--- title: "from €4.90/mo · Blocked account Germany visa 2026" description: "Blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the German student visa, language-course visa and Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card: €11,904 deposit (§13a AufenthV), BASTI bundle from €4.90/month + €65 setup, with Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie. Regularly accepted at German consulates worldwide." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung-Auslaender.de", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/", "logo": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/logo.jpg", "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+49-228-97735-44", "contactType": "customer service", "availableLanguage": [ "German", "English" ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Krankenversicherung-Auslaender.de", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/", "inLanguage": [ "de", "en" ], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung-Auslaender.de" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "InsuranceAgency", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de", "alternateName": [ "Krankenversicherung Ausländer Deutschland", "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "Health insurance for foreigners in Germany", "Insurance for expats in Germany", "Insurance for international students in Germany" ], "logo": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/logo.jpg", "image": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/og/og-krankenversicherung-auslaender.webp", "areaServed": [ "DE", "AT", "EU" ], "audience": { "@type": "Audience", "audienceType": "Foreigners, expats, international students and visa applicants in Germany", "geographicArea": { "@type": "Country", "name": "DE" } }, "knowsAbout": [ "Krankenversicherung Ausländer Deutschland", "Schengen-Visum Krankenversicherung", "Studentische Krankenversicherung", "Expat Krankenversicherung", "Incoming-Versicherung", "Sperrkonto Deutschland" ], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+49 228 97735-44", "contactType": "customer service", "availableLanguage": [ "German", "English" ] }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316831", "https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krankenversicherung", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Steffan Grund", "jobTitle": "Versicherungsexperte für Krankenversicherung Ausländer", "knowsAbout": [ "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer in Deutschland", "Schengen-Visum Krankenversicherung", "GKV-Befreiung Studenten", "Aufenthaltstitel Krankenversicherung", "Incoming-Versicherung" ], "worksFor": { "@type": "InsuranceAgency", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de" }, "url": "/impressum/", "sameAs": [ "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/impressum/" ] }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — Sperrkonto opening, €11,904 amount, embassy acceptance and health insurance bundle", "description": "Blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the German student visa, language-course visa and Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card: €11,904 deposit (§13a AufenthV), BASTI bundle from €4.90/month + €65 setup, with Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie. Regularly accepted at German consulates worldwide.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steffan Grund", "sameAs": [ "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/impressum/" ] }, "reviewedBy": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steffan Grund", "sameAs": [ "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/impressum/" ] }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/logo.jpg" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316831", "https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krankenversicherung", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance" ] }, "datePublished": "2026-09-04", "dateModified": "2026-09-09", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/" }, "image": 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This figure is anchored to the BAföG monthly rate set under § 13a AufenthV and was the same in 2025. The Auswärtiges Amt and the Ausländerbehörde review the rate annually — applicants should always confirm the current amount on the German consulate page for their country before transferring funds." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is a blocked account in Germany and how does it work?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The applicant transfers €11,904 (the 2026 amount) to the account before the visa appointment. A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a German bank account that holds the proof-of-finances deposit the consulate requires. Once in Germany, after address registration (Anmeldung) and opening a regular Girokonto, the bank releases a fixed monthly payout of €992 to the holder. The deposit cannot be withdrawn earlier — that is the 'blocked' part." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I open a blocked account for Germany — and how long does it take?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most applicants complete steps 1–4 in 5–10 working days. The standard process has six steps: (1) choose a German blocked-account provider regulated by BaFin (BASTI by Care Concept and Sutor Bank, Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle, Deutsche Bank), (2) open the account online with a valid passport and the conditional admission letter, (3) transfer €11,904 from the home-country bank account, (4) receive the Sperrkonto certificate (PDF, in German + English) by email, (5) upload the certificate with the visa application or bring it to the German consulate appointment, (6) after arrival in Germany, request the Sperrfreigabe to activate the €992 monthly payout. BASTI bundles the account with Care Visa Protect (Schengen window cover) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment) so a single application covers both the financial and the health-insurance visa requirements." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much bank balance is required for a Germany student visa?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Exactly the §13a AufenthV proof-of-finances amount: €11,904 for a 12-month stay (€992/month × 12). Lower balances are not accepted as the standalone proof for a full-time degree visa. Scholarship awards, a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) signed by a host in Germany, or qualifying parental income statements can substitute in narrower cases — always confirm with the responsible German consulate for the home country." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need a blocked account to study in Germany if I already have a Schengen visa?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — a Schengen C-visa only covers stays up to 90 days. Every full-time German degree programme, every German language-course visa, every Studienkolleg programme and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card require a national D-visa, and the German consulate verifies a §13a AufenthV proof of finances (a Sperrkonto or an accepted equivalent) before issuing the D-visa." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is BASTI typically accepted by German embassies?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) costs €4.90/month plus a €65 one-time setup. Yes. BASTI is offered by Care Concept AG together with Sutor Bank — a BaFin-supervised German bank that issues the Sperrkonto certificate. The bilingual (DE/EN) PDF certificate is regularly accepted by German consulates worldwide for the student visa, the language-course visa and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. The binding decision always rests with the responsible visa officer at the German consulate." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I choose a BaFin-regulated blocked-account provider for the Germany visa?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Any blocked account opened at a BaFin-regulated German bank is in principle accepted by German consulates as proof of finances under § 13a AufenthV. Useful criteria when picking a provider are the published monthly account fee, the one-time setup fee, whether the application is fully online, and whether the visa-window health insurance and post-enrolment statutory student insurance are arranged inside the same application or separately. BASTI is the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle: €4.90 monthly account fee, €65 one-time setup, fully online from any country, with Care Visa Protect (Schengen window) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment) included in the Smart and Premium tiers. Always check the current published fees on each provider's own website; final acceptance always rests with the responsible visa officer at the German consulate." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I withdraw money from the blocked account in Germany — and how much per month?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The current maximum payout is €992 per month (the §13a AufenthV BAföG rate). After arrival in Germany, address registration (Anmeldung) and opening a regular Girokonto, the bank releases the funds in monthly tranches. Withdrawing the full balance in one go is not possible — that defeats the proof-of-finances purpose the German consulate verified." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the blocked account need to be renewed for year 2 in Germany?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). For most full-degree students the visa is issued for one year and renewed at the Ausländerbehörde. At renewal, the Ausländerbehörde re-verifies the proof of finances — that typically means topping up the Sperrkonto for another 12 months (€11,904 at the 2026 rate), showing a Verpflichtungserklärung, or proving a scholarship / part-time-work income that covers the §13a AufenthV amount. Holders of BASTI keep the same account and add the next year's deposit by SEPA transfer." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) — and does it need a blocked account?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The visa requires proof of finances — typically the same Sperrkonto with the §13a AufenthV amount (€11,904) or a Verpflichtungserklärung signed by a host in Germany. The Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) is the points-based job-seeker visa launched in 2024 for skilled workers from outside the EU, allowing up to 12 months in Germany to look for qualified work. BASTI works for the Chancenkarte the same way it works for the student visa." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's the difference between a blocked account and a Verpflichtungserklärung?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). A Sperrkonto is the applicant's own money held at a German bank and released monthly. A Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) is a formal declaration of liability signed by a third-party host in Germany at their local Ausländerbehörde — the host commits to cover the applicant's stay. The Verpflichtungserklärung is the standard substitute for short-stay and family-visit visas; for full-time degree, language-course and Chancenkarte visas, the Sperrkonto is the route the German consulate normally requires." