Blocked Account Germany 2026-27: Amount, Banks, and Process for Indian Students

A blocked account Germany requirement means a restricted German bank account. You deposit a fixed sum before your visa interview, and the bank releases it in fixed monthly installments only after you land in Germany. Since Germany does not charge tuition at most public universities, this deposit is how the government confirms you can cover your living costs without an income for the first year.

You need it for a German student visa, the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), the 18-month job seeker permit, and most training or language-course visas. You do not need it if you hold a full scholarship, a notarized Declaration of Commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a German resident, or, rarely, consulate-accepted parental income proof.

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Counselor insight: Students often assume this deposit covers health insurance or the visa fee too. It does not. Budget the blocked account, the roughly Rs.8,250 (€75) visa fee, and 12 months of health insurance separately.

Many blogs about the blocked account Germany requirement still quote the 2022 rate of €934 a month. That was replaced on 1 September 2024. The Federal Foreign Office confirms the current figure directly: €992 per month, €11,904 a year, unchanged through 2026. Multiple provider trackers report the same figure carrying into 2027, as it is tied to the BAföG student aid rate, which the government reviews only every one to two years, not annually. Reconfirm with your consulate if your appointment is scheduled for late 2027, as the Federal Foreign Office issues its updates only a few months before each cycle.

At Rs.110 per EUR, that is roughly Rs.1,09,120 a month, Rs.13,09,440 a year (about Rs.13.09 lakh) for your first year of living costs in Germany.

Job seekers and Chancenkarte applicants need a higher figure: €1,091 a month or €13,092 a year, according to Make it in Germany, the official Federal Government portal. One provider page lists a lower €1,027/month, which appears to be an outdated figure against this current official source. Roughly Rs.1,20,010 monthly and Rs.14,40,120 annually at the same rate. This discrepancy is because job seekers have no university enrollment to anchor a lower cost estimate. The same BAföG-linked logic applies, so this figure is also expected to hold until 2027, pending the next official review.

If your program runs longer than 12 months, you fund one year at a time and top up before your residence permit renewal at the Ausländerbehörde, rather than depositing the full multi-year sum upfront.

See our full guide to Germany Master's fees and payment structure, which shows exactly where this deposit fits alongside semester fees when budgeting the full year.

Sources disagree on Deutsche Bank's current status. Several 2022-dated guides claim it stopped opening blocked accounts for international applicants that July, and that claim has been copied across many blogs since without updating. However, multiple sources dated within 2026, plus Deutsche Bank's own published foreign-student account-opening form, indicate it still processes these accounts, just through a slower, paper-based route requiring an in-person visit or notarized application, unlike Expatrio and Fintiba's fully digital process. Confirm directly with a Deutsche Bank branch or your German mission before relying on this option.

The Indian-side transfer uses RBI's Liberalized Remittance Scheme (Form A2) regardless of provider. To ensure a smooth process, start funding at least three weeks before your visa appointment, as SWIFT transfers typically clear in 5-10 working days.

Counselor insight: Fund the full amount in a single transfer. Providers flag partial or split payments for manual review, which can add a week to your confirmation certificate.

Your blocked account Germany file requires five core documents:

If your prior qualification is from India, you will also need an APS certificate before your visa file is complete, separate from the blocked account itself.

See our APS and GMAT/BMAT documentation guide for the exact paperwork the process involves if you are unsure which documents apply to your course.

1. Choose a provider, Expatrio or Fintiba, and start KYC online.
2. Confirm the exact amount for your visa category with your consulate.
3. Transfer funds via SWIFT (Form A2) at least three weeks before your appointment.
4. Once funds clear, download your blocking confirmation certificate.
5. Submit it with your visa application on the Consular Services Portal.
6. After arrival, open a German Girokonto and activate the account for monthly release.

Start this process in June-July for an October intake for the winter semester or November-December for an April intake for the summer semester.

If you are a final-year student with an unconditional Master's admit and no scholarship: you need the full €11,904 student rate. Start the transfer as soon as your admission letter is confirmed, since this step usually takes the longest in your visa file.

If you have a partial scholarship covering part of your monthly costs: you can often fund only the shortfall, plus the full amount for any uncovered month. Confirm this reduced calculation with your consulate directly; providers will not adjust the standard figure on their own.

If you graduated in Germany and are applying for the Chancenkarte or the 18-month job seeker visa: you need the higher €1,091 monthly, or €13,092 annual, figure, not the student rate. Using the student figure by mistake is a common and avoidable reason for rejection in this category. Read our full Opportunity Card guide for eligibility and points criteria.

Visa rejected: the provider refunds the balance, minus service charges, once you submit the official rejection letter. This process typically takes over a month.

Sent the wrong amount: Contact Your Provider Directly. They will advise you on forwarding the shortfall or handling a part refund if you have overfunded.

Transfer delayed past your appointment: most missions in India allow rescheduling. If your SWIFT transfer exceeds 10 working days, get a trace reference from your bank and share it with your provider so they can flag the incoming payment.

Counselor insight: A rejected visa does not mean lost money, only a slower refund. Trying to move funds through unofficial channels only delays the legitimate process further.

A blocked account deposit in Germany is not the only accepted proof of funds.

• Scholarship certificate: A DAAD or equivalent fully funded scholarship covering the monthly threshold can replace the deposit entirely. Partial scholarships still usually need a supplementary blocked account for the shortfall.
• Declaration of Commitment: A German-resident sponsor, typically a close relative, signs a notarized commitment at their local Ausländerbehörde. Indian consulates do not accept the Indian "Affidavit of Support" as a substitute.
• Education loan: Supporting documentation, not a replacement. You will usually still need the blocked account alongside the loan sanction letter.

1. Confirm the exact blocked account Germany figure for your visa category before transferring: €992 monthly for students (Rs.1,09,120 at Rs.110/EUR), €1,091 for job seekers and Chancenkarte applicants.
2. Use Expatrio or Fintiba for the fastest, fully online process. Deutsche Bank's status is contested, so confirm directly before choosing it, and start your transfer at least three weeks before your visa appointment.
3. Keep every receipt and certificate together. If your visa is rejected, your refund depends entirely on that documentation.

Have questions about your blocked account application? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.