How to open a blocked account for Studienkolleg. Required amount (11,904 EUR), how it works, monthly withdrawals, and what happens after arrival.
The Sperrkonto (blocked account) is a special bank account that proves to the German embassy you have enough money to live in Germany for one year. You deposit 11,904 EUR (as of 2026), and once you arrive in Germany, the bank releases 992 EUR per month for your living expenses. You cannot withdraw the full amount at once — that is the point. The account proves you will not run out of money during your Studienkolleg year.
Every non-EU student applying for a German student visa needs a Sperrkonto. No blocked account, no visa. This guide explains exactly how the account works, how to open one, what to bring to the embassy, and what happens after you land in Germany.
A Sperrkonto is a restricted savings account at a German bank. “Sperr” means “blocked” — the money sits in the account, and you can only access it in fixed monthly installments after arriving in Germany. The German government uses this mechanism to ensure that international students can fund their living expenses without relying on employment or social welfare.
The legal basis is Section 2 of the Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act). The German embassy requires proof of financial resources as part of the student visa application. The Sperrkonto is the most common and widely accepted way to provide this proof.
| Student Type | Sperrkonto Required? |
|---|---|
| Non-EU/EEA students applying for a student visa | Yes — mandatory |
| EU/EEA students (including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland) | No |
| Students whose parents or sponsor sign a Verpflichtungserklärung | No (but the Sperrkonto is often simpler) |
| Students with a full DAAD or government scholarship covering living costs | No (scholarship confirmation replaces Sperrkonto) |
If you are from a non-EU country and do not have a formal sponsorship declaration or full scholarship, you need a Sperrkonto. There are no exceptions.
The required deposit is set by the German government and adjusts annually based on the BAföG rate (Germany’s student financial aid reference).
| Year | Monthly Rate | Annual Deposit (12 Months) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 992 EUR/month | 11,904 EUR |
| 2025 | 992 EUR/month | 11,904 EUR |
| 2024 | 934 EUR/month | 11,208 EUR |
The 11,904 EUR covers 12 months of living expenses at the legally defined minimum. This is the amount the embassy requires to see in your Sperrkonto when you apply for your visa.
The 992 EUR per month is a legal minimum — not a comfortable budget. Here is a realistic breakdown:
| Expense | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (shared apartment / WG) | 300-500 EUR |
| Health insurance | 120-150 EUR |
| Food and groceries | 200-250 EUR |
| Transport (Semesterticket covers most) | 0-49 EUR |
| Phone and internet | 10-20 EUR |
| Personal expenses | 50-100 EUR |
| Total | 680-1,069 EUR |
In affordable cities (eastern Germany, smaller towns), 992 EUR per month is enough. In expensive cities like Munich, Frankfurt, or Hamburg, you will need additional income from part-time work or family support. For a full cost breakdown, see our Studienkolleg costs guide.
Mini-example: A student in Halle (Saale) pays 250 EUR rent for a room in a shared apartment, 120 EUR for health insurance, and 200 EUR for food. Her monthly total is about 650 EUR, well within the 992 EUR allowance. A student in Munich paying 550 EUR rent is already at 950 EUR before personal expenses.
Opening a Sperrkonto is done entirely online. You do not need to visit a German bank in person. The process takes 1-3 weeks from start to finish.
Several German banks and fintech companies offer blocked accounts specifically for international students. The process and fees are similar across providers. When choosing, compare:
Visit the provider’s website and register. You will need:
The registration takes 10-15 minutes. You will receive a confirmation email with further instructions.
Identity verification is required by German banking law (KYC — Know Your Customer). Methods vary by provider:
Video identification is the standard option for students applying from abroad.
After verification, you receive bank details (IBAN) for your Sperrkonto. Transfer 11,904 EUR to this account.
Transfer methods:
Important: The full 11,904 EUR must arrive in the account. If your bank deducts transfer fees from the amount, the balance will be below the required minimum, and the provider cannot issue the confirmation letter. Transfer slightly more (e.g., 12,000 EUR) to account for bank fees, or ensure fees are charged separately.