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I keep using my Sperrkonto if I move from one German city to another?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes. The Sperrkonto is an account at a single German bank (Sutor Bank in the case of BASTI) and is not tied to the city of residence. After moving from Munich to Berlin (or Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and beyond), the holder updates the address at the Bürgeramt (Anmeldung), notifies the bank and the Ausländerbehörde at the new place of residence; the monthly payout and the deposit are unaffected." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I work in Germany on a student visa while my Sperrkonto pays out €992 a month?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Sperrkonto payout of €992 per month and side-job income are separate; the bank does not reduce the monthly tranche when the holder earns wages. Yes — German student visa holders may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year alongside their studies, and student jobs (Werkstudent, HiWi) often do not count against that quota. Earnings above the mini-job threshold trigger statutory student-insurance contributions, which is where DAK garantie (bundled in BASTI Smart/Premium) becomes relevant after university enrolment." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does the German student visa last, and when does the Sperrkonto need topping up?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). The national D-visa for studies is typically issued for three to six months and is converted to a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) at the local Ausländerbehörde after address registration. The residence permit is normally issued for one or two years and renewed for the duration of the programme. At each renewal the Ausländerbehörde re-verifies proof of finances under § 13a AufenthV — the Sperrkonto is topped up to cover the next 12 months (€11,904 at the 2026 rate) by SEPA transfer to the existing BASTI account." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I bring my spouse or family to Germany on a student visa, and do they need their own blocked account?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In practice this means a second §13a AufenthV deposit (€11,904 per accompanying adult) or a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG). Family reunification (Familiennachzug) for student-visa holders is possible but more restrictive than for skilled workers — the German consulate typically expects proof that the student can cover the additional family member's living costs on top of the €992 monthly Sperrkonto payout. Accompanying family members also need their own health-insurance proof for the visa application — Care Visa Protect bridges the Schengen window before they can join the holder's statutory family cover under GKV." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I open a Sperrkonto at a German high-street bank branch instead of using an online provider?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes — some German high-street banks offer a Sperrkonto for student-visa applicants. The branch-based workflow typically requires an in-person appointment in Germany or a notarised application from abroad, and visa-window health insurance plus liability/accident cover are arranged under separate contracts. BASTI is the online alternative consolidating the three documents German consulates verify (Sperrkonto certificate, Schengen-window health-insurance certificate, post-enrolment statutory-insurance commitment via DAK garantie) into one online application — useful for applicants who cannot travel to Germany for a bank appointment. All BaFin-regulated routes are accepted; final acceptance always rests with the responsible visa officer at the German consulate." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I transfer the €11,904 to a German blocked account from India, Pakistan, Dubai or Nigeria?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The certificate is issued only after the funds clear, usually 1–5 working days after the wire is sent. The deposit is sent by international SEPA / SWIFT wire from the home-country bank account to the German Sperrkonto IBAN issued by Sutor Bank (BASTI) or the equivalent issuing bank. Transfers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE (Dubai), Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Vietnam and China are routine; the sender simply books a SWIFT in EUR with the applicant's name as the reference. Compliance checks (LRS / RBI for India, State Bank for Pakistan, Central Bank of Nigeria) sit on the sending side, not on the German bank. FX margin and SWIFT charges sit with the sending bank." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which type of blocked-account route makes sense for an international student in Germany?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Student KV: €101.54/month (Care Student) or €150.65/month (DAK statutory, 2026). Any BaFin-regulated blocked-account route is recognised as proof of finances by German consulates. BASTI is the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle: a €4.90 monthly account fee, a €65 one-time setup, and the two visa-mandatory insurances (Care Visa Protect for the Schengen window, DAK garantie for post-enrolment statutory cover) included in one online application. Applicants who want a single application covering both the financial proof and the health-insurance requirement typically choose BASTI; those who already hold a separate German health-insurance contract can take any other BaFin-regulated route for the Sperrkonto only. Always verify the current monthly and setup fees on each provider's own website before applying." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does a blocked account work in Germany — in plain English?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A German Sperrkonto holds the proof-of-finances deposit (€11,904 for 12 months under §13a AufenthV) at a BaFin-supervised German bank. While the visa application is in process the money cannot be withdrawn. After arrival, address registration (Anmeldung) and the opening of a regular Girokonto, the holder requests Sperrfreigabe — the bank then releases a fixed €992 per month to the holder's Girokonto. The deposit itself remains at the German bank as ongoing proof that the residence remains financed." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is a blocked account necessary in Germany — are there alternatives?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Alternatives the consulate may accept in narrower cases are a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) signed by a host in Germany, an awarded scholarship, or qualifying parental income statements. For a full-time German degree visa, a German language-course visa (over 90 days), Studienkolleg and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card, the German consulate verifies a §13a AufenthV proof of finances — and the Sperrkonto is the route that works for every consulate worldwide. For short Schengen C-visas (≤90 days) no Sperrkonto is required." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much money should be in a blocked account for Germany in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Exactly the §13a AufenthV proof-of-finances figure: €11,904 for a 12-month stay (€992 monthly BAföG rate × 12). The figure has been stable from 2024 H2 through 2026. Always reconfirm on the home-country German-consulate page before transferring the deposit, because the rate is reviewed annually." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I unblock my German blocked account after arrival?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). There is no real 'unblock' — the deposit stays at the German bank as ongoing proof of finances. What does get activated is the monthly payout (Sperrfreigabe). After arrival you (1) register your German address at the Bürgeramt (Anmeldung), (2) open a regular Girokonto with any German bank, (3) send the Anmeldebestätigung and the new German IBAN to the Sperrkonto provider, (4) the provider releases €992 to your Girokonto every month, usually starting within 1–3 working days." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is a blocked account required for an Ausbildung (vocational training) visa in Germany?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually yes — the German consulate verifies the same §13a AufenthV proof of finances (€11,904 for 12 months) for the Ausbildung visa as for the student visa. The standard exception is a paid Ausbildung where the training company's monthly salary clearly exceeds the BAföG threshold and is documented in the training contract; in that case the consulate may accept the salary as proof of finances instead of the Sperrkonto. Health-insurance proof works the same way: Care Visa Protect bridges the Schengen window, then statutory student insurance (DAK garantie) covers the training period." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I get a loan to fund my German blocked account?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes — many international students fund the €11,904 deposit with an education loan from a home-country bank (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, SBI in India; ABL, Bank Alfalah in Pakistan; Access, GTBank in Nigeria). The German bank does not check the source as long as the funds are sent by SWIFT in the applicant's own name and clear AML rules in the sending country. The Sperrkonto certificate (Sperrkontobestätigung) is then issued once the deposit has cleared." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I transfer money to a German blocked account — SWIFT, Wise or Remitly?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Allow 1–5 working days for the funds to clear. The standard route is a SWIFT wire in EUR from the home-country bank to the IBAN issued by the German Sperrkonto bank (Sutor Bank in the case of BASTI). Regulated alternatives — Wise (TransferWise), Remitly, Western Union Business Solutions — also reach Sutor Bank when the holder's name on the sending side matches the Sperrkonto application. The bilingual (DE/EN) Sperrkontobestätigung is emailed once the deposit settles." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Sperrkonto vs Verpflichtungserklärung — which path fits your visa?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Sperrkonto is the applicant's own money held at a German bank under §13a AufenthV — the default for full-degree, language-course, Studienkolleg and Chancenkarte D-visas. A Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) is a host's declaration of liability and is the default for family-visit Schengen C-visas, often accepted for short courses and selected family-reunification cases, and rarely accepted as standalone proof for the multi-year student visa. When in doubt, the home-country German consulate page lists which document is accepted for which visa category." