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The German blocked account for students: how much, and how it works
In short: for a German student visa you usually show EUR 11,904 for a year in a blocked account (Sperrkonto), from which you may take out EUR 992 a month once in Germany. You choose the provider yourself (the Federal Foreign Office keeps a list), open the account before you apply, and it can only be closed with the consent of the German mission or the foreigners authority. A scholarship or a sponsor’s formal declaration of commitment can replace it.
The rules, from official pages
| What | Figure | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount for a year | EUR 11,904 | Pegged to the student grant rate; the figure for applications in 2026. | German Embassy Muscat (Federal Foreign Office) read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Monthly release | EUR 992 a month | Once in Germany, you can withdraw up to this amount each month. | German Embassy Muscat read 7 Nov 2026 |
| If you have no place yet | EUR 1,091 a month | For the visa to look for a study place (up to nine months). | Make it in Germany read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Which provider | Your choice | The Federal Foreign Office keeps a list of providers worldwide; it does not recommend one. | Federal Foreign Office provider list read 7 Nov 2026 |
| When to open it | Before you apply | Only the provider’s official confirmation showing the monthly amount is accepted. | German Embassy Nairobi read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Instead of a blocked account | Scholarship or sponsor | A scholarship confirmation, or a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklaerung) from a sponsor in Germany. A scholarship under EUR 992 a month must be topped up. | German Embassy Nairobi read 7 Nov 2026 |
| If your university charges tuition | Add the first year’s fees | Prove the first year’s tuition too, or raise the blocked amount by it. | German Embassy Nairobi read 7 Nov 2026 |
Last checked: 7 Nov 2026. We do not sell, rank or recommend blocked account providers; use the Federal Foreign Office list and your embassy's instructions.
What to do next
- Follow the whole visa process: the German student visa, step by step.
- See what the year costs on top of the blocked money: cost calculator, what universities charge.
- Check the timing: visa processing times.
- Look for a scholarship that could replace the blocked account: open to your nationality.
Questions
How much money do I need in a German blocked account in 2026?
EUR 11,904 for one year, released at up to EUR 992 a month, according to the Federal Foreign Office. If you apply for a visa to look for a study place, the figure is EUR 1,091 a month.
Which blocked account provider should I use?
Any provider the German mission accepts. The Federal Foreign Office publishes a list of providers worldwide and leaves the choice to you; compare their fees and how fast they issue the confirmation.
Do I need a blocked account if I have a scholarship?
Not if the scholarship covers at least EUR 992 a month; a smaller scholarship must be topped up, for example with a blocked account. A formal declaration of commitment from a sponsor in Germany is also accepted.