Once the full amount has arrived and cleared, the provider issues a Sperrbescheinigung — the official confirmation that your blocked account is funded. This letter states:
You receive the Sperrbescheinigung as a PDF by email. Some providers also send a printed copy by post. This document is what you bring to your visa appointment.
The entire process from registration to receiving the Sperrbescheinigung takes 1-3 weeks, depending on how quickly your bank transfer clears.
At your student visa appointment, you present the Sperrbescheinigung as proof of financial resources. The embassy staff will check:
Some embassies accept only the printed Sperrbescheinigung; others accept the PDF on a tablet or phone. To be safe, print the document.
This almost never happens if the amount is correct and the provider is recognized. The most common issues are:
The Sperrkonto is “dormant” while you are still in your home country. It activates only after you arrive in Germany and register your German address.
Within the first two weeks of arriving in Germany, you must register your address at the local residents’ registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt / Bürgeramt). You receive a Meldebescheinigung (registration confirmation).
Send your Meldebescheinigung to your blocked account provider. Some providers also require a copy of your residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis). Once they verify your German address, the account is activated.
After activation, the provider releases 992 EUR per month into a regular bank account. You need to have a standard German checking account (Girokonto) to receive the monthly transfers.
No. The monthly limit is fixed at 992 EUR. This is by design — the German government wants to ensure the money lasts the full 12 months. If you have an emergency, you cannot access extra funds from the Sperrkonto.
Tip: If you need more than 992 EUR in a given month (e.g., for a rent deposit or unexpected expense), the extra money must come from another source — savings in a regular bank account, part-time work, or family support.
After 12 monthly withdrawals, the Sperrkonto balance reaches zero and the account is empty. At this point:
Most Studienkolleg students continue directly to university after passing the Feststellungsprüfung. For your residence permit extension, the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office) typically requires a new Sperrkonto or equivalent proof of funding for the next 12 months. The process is identical: deposit 11,904 EUR (or the then-current annual amount) and receive a new Sperrbescheinigung.
If the German embassy denies your visa, you can close the Sperrkonto and get your money back.
| Item | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Account closure fee | 0-50 EUR |
| International transfer fee | 15-30 EUR |
| Currency conversion loss | Varies (depends on exchange rate changes) |
| Net refund | 11,824-11,889 EUR (of 11,904 EUR deposited) |
You will get back nearly the full amount. The main cost is the setup fee (non-refundable) and any transfer fees. Currency conversion can work in your favor or against you depending on exchange rate movements between the deposit and refund dates.
Mini-example: A student from India deposited 11,904 EUR at an exchange rate of 89 INR per EUR. His visa was denied 6 weeks later. By the time the refund arrived, the exchange rate had shifted to 90 INR per EUR, and after fees of 65 EUR, he received 11,839 EUR back — equivalent to about 1,065,510 INR. The fees were minimal; the exchange rate actually gave him a small gain in rupees.
There are two ways to prove financial resources for your student visa. The Sperrkonto is the default, but the Verpflichtungserklärung (formal obligation letter) is an alternative.
| Feature | Sperrkonto | Verpflichtungserklärung |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your own money in a blocked bank account | A legal guarantee by a sponsor living in Germany |
| Cost to you | 11,904 EUR (your own money, returned to you monthly) | 0 EUR (your sponsor bears the cost) |
| Who provides it | You (the student) | A sponsor with sufficient income in Germany |
| Accepted by all embassies? | Yes | Yes, but requirements for the sponsor are strict |
| Risk | Minimal — it is your money | The sponsor is legally liable for all your costs, including medical bills and deportation costs |
| Complexity | Simple online process | Sponsor must visit the Ausländerbehörde in person, show proof of income, sign a legal obligation |
| When it makes sense | You have the funds available | A relative or friend in Germany has a stable income and is willing to take legal responsibility |
The Sperrkonto is simpler, faster, and does not depend on anyone else. The Verpflichtungserklärung requires a sponsor in Germany with a net monthly income of at least 1,800-2,000 EUR (varies by city), and the sponsor assumes significant legal liability. If you have the 11,904 EUR available, the Sperrkonto is the better option.