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is a Sperrkonto for foreign students — in one sentence?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). A Sperrkonto für ausländische Studenten is a German bank account that holds the §13a AufenthV proof-of-finances deposit (€11,904 for a 12-month German student visa) at a BaFin-regulated German bank, releasing €992 per month to the holder after arrival, address registration and the opening of a regular Girokonto." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Bank-branch Sperrkonto or online Sperrkonto — what is the practical difference?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). A bank-branch Sperrkonto typically involves an in-person appointment in Germany or a notarised application from abroad, with visa-window health insurance arranged under a separate contract. BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) is the fully online alternative from any country: €4.90/month plus a one-time €65 setup fee, with Care Visa Protect (Schengen window) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment statutory student insurance) inside the Smart and Premium tiers — consolidating the three documents German consulates verify into one application." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I send money from Wise, Revolut or my home bank to a German Sperrkonto?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Typical settlement: 1–2 working days (SEPA), 2–5 working days (SWIFT). Use either a SWIFT wire (typical from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the UAE, the UK) or a SEPA Credit Transfer (from inside the Eurozone) in EUR to the IBAN printed on the Sperrkonto application. The sender name on the transfer must match the applicant on the Sperrkonto file. Common remittance services include Wise, Revolut, Western Union Business Solutions and the applicant's own home-country bank — compare FX and fees on each provider's own page before sending. The bilingual Sperrkontobestätigung is issued once the deposit clears; BASTI then forwards it for the visa appointment." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which IBAN does the Sperrkontobestätigung show, and why does the embassy check it?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "German IBANs follow the format DE + 2 check digits + 8-digit Bankleitzahl + 10-digit account number (22 characters total). The Sperrkontobestätigung lists the German IBAN of the bank that holds the blocked deposit (Sutor Bank in the case of BASTI), together with the bank's BIC, the applicant's full name and the blocked amount in EUR. The consulate cross-checks the IBAN against the Bundesbank list of licensed banks and against the BaFin register; this is how the embassy confirms the deposit sits at a real, BaFin-supervised German bank rather than at an unlicensed escrow." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can my parents transfer the €11,904 directly from their bank account to the German Sperrkonto?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes — third-party transfers from parents are routine and accepted by every BaFin-regulated Sperrkonto bank, but the Geldwäschegesetz (GwG, the German anti-money-laundering law) requires a short source-of-funds declaration: a recent parent bank statement, a salary slip or a notarised affidavit, plus the parent–child relationship document (birth certificate or family register). Once that file is on record, the deposit clears within a few working days and the Sperrkontobestätigung is issued in the applicant's name." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the Sperrkonto certificate need to be apostilled or sworn-translated for the visa file?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). No. The Sperrkontobestätigung issued by BaFin-regulated German banks (including Sutor Bank for BASTI) is bilingual (German / English) by default. German consulates worldwide accept the bilingual PDF directly — no apostille, no sworn translation, no notarisation needed. Applicants typically upload the PDF with the visa application and bring a printed copy to the appointment." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is the Sperrkonto taxed in Germany — does the Finanzamt see it?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The €11,904 principal is the applicant's own savings and is not taxable. The Sperrkonto bank may credit a small amount of interest on the blocked balance; that interest counts as capital gains (Kapitalerträge). Up to the annual saver's allowance (€1,000 for singles in 2026) it is exempt — once you have a German address you file a one-page Freistellungsauftrag with the Sperrkonto bank and 25 % Kapitalertragsteuer withholding is waived. In practice the amounts are tiny and most students never owe Finanzamt anything on the Sperrkonto." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens to the Sperrkonto if I drop out of university or transfer to another German university?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Dropping out does not freeze, refund or close the Sperrkonto by itself: the funds stay in the account and the €992 monthly payout continues until the deposit is exhausted, regardless of enrolment status. What changes is the residence permit — the Ausländerbehörde re-categorises the visa (e.g. to a job-seeker / Chancenkarte route, to a language-course visa, or to a departure window) and may require a fresh proof of finances for the new category. A transfer between German universities is administratively easier: the Sperrkonto continues unchanged and only the Immatrikulationsbescheinigung needs updating at the Ausländerbehörde and at the DAK garantie student insurer." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Blocked account Germany from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Dubai or Nigeria — how do I send the money?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Whether you are funding the deposit from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE (Dubai) or Nigeria, the mechanic is the same: a SWIFT wire in EUR is sent to the German Sperrkonto IBAN printed on the application — for BASTI that is the IBAN issued by Sutor Bank with the BIC SSBKDEHHXXX. Applicants in India or Pakistan typically book the wire at the home-country bank counter, or use a regulated remittance service such as Wise or Remitly. A SEPA Credit Transfer in EUR is only available from inside the Eurozone. Transfer fees and the FX margin sit with the sending bank — compare them on each provider's own page before sending." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Provider landscape — Fintiba, Expatrio, Coracle, Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse and BASTI by Care Concept × Sutor Bank", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) costs €4.90/month plus a €65 one-time setup. The main BaFin-regulated routes are BASTI (the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle that includes Care Visa Protect and DAK garantie), Fintiba (Fintiba GmbH together with its partner bank, with the customer login at fintiba.com), Expatrio (Expatrio Global Services GmbH, login and contact at expatrio.com — frequently mis-typed as 'expatio' or 'x patrio'), Coracle (a separate online provider with its own login portal) and the bank-branch routes from Deutsche Bank and Sparkasse, both of which can open a Sperrkonto for student-visa applicants. Acceptance at German consulates does not depend on the chosen provider — the practical differences sit in the monthly account fee, whether you can apply fully online from your home country, and whether the visa-window health insurance is bundled into the same application." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Blocked account Germany job seeker / Opportunity Card and the German work visa — does the same Sperrkonto apply?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes. The job-seeker visa for Germany and the points-based Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) require the same § 13a AufenthV proof of finances of €11,904 for the 12-month job-search window — the deposit and the certificate are identical to the student-visa case. A German work visa issued after a signed employment contract no longer needs a Sperrkonto, because the salary itself satisfies § 13a AufenthV; the residence-permit step at the Ausländerbehörde will still re-check proof of finances and a valid health-insurance certificate. For wider planning around moving to Germany, the federal portal make-it-in-germany.com is the canonical English-language reference alongside the Auswärtiges Amt consulate pages." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Tax on Sperrkonto interest — Freistellungsauftrag, Finanzamt and Kapitalertragsteuer", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Interest credited on a Sperrkonto is taxed in Germany under ordinary capital-gains rules. A Freistellungsauftrag filed with the issuing bank exempts capital gains up to the saver's allowance (€1,000 for singles, €2,000 for couples in 2026); above that, the bank withholds 25 percent Kapitalertragsteuer and reports it to the Finanzamt of your registered city. In practice the interest credited on the €11,904 deposit is tiny, so the Finanzamt impact is negligible — filing the Freistellungsauftrag is a five-minute housekeeping step in the bank portal after Anmeldung." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Sperrkonto Verlängerung, 11904 Euro blocked account and the year-2 top-up — blocked account Germany renewal year 2", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The figure has been €11,904 since 2024 H2 (the same amount in 2025 and 2026). Topping up the Sperrkonto in year two and the so-called €11,904 question are the same operation in practice: at residence-permit renewal the Ausländerbehörde re-verifies the § 13a AufenthV amount, and the holder transfers another €11,904 by SEPA to the existing Sperrkonto IBAN. So yes, most full-degree students do need a blocked account for the second year in Germany — unless a scholarship, a Verpflichtungserklärung or documented part-time-work income already covers the § 13a AufenthV amount. Renewing the Sperrkonto every year is the standard cycle that underlies the multi-year residence permit." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens to the blocked account if the visa is rejected — blocked account refund Germany", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). If the German consulate rejects the visa, the refund process is straightforward: the applicant emails the consulate's negative decision (or a written withdrawal) to the Sperrkonto provider, the provider closes the account and sends the deposit back to the original sending account — usually within 5–15 working days, minus the monthly account fees accrued and any SWIFT return charges from Sutor Bank or the issuing German bank." