Blocked Account Germany: What is a Blocked Account for Germany and How to Open it?

Blocked Account in Germany is a bank account in which international students looking to study in Germany are required to transfer at least €11,208 euros to prove they have the means to finance themselves throughout the first year of their studies while in the country. This amount will be blocked in the bank until the student's arrival in Germany. The student would be allowed to withdraw €934 on a monthly basis to cover living expenses in the country.

Blocked Account in Germany: A German blocked account is a bank account in which international students looking to study in Germany are required to transfer at least €11,208 euros to prove they have the means to finance themselves throughout the first year of their studies while in the country. This amount will be blocked in the bank until the student's arrival in Germany. The student would be allowed to withdraw €934 on a monthly basis to cover living expenses in the country.

Germany is one of the most preferred study-abroad destinations among Indians and students globally because of their quality education, state-of-the-art infrastructure and the fact that most public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees to students. The country takes their education very seriously, and every year a significant portion of the country's budget is allocated toward the education system of the country. So much so that they believe that every individual has a right to a free and quality education and technically speaking studying in Germany is free for students who are able to get admission into one of the public universities in Germany. In this article, we will be talking about a German Blocked Account - as proof Of financial funds when applying for a German Student Visa.

Germany attracts a lot of students from around the world. While the excellent infrastructure and research facilities are top factors, what cannot be ignored is the cheap education. By federal mandate, all undergraduate courses offered by Universities in Germany have no tuition fees. However, while the cost of studying in Germany is negligible, students are required to pay an administration fee at the start of every semester that usually ranges between €150-300euros. Students are required to cover the cost of living in Germany by opening a German Blocked Account. 

Related Reads

What is German Blocked Account?

Blocked Account Germany: Every year, according to the prevailing economic conditions as well as the relevant fee structure, every university requests that a monthly sum be provided for the student to facilitate his/her living expenses in the country as well as for completing his/her education, this money is deposited in a Blocked Account. As of January 1, 2023, keeping the rate of inflation in mind, the mandatory amount required in the German Blocked Account for studying in Germany is €11,208 for an entire year or €934 for a month. Candidates would have to keep a little more than the said amount as the bank could levy a service charge on the student opening a Blocked Account in Germany. For a student, the money kept in the German Blocked Account should ideally cover accommodation, living expenses, and even travel pass costs.

A German Blocked Account is a mandatory requirement and simply put, is a closed bank account in a German Bank. It is called closed because it comes with a standing instruction on the maximum amount the student can withdraw on a monthly basis – €934 (as suggested).

Blocked Account Germany amount over the years

How to Open a German Blocked Account?

Blocked Account Germany: A student would need an admission letter from a university in Germany to open this German Blocked Account. While you can open this German Blocked Account in any bank in Germany, in India, the student can open a German Blocked Account with any branch of Deutsche Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank. Once the student travels to Germany, the account is transferred to a local branch near the university. Candidates should keep in mind that this is a mandatory practice applicable to all international students who choose to pursue higher education in Germany. Due to the amount of money involved, it is highly recommended that the student be involved in the entire process. 

Candidates should note that not all banks are regulated by law to operate Blocked Accounts. Hence, there may be banks that do not provide this service. Candidates can check with the university representatives for a list of banks that are close to the campus and provide Blocked Account service. 

Documents required to open a Blocked Account in Germany

• Application Form
• Valid passport
• University admission letter
• A bank statement that confirms you have the required amount of money to open a blocked account
• A prepaid fee

NOTE: You may be required to submit more documents, depending on the bank provider and your country of origin.

Also, Read

Quick Facts about a Blocked Account in Germany

Here are a few quick facts regarding blocked accounts in Germany that could be of interest to candidates who are planning to visit Germany for higher education.

• Candidates can open a blocked account at Deutsche Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank or ICICI Bank in India. 
• Your money would be eventually transferred to a local branch near your university – either to a local branch of Deutsche Bank in Germany or any Local Bank by Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank.  
• Though the German Blocked Account amount is €11,208 the banks might require you to deposit an additional amount as bank charges & fees. This, however, is subjective and you are advised to contact the nearest bank branch for clarity.
• A student can only withdraw €934 per month from the Blocked Account.
• A blocked account may take as long as a month at times (during admission season) to become active. A student is hence advised to open the same at the earliest.
• Once the account is opened, the bank would send a confirmation mail with the details to the German Embassy/ Consulate. This is essential for the student to get a German National Visa.

So, if you are all ready to start your visa application process for Germany, start with opening your blocked account.

Popular Courses in Germany

Candidates can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with German University admissions. Candidates can write to us with their queries in the comments section below.