The Verpflichtungserklärung makes sense only if you genuinely cannot raise 11,904 EUR and have a close relative or trusted contact in Germany willing to sponsor you.
If your bank deducts fees from the transfer amount, the balance falls below the minimum. The provider cannot issue the Sperrbescheinigung until the full amount is in the account. Always transfer slightly more than required or ensure your bank charges fees separately.
The entire process (registration, verification, transfer, confirmation) takes 1-3 weeks. If you open the account two days before your visa appointment, you will not have the Sperrbescheinigung in time. Start at least 4-6 weeks before your embassy appointment.
The Sperrkonto releases 992 EUR per month into a Girokonto. If you do not have a Girokonto, you cannot access the money. Open a student checking account as soon as you arrive in Germany — or choose a blocked account provider that offers a Girokonto as part of the package.
The 992 EUR per month is a minimum for basic living expenses. It does not cover one-time costs like a rent deposit (Kaution), furniture, or the Semesterbeitrag. Have an additional 1,000-2,000 EUR in a regular savings account or available from family for the first month’s settling-in expenses.
The Sperrkonto stays locked until you provide your German address (Meldebescheinigung). If you delay registration at the Einwohnermeldeamt, you delay access to your own money. Register within the first week after finding housing.
Open it after receiving your admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) from the Studienkolleg. You need the admission letter for your visa application anyway, and opening the Sperrkonto earlier means your money is locked up for longer than necessary. The typical sequence: apply to Studienkolleg, receive admission, open Sperrkonto, apply for visa.
Yes. The 11,904 EUR does not have to come from your own bank account. A parent, relative, or sponsor can transfer the money directly to your Sperrkonto. The account is in your name, and the monthly withdrawals go to you.
Yes. The registration and verification process is fully online. Students from virtually every country can open a Sperrkonto. However, transferring money internationally can be more difficult from countries with strict currency controls (e.g., Iran, Nigeria, Bangladesh). In those cases, you may need to work with an approved currency exchange service or have a relative in another country make the transfer.
If you decide not to go to Germany (and have not applied for or received a visa), you can close the Sperrkonto and request a full refund. Contact your provider, submit a closure request, and the money is transferred back to your original account within 2-4 weeks minus any fees.
No. A Sperrkonto is a special restricted account. You cannot use it for daily transactions, card payments, or ATM withdrawals. It only releases 992 EUR per month to your regular Girokonto. Think of it as a controlled savings account — you own the money, but you access it on a schedule.
No. EU/EEA citizens (and citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) do not need a visa to study in Germany and therefore do not need a Sperrkonto. They still need to prove they can fund their studies, but a regular bank statement showing sufficient savings is enough.
Your Sperrkonto withdrawals continue regardless of your employment status. Earning money from a part-time job does not reduce or pause the monthly 992 EUR release. The two income streams are completely independent. Part-time work simply gives you extra money on top of the Sperrkonto allowance.
The Sperrkonto and scholarship applications are separate processes. A scholarship may reduce or eliminate the need for a Sperrkonto if it covers your full living expenses and the scholarship confirmation is accepted by the embassy as proof of financial resources. However, partial scholarships typically do not replace the Sperrkonto requirement — you would still need to deposit the full 11,904 EUR (or the difference between the scholarship amount and the required annual minimum).
The Sperrkonto is not a fee or a penalty — it is your own money, held in a controlled account, released to you every month. The deposit feels like a large sum upfront, but every euro comes back to you. Start the process as soon as you have your admission letter, and give yourself at least 4 weeks before your visa appointment.
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