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Block account Germany, blocked bank account Germany, how to open / get / make / unblock — variant phrasings", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The 2026 rate applies from January 1, 2026; check § 13a AufenthV / § 5 SGB V for the current thresholds. A few quick definitions, because applicants ask the same question in different ways. A 'block account' or 'blocked bank account' in Germany is simply the casual English name for a Sperrkonto. Opening, creating or 'making' a blocked account for the German student visa all refer to the same six-step online application described further up. Withdrawing money from the account is limited to €992 per month once Sperrfreigabe has been activated after arrival; there is no way to take the full deposit out in one go. 'Unblocking' the account in everyday language means triggering that Sperrfreigabe step. Funding the deposit with an education loan from a home-country bank is routine and accepted. The required amount for a 12-month visa is €11,904 in every case, and a blocked account (or an accepted equivalent) is mandatory for the full-degree, Studienkolleg, language-course, Chancenkarte and Ausbildung visas." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Studienkolleg Visum, language course visa Germany and Ausbildung visa Germany — Sperrkonto checklist by category", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Verpflichtungserklärung under § 68 AufenthG is the formal name of the host-liability declaration; the monthly bank statement showing the €992 payout is the Auszahlungsbeleg of the Sperrkonto. The Studienkolleg visa, the German language-course visa, the Ausbildung (vocational training) visa and the full degree route share the same Sperrkonto rule. The visa file consists of three documents: (a) the Sperrkonto certificate as proof of finances — the German consulate sometimes calls this the Finanzierungsnachweis; (b) a Schengen-window health-insurance certificate that satisfies the German visa insurance requirement (Care Visa Protect, which also covers the underlying Schengen application); and (c) a post-enrolment statutory commitment via the M10 electronic notification, which DAK garantie delivers. The binding requirements for each visa category are published by the responsible German consulate." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "German embassy / consulate worldwide — German consulate Germany, USA, Nepal, Nigeria and Schengen photo rules", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Schengen cover: €30,000 minimum sum insured (EU Reg. 810/2009, Art. 15). Every German embassy and consulate worldwide accepts the bilingual Sperrkonto certificate in the same way — the German mission network in the United States (Washington DC plus the New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Miami, Boston and Atlanta consulates), the German embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, and the German embassy in Nigeria with its consulates in Abuja and Lagos all follow the same workflow. The binding decision always rests with the visa officer at the responsible mission. The Schengen visa photo requirements are uniform across the Schengen Area: 35 × 45 mm, biometric, neutral background, taken within the last six months — and the same photo standard applies to the national D-visa." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Working as a student, family on a student visa, IELTS and US-citizen rules", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Students may work in Germany for up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year, with Werkstudent and HiWi roles usually sitting outside that quota. A few practical questions that come up again and again. The initial D-visa lasts three to six months and is then converted into a one- or two-year Aufenthaltstitel at the Ausländerbehörde, renewed for the duration of the programme. The German student visa is process-driven rather than lottery-based: a complete file with a valid Sperrkonto and health-insurance certificate produces high approval rates. US passport holders need a student visa for stays over 90 days but may enter Germany visa-free and apply for the residence permit from inside the country. Bringing a spouse or family to Germany on a student visa is possible through family reunification, which usually requires a second § 13a AufenthV deposit or a Verpflichtungserklärung. A German student visa without IELTS is realistic where the university accepts TOEFL, the Duolingo English Test, Cambridge certificates or a school-leaving certificate issued in English as language proof." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Source of funds, AML and parent / third-party deposits — Geldwäschegesetz Sperrkonto", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Source-of-funds checks for the German student visa sit inside the German anti-money-laundering law (Geldwäschegesetz, GwG). When parents transfer money to the German blocked account, or when a third party funds the deposit, Sutor Bank — or whichever German bank issues the Sperrkonto — clears the file with a recent parent bank statement, a salary slip, a scholarship award letter or a loan-approval letter, usually within a few working days of the SWIFT arrival. Dropping out of university or transferring between German universities does not freeze the Sperrkonto: a fresh enrolment certificate is sent to the Ausländerbehörde, and the deposit plus the €992 monthly payout continue uninterrupted. A separate note for later in the journey: many international students eventually look for a TK branch office in their German city, and the German-English mash-up word 'Imbursement' is simply Erstattung — reimbursement of medical bills. On the federal side, Make it in Germany (make-it-in-germany.com) is the canonical English-language portal explaining how the proof-of-finances rule fits into the wider immigration framework, while the Fintiba, Expatrio and Coracle dashboards handle ongoing account servicing online. A branch-bank Sperrkonto at Sparkasse follows the same logic, just with an in-person appointment." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "QAPage", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much money does the blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the German student visa need in 2026, and which bundle is regularly accepted at German consulates?", "text": "How much money does the blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the German student visa need in 2026, and which bundle is regularly accepted at German consulates?", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steffan Grund", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/impressum/" }, "datePublished": "2026-09-09", "upvoteCount": 0, "answerCount": 1, "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The §13a AufenthV proof-of-finances amount for a 12-month German student or language-course visa in 2026 is €11,904 (€992 × 12). BASTI — the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle — costs €4.90/month plus a one-time €65 setup fee and is regularly accepted by German consulates worldwide. BASTI Smart and Premium add Care Visa Protect (Schengen-window cover) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment statutory student insurance) at no extra cost. The binding decision always rests with the responsible visa officer at the German consulate.", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steffan Grund", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/impressum/" }, "datePublished": "2026-09-09", "upvoteCount": 0 } } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "HowTo", "name": "How to open a blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the Germany visa in 6 steps", "description": "Six-step process foreigners use to open a German blocked account (Sperrkonto), receive the consulate-ready certificate and request the Sperrfreigabe after arriving in Germany.", "inLanguage": "en", "step": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 1, "name": "Pick a BaFin-regulated provider", "text": "Any blocked account opened at a BaFin-regulated German bank is regularly accepted at German consulates. BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) charges €4.90/month plus a one-time €65 setup fee and includes Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie inside the Smart and Premium bundles." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 2, "name": "Open the account online", "text": "Apply online with a valid passport scan and (where requested) the conditional university admission letter or Chancenkarte points sheet. Identity verification typically uses video-ident or the German PostIdent procedure." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 3, "name": "Transfer €11,904 to the German Sperrkonto", "text": "Transfer the §13a AufenthV amount — €11,904 for a 12-month stay (€992/month × 12) — from the home-country bank account. Use SWIFT or a regulated transfer service (Wise, Remitly). Allow 2–5 working days for the funds to clear." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 4, "name": "Receive the Sperrkonto certificate (PDF, bilingual DE/EN)", "text": "Once the deposit clears, the bank issues the Sperrkontobestätigung — a bilingual PDF naming the holder, the German bank, the blocked amount and the monthly payout. This is the document the German consulate verifies as proof of finances." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 5, "name": "Submit the certificate to the German consulate", "text": "Upload the PDF with the visa application portal or bring the printed PDF to the German consulate appointment together with the conditional admission letter and proof of health insurance (Care Visa Protect, included free with BASTI Smart / Premium)." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 6, "name": "After arrival — Anmeldung, Girokonto, Sperrfreigabe", "text": "Within 14 days of moving in, register the address at the Bürgeramt (Anmeldung), open a regular Girokonto with a German bank and request Sperrfreigabe at the Sperrkonto provider. From that point €992 is released to the Girokonto every month." } ], "totalTime": "PT30M", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "[data-howto='step']", "[data-aeo='answer']", "h1" ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "HowTo", "name": "First 30 days in Germany — post-arrival checklist after the Sperrkonto visa", "description": "Six concrete steps every visa-holder follows after landing in Germany: Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, opening a Girokonto, requesting Sperrfreigabe, the M10 notification to the university, switching from Care Visa Protect to DAK garantie, and filing the residence permit.", "inLanguage": "en", "step": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 1, "name": "Step 1 — Anmeldung within 14 days", "text": "Register the German address at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in. The Anmeldebestätigung is the prerequisite for every later step — Sperrfreigabe, Girokonto, enrolment, residence permit." