bank account services, which is often the easiest option for foreigners.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Allow enough time:<\/b>
<\/b>Ideally, start opening your blocked account <\/span>6\u20138 weeks before your embassy appointment<\/b>. International transfers can take 3\u20135 business days, and the bank still needs time to issue the confirmation. This helps you avoid unnecessary stress shortly before your move to Stuttgart.<\/span><\/p>\nRefund guarantee:<\/b>
<\/b>If your visa is rejected, all certified providers such as Fintiba or Expatrio will refund the money (minus a small fee). You only need to submit the embassy\u2019s rejection notice.<\/span><\/p>\nConclusion: Your Key to a German Visa<\/b><\/p>\n
A blocked account means financial independence. It shows the authorities that you can fully focus on your German language course\u2014without financial worries.<\/span><\/p>\n
Learning German is much more enjoyable when rent and food are securely covered.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>Start planning now!<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\nDo You Need Support?<\/b><\/p>\n
At German Institute in Stuttgart, we support our students not only in learning German, but also with questions about visas, blocked accounts, and everyday life in Germany.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>Register now for an intensive course<\/a> and benefit from our visa support<\/a>!<\/b><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Why Do Many Learners…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":64839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[543,546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-german","category-visa"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sperrkonto-visum-deutschland-vorbereitung-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64838"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66009,"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64838\/revisions\/66009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/germaninstitute.com\/de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- A German or European bank account where the funds can be sent. Fintiba and Expatrio offer their own online bank account services, which is often the easiest option for foreigners.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- No large personal savings required<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Ideal if you do not have a sponsor in Germany<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- You are financially independent<\/span><\/li>\n
- \n
- \n
- Upload your passport<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Complete the online form<\/span><\/li>\n
- Expatrio<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
- Fintiba<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
- 6 months:<\/b> approx. half of that amount<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Food<\/span><\/li>\n