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 2, "name": "Step 2 — Open a German Girokonto", "text": "Open a normal German current account (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, ING, DKB, N26). The IBAN receives the €992 monthly payout from the Sperrkonto and pays rent, transport, the DAK garantie premium." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 3, "name": "Step 3 — Request Sperrfreigabe at the Sperrkonto provider", "text": "Send the Anmeldebestätigung and the new German IBAN to your Sperrkonto provider. The provider releases the €992 monthly payout schedule, usually within 1–3 working days." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 4, "name": "Step 4 — Enrol at the university (M10-Meldung)", "text": "At enrolment the university registrar requires the electronic insurance notification (M10). Care Visa Protect (visa-window cover) does not generate an M10 — students switch to DAK garantie (statutory student insurance, ~€135.52/month via BASTI Smart) which sends the M10 automatically." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 5, "name": "Step 5 — Switch from Care Visa Protect to DAK garantie", "text": "After enrolment, end the Care Visa Protect contract and activate DAK garantie. BASTI Smart and Premium include the first months at the discounted rate; outside the bundle the standard student rate applies." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 6, "name": "Step 6 — File the Aufenthaltstitel at the Ausländerbehörde", "text": "Within the visa validity, book the residence-permit appointment at the local Ausländerbehörde. Bring the Anmeldebestätigung, passport, Sperrkonto certificate, DAK garantie M10 confirmation, enrolment certificate and the visa stamp. The Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium is then issued for the academic year." } ], "totalTime": "P30D", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "[data-howto='step']", "[data-aeo='answer']", "h1" ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Dataset", "name": "German blocked-account amount history (§13a AufenthV / BAföG rate, 2023–2026)", "description": "History of the proof-of-finances amount the German consulate requires for the student, language-course and Chancenkarte visa: €11,208 (2023), €11,208 (2024 H1) → €11,904 (2024 H2), €11,904 (2025), €11,904 (2026). Amount = 12 × BAföG monthly rate.", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#amount", "inLanguage": "de", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "creator": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de" }, "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/", "measurementTechnique": "official insurer tariff registry (HanseMerkur AVB)", "variableMeasured": [ "Year", "Monthly BAföG rate (EUR)", "Annual proof-of-finances amount (EUR)", "Legal basis" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "DefinedTermSet", "name": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary", "inLanguage": "en", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de" }, "hasDefinedTerm": [ { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Sperrkonto (blocked account)", "description": "A German bank account that holds a fixed amount of money the visa applicant cannot withdraw before arriving in Germany. The Sperrkonto serves as the proof of finances (Finanzierungsnachweis) every German consulate and the Ausländerbehörde require for the student visa, language-course visa and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. Each month the bank releases a maximum monthly payout to the holder.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "§ 13a AufenthV (Aufenthaltsverordnung)", "description": "The German residence-ordinance section that sets the minimum proof-of-finances amount for student-related residence titles. The amount is benchmarked to the BAföG rate (currently €992 per month, i.e. €11,904 for a 12-month stay) and is reviewed annually.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank)", "description": "The blocked-account bundle offered by Care Concept AG together with Sutor Bank (the licensed German bank that holds the deposit). BASTI charges €4.90/month plus a one-time €65 setup fee. The Smart and Premium tiers add Care Visa Protect (Schengen-window cover) and the DAK garantie tariff (statutory German student insurance after enrolment) inside the bundle.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG)", "description": "A formal declaration of liability signed by a host in Germany at the local Ausländerbehörde. It can replace the Sperrkonto as proof of finances in some short-stay and family-visit cases — but is not usually accepted for the full multi-year student visa.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card", "description": "Germany's points-based job-seeker visa launched in 2024 for skilled workers from outside the EU. It allows up to 12 months in Germany to look for qualified work and requires proof of finances — typically a Sperrkonto with the current 12-month BAföG amount, or a Verpflichtungserklärung in selected cases.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Bürgeramt / Anmeldung", "description": "Germany's address-registration office. Newcomers register within 14 days of moving in (Anmeldung). The Anmeldebestätigung is required to activate the Sperrkonto, to open a regular Girokonto, to enrol at the university and to file the Aufenthaltstitel.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit)", "description": "The German residence title issued by the Ausländerbehörde after entry — typically the Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium for students or the Chancenkarte residence permit for job seekers. The Sperrkonto certificate and proof of health insurance are re-checked at issue and at every renewal.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "M10-Meldung", "description": "The electronic insurance notification (DTA M10) that every German statutory or private health insurer sends to the university registrar. Without an M10 message the student cannot be formally enrolled — even after the visa is granted and the Sperrkonto is activated.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Sperrfreigabe (release of the blocked amount)", "description": "The administrative step at the German bank that converts the blocked balance into the monthly payout schedule (€992/month at the current BAföG rate). Sperrfreigabe is requested after entry into Germany, address registration and opening a regular Girokonto.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Auszahlungsbeleg (payout statement)", "description": "The monthly bank statement from the Sperrkonto bank documenting the €992 (or higher, depending on year) payout. Some Ausländerbehörden ask for the most recent Auszahlungsbeleg during residence-permit renewal as evidence that the funds are flowing as planned.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Proof of finances (Finanzierungsnachweis)", "description": "The umbrella term German consulates use for the document proving the applicant can pay for their stay. The Sperrkonto certificate is the standard proof-of-funding format; scholarship awards, Verpflichtungserklärungen and qualifying parental income statements can be accepted in narrower cases.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "DAK garantie (DAK-Gesundheit)", "description": "The German statutory health-insurance contribution variant used by students under 30. After enrolment at a German university, students switch from Care Visa Protect (the visa-window bridge) to DAK garantie via the M10 notification. BASTI Smart and Premium include the first months of DAK garantie at no extra cost.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Care Visa Protect (Schengen cover)", "description": "Care Concept's Schengen-compliant insurance for the visa window before German enrolment opens. Meets the EU Visa Code (Reg. 810/2009) minimum: €30,000 medical cover plus repatriation, valid in all Schengen states, from €0.85/day with a minimum premium of €8.50. Bundled free with BASTI Smart and Premium.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Studienkolleg", "description": "Foundation-year programme in Germany for international applicants whose secondary-school certificate is not directly recognised. Studienkolleg students need the same Sperrkonto and health-insurance proofs as full-degree students; Care Visa Protect bridges the visa window and Care College covers the Kolleg phase, but Care College is NOT an M10 statutory cover for university enrollment — the M10 notification comes from DAK-Gesundheit (under 30) or Care Student (over 30 / exempt) once you matriculate.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Schengen C-visa vs. national D-visa (Germany)", "description": "A Schengen C-visa covers short stays up to 90 days in any 180-day window — no Sperrkonto required. A national D-visa is the long-stay visa for stays beyond 90 days; the student, language-course and Chancenkarte routes all use a national D-visa and require the Sperrkonto.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Sutor Bank (V-Bank AG)", "description": "The licensed German bank that holds the BASTI Sperrkonto deposit. Sutor Bank is BaFin-supervised (German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and is the bank counterparty on the Sperrkonto certificate the embassy receives.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Embassy of Germany / German consulate", "description": "The diplomatic missions abroad that accept the visa file and the Sperrkonto certificate. The Auswärtiges Amt maintains the official list of consulates worldwide. The Sperrkonto certificate is typically uploaded with the visa application or presented at the appointment as a printed PDF.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Sparkasse Sperrkonto", "description": "A blocked-account variant some German Sparkasse branches offer for student-visa applicants. The workflow at a local bank branch typically requires an in-person appointment in Germany or a notarised application from abroad. Health-insurance proof is handled in a separate contract.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Deutsche Bank blocked account", "description": "Deutsche Bank also issues Sperrkonto certificates accepted by German consulates. Applicants who choose a bank-branch route normally arrange their visa-window health insurance and post-enrolment statutory insurance under separate contracts.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Other BaFin-regulated providers (informational mention)", "description": "Several BaFin-regulated blocked-account providers operate in Germany alongside BASTI. Each runs its own applicant portal for tracking the deposit and downloading the Sperrkontobestätigung. Acceptance at German consulates does not depend on the BaFin-regulated provider chosen; verify the current fees on each provider's own website.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Ausbildung (vocational training visa)", "description": "Germany's dual-system vocational training. Trainees from outside the EU apply for the Ausbildung visa, which the German consulate verifies the same way as the student visa: a Sperrkonto with the §13a AufenthV proof of finances (€11,904 for 12 months) — unless the training company pays a salary high enough to substitute as financial proof. Care Visa Protect bridges the Schengen window; statutory student insurance (DAK garantie) covers the training period.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) — extended", "description": "Beyond the short-stay use noted above: for the family-reunification visa and selected long-stay cases, a host in Germany can sign a Verpflichtungserklärung at their local Ausländerbehörde committing to cover the applicant's living costs. The host needs to prove sufficient income. For full-time degree and Chancenkarte visas the Sperrkonto is still the route German consulates normally require.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "eGK (elektronische Gesundheitskarte)", "description": "The German electronic health card every statutory-insurance holder (and most private-insurance holders) receives. After enrolment + M10 notification, the statutory student insurer (DAK garantie via BASTI Smart/Premium) issues the eGK by post. The card is needed for every doctor visit and pharmacy purchase in Germany.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "JVEG (Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze)", "description": "The German statutory annual-income threshold (€77,400 in 2026) above which employees may opt out of GKV and into private (PKV) cover. Mostly relevant after graduation when a former student starts working — irrelevant during the Sperrkonto / student-visa phase, but cited here for context with the DAK garantie student tariff.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Familienzusammenführung / family reunification", "description": "Spouse and minor-child reunification under § 30 ff. AufenthG. For student-visa holders the German consulate typically expects a second §13a AufenthV deposit (€11,904 per accompanying adult) or a Verpflichtungserklärung. Accompanying family members also need their own Schengen-window health-insurance proof — Care Visa Protect — until they can join statutory family cover.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "SWIFT / IBAN / BIC", "description": "The international transfer rails the Sperrkonto deposit travels on. SWIFT is the bank-to-bank messaging network used for cross-border wires; the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) of the German Sperrkonto bank is the destination account number; the BIC (Bank Identifier Code) identifies the German bank. Inside the Eurozone, SEPA transfers reach the Sperrkonto in 1–2 working days; SWIFT wires from non-SEPA countries (India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the UAE, the UK after Brexit) typically settle in 2–5 working days.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area)", "description": "The Eurozone-wide payment area covering 36 countries. SEPA Credit Transfers in EUR reach the Sperrkonto in 1–2 working days at no or low cost. Applicants funding the deposit from inside SEPA (Italy, Spain, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, etc.) typically use SEPA rather than SWIFT to save on FX and wire fees.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Geldwäschegesetz (GwG)", "description": "The German Anti-Money-Laundering Act. The Sperrkonto bank applies GwG checks to the €11,904 deposit: the funds must arrive in the applicant's own name, and large or third-party transfers (e.g. from parents, scholarships, education loans) may trigger a source-of-funds questionnaire. Standard documentation — parent's bank statement, scholarship award letter or loan-approval letter — usually clears the check within a few working days.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Freistellungsauftrag", "description": "A tax-exemption order German residents file with their bank so that capital-gains interest below the annual saver's allowance (€1,000 for singles, €2,000 for couples in 2026) is paid out without 25 % Kapitalertragsteuer withholding. Sperrkonto interest is tiny in practice, but filing a Freistellungsauftrag with the Sperrkonto bank after Anmeldung is the standard housekeeping step.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" }, { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Wise / Revolut / Western Union (informational mention)", "description": "Common cross-border remittance services international students use to move the deposit from their home-country bank to the German Sperrkonto bank. As long as the sender name matches the applicant on the Sperrkonto application and the funds arrive in EUR via SWIFT or SEPA, the German bank accepts the transfer. Each service publishes its own FX and fee schedule — compare on the service's own website before sending.", "inDefinedTermSet": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — glossary" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "HowTo", "name": "Blocked account ready in 3 steps", "description": "Prepare your blocked account, bank account and visa documents in one online flow.", "inLanguage": "en", "step": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 1, "name": "Choose your package", "text": "Pick Basic, Smart or Premium depending on whether you also need insurance options." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 2, "name": "Complete the online registration", "text": "Enter your personal details, visa purpose and required monthly blocked amount based on the embassy requirement." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 3, "name": "Prepare your visa proof", "text": "Open the blocked account, fund it as required and use the confirmation for your visa or residence documents." } ], "totalTime": "PT15M", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "[data-howto='step']", "[data-aeo='answer']", "h1" ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "HowTo", "name": "How to activate (unblock) your German blocked account after arrival — 5 steps", "description": "Five concrete steps to convert the blocked €11,904 deposit into the €992 monthly payout after landing in Germany: Anmeldung, Girokonto, Sperrfreigabe request, identity confirmation, first payout.", "inLanguage": "en", "step": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 1, "name": "Step 1 — Register your German address (Anmeldung) within 14 days", "text": "Book a slot at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in. Bring the passport, the visa stamp and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). The Anmeldebestätigung is required for every later step." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 2, "name": "Step 2 — Open a regular German Girokonto", "text": "Open a current account with any German bank (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse, ING, DKB, N26). Many providers offer free student accounts. The new German IBAN receives the €992 monthly payout from the Sperrkonto." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 3, "name": "Step 3 — Request Sperrfreigabe at the Sperrkonto provider", "text": "Log in to your Sperrkonto provider portal and upload the Anmeldebestätigung plus the new German IBAN. The provider releases the €992 monthly schedule, usually within 1–3 working days." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 4, "name": "Step 4 — Confirm the holder's identity (re-verification)", "text": "Some providers re-verify identity inside Germany before the first payout (video-ident or PostIdent at any German post office). Sutor Bank — the bank behind BASTI — accepts both methods." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 5, "name": "Step 5 — Receive the first monthly payout", "text": "From the next month onwards, €992 lands in the Girokonto automatically. The Sperrkonto certificate stays on file as proof of finances for the next residence-permit renewal at the Ausländerbehörde." } ], "totalTime": "PT15M", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "[data-howto='step']", "[data-aeo='answer']", "h1" ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#visa-routes", "name": "Which German visa needs a blocked account — and which bundle fits", "itemListOrder": "https://schema.org/ItemListOrderAscending", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "German full-degree student visa (D-visa)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/", "item": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "BASTI (Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/" 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"@type": "Thing", "name": "BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect (job-search months)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Au-pair D-visa (DACH)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/", "item": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Care Au-Pair (Sperrkonto usually not required)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "name": "Family-visit Schengen C-visa (≤ 90 days)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/", "item": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Care Visa Protect (Verpflichtungserklärung covers finances)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "name": 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"https://schema.org/ItemListOrderAscending", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "India — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect → DAK garantie after M10", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Pakistan — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect → DAK garantie", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bangladesh — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Iran — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Egypt — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "name": "Nigeria — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect (proof of finances scrutinised)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "name": "Turkey — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "name": "China — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect (student / language-course D-visa)", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "name": "Vietnam — BASTI Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "name": "United States — Chancenkarte or D-visa — Sperrkonto via BASTI for the proof of finances", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#country-citizens" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Product", "@id": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#product-basti", "name": "BASTI — blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the Germany visa with Care Visa Protect and DAK garantie bundled", "description": "Care Concept × Sutor Bank blocked-account bundle regularly accepted at German consulates for the student visa, language-course visa and Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. €4.90/month account fee + €65 one-time setup; €11,904 deposit (§13a AufenthV); Smart and Premium tiers add Care Visa Protect (Schengen-window cover) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment statutory student insurance) at no extra cost.", "brand": { "@type": "Brand", "name": "Care Concept AG" }, "category": "Blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the Germany visa", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/", "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "Germany" }, "image": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/og/og-krankenversicherung-auslaender.webp", "offers": { "@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "EUR", "price": "4.90", "priceSpecification": { "@type": "UnitPriceSpecification", "price": "4.90", "priceCurrency": "EUR", "unitText": "MONTH", "referenceQuantity": { "@type": "QuantitativeValue", "value": 1, "unitCode": "MON" } }, "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "eligibleRegion": { "@type": "Country", "name": "DE" }, "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/apply/", "seller": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer" } } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Service", "@id": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#service", "serviceType": "Blocked-account (Sperrkonto) brokerage for foreigners applying for a German visa", "name": "Blocked account for the Germany visa — BASTI brokerage", "description": "Independent brokerage of the BASTI Sperrkonto bundle (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) plus Care Visa Protect (Schengen visa-window cover) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment statutory student insurance) for foreigners on the German student, language-course and Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card visa.", "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "Germany" }, "provider": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de" }, "audience": { "@type": "PeopleAudience", "audienceType": "Foreigners applying for a German student, language-course or Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card visa" }, "availableChannel": { "@type": "ServiceChannel", "serviceUrl": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/apply/" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/#swift-bands", "name": "Typical SWIFT settlement time to a German blocked account by sender country (qualitative bands)", "itemListOrder": "https://schema.org/ItemListOrderAscending", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "India — Typically 1–3 working days" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Pakistan — Typically 2–4 working days" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bangladesh — Typically 2–5 working days" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nigeria — Typically 2–5 working days" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Egypt — Typically 2–5 working days" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "name": "Iran — Variable — sanctions affect routing" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "name": "Turkey — Typically 1–3 working days" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "name": "China — Typically 1–3 working days" } ] } ] --- EN [+49 228 97735-44](tel:+4922897735-44)· German & English spoken [Health Insurance for Foreigners in Germany ](/en/) - Foreigners in Germany - Visa & Schengen - Studies & Language School - Expats - Employees - Retirees - Blocked Account - Guides [All tariffs](/en/product-overview-germany/)[Find a tariff](/en/tariffinder-germany/) [Find a tariff](/en/tariffinder-germany/) Language 🇩🇪 Deutsch 🇺🇸 English 🇸🇦 العربية Main areas 🌍 Foreigners in Germany [Overview →](/en/health-insurance-foreigners-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — all foreigners in GermanyThe umbrella hub: every visa, every audience, recognised cover under § 5 AufenthG — start here. ](/en/health-insurance-foreigners-germany/)[Visa & SchengenFast insurance proof for embassy/foreigners' authority — short stays, Schengen visa, family visit. ](/en/health-insurance-visa-foreigners-germany/)[Studies & Language SchoolAffordable long-term health insurance for international students, Studienkolleg, German courses, exchange students and PhD candidates. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-students-germany/)[Expats (long-term)Affordable long-term health insurance for expats, international skilled workers, freelancers and their families. ](/en/expat-health-insurance-germany/)[Employees (job start)Foreign employees, skilled workers with work visa, seasonal workers and people in the recognition procedure. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-employees-germany/)[Retirees / parent reunificationAffordable long-term health insurance for foreign retirees, seniors and their partners, family visits. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-retirees-germany/) More topics [Blocked account & visaAccepted for visa, Opportunity Card and university enrolment. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/)[AustriaAffordable long-term health insurance for Austria. ](/en/health-insurance-foreigners-austria/)[Au-pair health insuranceAffordable health insurance for au-pairs in Germany, Austria & Switzerland — from €21/month. ](/en/au-pair-health-insurance-germany/)[Guides & FAQThe most common mistakes — and how to avoid them in 2 minutes. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/)[Costs & benefitsWhat does it really cost? Compare tariffs, prices and benefits. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/costs-benefits-germany/) Get started [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) ✈️ Visa & Schengen [Overview →](/en/health-insurance-visa-foreigners-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — visa & SchengenThe visa umbrella hub: Schengen, national D-visa, short stay and family reunification at a glance. ](/en/health-insurance-visa-foreigners-germany/)[Schengen visa (up to 90 days)Fast health insurance proof for the Schengen visa — meet embassy requirements and avoid common mistakes. ](/en/health-insurance-visa-foreigners-germany/schengen-visa-health-insurance-germany/)[Short stay without visaAffordable health insurance for tourist and visa-free stays — easy, flexible and quick to apply online. ](/en/health-insurance-visa-foreigners-germany/short-stay-health-insurance-germany/)[Visitors & parent visits (3 months to 5 years)Cover for visitors and parents — for stays from 3 months to 5 years, affordable and online. ](/en/health-insurance-visa-foreigners-germany/foreign-visitors-visa-health-insurance-germany/)[Family reunificationFamily reunification: the right insurance proof for partner & children — so the application doesn't fail on missing documents. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/faq-germany/family-reunification-which-health-insurance-is-commonly-required-germany/) Info & requirements [Insurance proof for the visaWhich insurance proofs embassies and immigration offices actually require. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/visa-residence-germany/insurance-proof-visa-germany/)[Schengen insurance requirementsMinimum coverage, repatriation and validity area — so your proof doesn't fail on formalities. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/visa-residence-germany/requirements-schengen-health-insurance-germany/)[Documents & checklistWhich documents to prepare before the visa application — to avoid delays. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/visa-residence-germany/documents-checklist-german-visa-health-insurance-germany/)[Avoid rejectionThe most common mistakes with visa, proof and insurance — and what embassies pay particular attention to. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/visa-residence-germany/avoid-rejection-of-insurance-proof-for-german-visa-germany/) Get started [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) 🎓 Studies & Language School [Overview →](/en/health-insurance-foreign-students-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — students & language schoolThe student umbrella hub: GKV, private student insurance, language course, Studienkolleg, exchange and PhD at a glance. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-students-germany/)[International studentsAffordable health insurance for international students — with quick proof for enrolment, visa and study start. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-students-germany/)[Language school & German courseThe right insurance proof for language school & German course — so visa, embassy appointment and course start don't fail. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/health-insurance-language-course-before-study-differences-typical-mistakes-germany/)[StudienkollegAffordable health insurance for Studienkolleg — with quick proof for embassy, immigration office and course start, plus online application. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/preparatory-college-health-insurance-proof-registration-residence-germany/)[Exchange students & PhD candidatesSuitable health insurance for foreign exchange students & PhD candidates — for studies, exchange programmes, research and PhDs, with online application incl. insurance proof. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/exchange-students-phd-students-health-insurance-germany/) Info & decisions [Statutory or private student insurance?Statutory health insurance or private student insurance? Find out what really fits your status and study path. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/statutory-or-private-student-health-insurance-germany/)[Student visa & proofWhich insurance proofs really count for visa, university enrolment and authorities. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/health-insurance-proof-enrollment-university-germany/)[GKV exemptionExemption from statutory insurance: what to know before deciding — so it doesn't become a problem later. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/exemption-from-statutory-health-insurance-students-key-points-germany/)[Blocked account & study startHow blocked account, university enrolment and health insurance interact — so your study start isn't delayed. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/blocked-account-study-start-health-insurance-enrollment-germany/) Get started [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) 🏠 Expats [Overview →](/en/expat-health-insurance-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — expats long-termAffordable & long-term: 6–60 months, family, freelancers, GKV vs private. ](/en/expat-health-insurance-germany/)[Long-term expats in Germany (6–60 months)Affordable long-term cover in Germany — with accepted proof. ](/en/expat-health-insurance-germany/long-term-health-insurance-foreigners-germany/)[Long-term expats in Austria (6–60 months)Affordable long-term cover in Austria — accepted by MA 35. ](/en/health-insurance-foreigners-austria/)[Expats with family (partner & children)Affordable long-term cover for partner & children — no surprises. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-expats-germany/expat-with-family-joint-planning-partner-children-typical-questions-and-mistakes-germany/)[Freelancers & self-employed without an employerNo employer? Affordable long-term option — GKV or private, clarified fast. ](/en/expat-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-foreign-self-employed-germany/)[Transition without a job (job search / change / termination)Job change or termination: affordable bridge — long-term cover continues. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-expats-germany/expat-without-employer-during-job-search-how-to-stay-insured-germany/) Info & decisions [Which health insurance fits expats?Which health insurance fits as a long-term expat? Avoid mistakes — so registration works and you can see a doctor when needed. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-expats-germany/)[GKV obligation or private solution? (quick check)Clear in 2 minutes: statutory obligation or private — so you don't commit to the wrong path. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-expats-germany/private-vs-statutory-health-insurance-expats-which-factors-typically-matter-germany/)[Proofs for authorities (residence permit, registration, etc.)Get authority proofs right: avoid common mistakes, save time. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-expats-germany/checklist-documents-immigration-office-expat-insurance-proof-deadlines-germany/)[Family & pregnancy: what to watch forAlready pregnant or planning? Common pitfalls in tariffs (waiting periods/benefits) — so there are no nasty surprises. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-expats-germany/pregnancy-health-insurance-expats-proofs-costs-doctor-germany/) Get started [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) Other groups 💼 Employees [Overview →](/en/health-insurance-foreign-employees-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — employees & job startThe employee umbrella hub: job start, Blue Card, job change, GKV obligation and employer proof. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-employees-germany/)[Job start in GermanySo your job start works: the right health insurance + proof, fast and easy. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/common-mistakes-when-starting-in-germany-registration-checklist-germany/)[Blue Card & skilled workersBlue Card & skilled workers: get insured properly, avoid mistakes — proof for employer and registration. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/bluecard-skilled-workers-health-insurance-proof-employer-registration-germany/)[Job change / new positionJob change made easy: stay insured, avoid mistakes, done quickly. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/job-change-health-insurance-what-happens-with-insurance-and-prove-germany/)[Part-time, mini-job & probationPart-time/mini-job/probation: find the right health insurance — without a wrong decision. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/mini-job-midi-job-full-time-health-insurance-differences-germany/) Info & decisions [GKV registration step by stepGKV in 3 steps: error-free, step by step — so you finish quickly. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/statutory-insurance-registration-step-by-step-employees-germany/)[What certificate does the employer need?Employer proof: which certificate is really required — explained quickly. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/employer-asks-insurance-proof-what-must-one-submit-germany/)[GKV obligation: who must, who may choose?Who must join statutory insurance — and who may choose? Without mistakes. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/statutory-insurance-requirement-who-must-who-may-foreigners-germany/)[Documents & checklist for the job startJob start checklist: documents, deadlines, next steps — so you don't forget anything. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/common-mistakes-when-starting-in-germany-registration-checklist-germany/) [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) 🧓 Retirees [Overview →](/en/health-insurance-foreign-retirees-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — retirees & parentsThe retiree umbrella hub: parent reunification, seniors 60+, short visits and pre-existing conditions at a glance. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-retirees-germany/)[Parent reunification / bringing parents to Germany permanentlyBringing parents to Germany permanently: find the right health insurance — avoid common mistakes. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-retirees-germany/parent-reunification-health-insurance-germany/)[Foreign retirees/parents 60+ in Germany (6 months to 5 years)For parents 60+: find the right long-term cover — so doctor, hospital and authority proofs don't become a problem. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-retirees-germany/long-term-health-insurance-seniors-germany/)[Short stay / visiting children (up to 90 days)For parent visits up to 90 days: affordable health insurance for doctor & emergency — incl. proof, quick to apply online. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-retirees-germany/short-visit-seniors-health-insurance-which-coverage-commonly-required-germany/)[Retirees with pre-existing conditions & medication (special cases)Pre-existing conditions or medication? We show what's possible — clearly explained, no false promises. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-retirees-germany/health-insurance-pre-existing-conditions-what-is-commonly-checked-when-taking-out-germany/) Info & decisions [Which health insurance fits retirees? (quick overview)Find the right solution quickly for age, stay and proof — before you choose wrong. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-retirees-germany/)[Statutory possible for retirees? Or rather private? (quick check)Statutory or private as a retiree? Clear in 2 minutes — so you don't decide wrongly. ](/en/health-insurance-foreign-retirees-germany/statutory-or-private-health-fund-foreign-retirees-germany/)[Proof for foreigners' authority & residence permit (checklist)Foreigners' authority: submit the proof correctly — avoid common mistakes, save time. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-retirees-germany/immigration-office-insurance-proof-which-details-should-appear-germany/)[Costs in old age: contributions, deductibles, typical pitfallsWhat does it really cost in old age? Contributions, deductibles and typical cost traps — briefly explained. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-retirees-germany/costs-in-age-premiums-deductible-cost-traps-germany/)[Acceptance, exclusions & waiting periods (age/pre-existing)Age/pre-existing conditions: what's possible, what's excluded, what waiting periods apply — briefly explained. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-retirees-germany/health-insurance-pre-existing-conditions-what-is-commonly-checked-when-taking-out-germany/) [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) 🏦 Blocked Account [Overview →](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — blocked accountThe blocked account umbrella hub: student visa, application, timing and Opportunity Card at a glance. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/)[Blocked account for the student visa (national visa D)Combine blocked account + health insurance correctly — so the visa appointment doesn't fail. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/blocked-account-student-visa-monthly-rate-logic-and-health-insurance-proof-germany/)[Blocked account + visa applicationWhich proofs belong together (blocked account, KV, documents) — avoid common mistakes. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/blocked-account-and-health-insurance-for-visa-application-germany/)[Documents & checklist (blocked account)Which documents you really need — so nothing gets delayed. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/blocked-account-documents-checklist-providers-mistakes-the-delay-germany/)[Timing: when to open, when to take out insurance?Order & timing: blocked account + KV in time before the visa appointment. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/blocked-account-timing-opening-and-health-insurance-taking-out-before-visa-appointment-germany/)[Opportunity Card / stay without studiesWhen the blocked account is used for other purposes: what to watch for. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/opportunity-card-residence-without-study-blocked-account-health-insurance-proofs-germany/) Info & decisions [Blocked account explained in 2 minutesWhat it is, what it's needed for, common misunderstandings. ](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/)[Health insurance as proof for the visa (checklist)Which information must be on the proof — so the embassy/authority accepts it. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/visa-residence-germany/documents-checklist-german-visa-health-insurance-germany/)[Avoid rejection (queries / proof errors)Top mistakes + quick fix — so you don't have to resubmit. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/visa-residence-germany/avoid-rejection-of-insurance-proof-for-german-visa-germany/)[Which insurance fits at study start?How blocked account, university enrolment & health insurance interact. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/blocked-account-study-start-health-insurance-enrollment-germany/)[Blocked Account productIf you want to open the account directly: overview + application. ](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) 📚 Guides [Overview →](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/) Audiences & situations [Overview — guides & FAQThe guides umbrella hub: all topics, FAQs and checklists on health insurance in Germany. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/)[Visa & residenceAvoid common mistakes before applying. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/visa-residence-germany/)[StudentsWhich insurance fits enrolment and visa. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-students-germany/)[FAQShort answers to the most common questions. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/faq-germany/)[Costs & benefitsWhat to look out for in affordable tariffs. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/costs-benefits-germany/) More topics [ExpatsWhat matters during a longer stay. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-expats-germany/)[EmployeesHow employees avoid expensive wrong decisions. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-employees-germany/)[Language course / German courseWhich insurance is needed for language course and visa. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-language-course-german-course-germany/)[RetireesWhat retirees should watch for when moving to Germany. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-retirees-germany/)[StudienkollegSuitable cover for the time at Studienkolleg. ](/en/guide-health-insurance-germany/health-insurance-preparatory-college-germany/) [Find a tariff Find the right insurance. ](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[All tariffs Overview of all tariffs. ](/en/product-overview-germany/) [All tariffs](/en/product-overview-germany/)[Find a tariff](/en/tariffinder-germany/) [🏦 BASTI Sperrkonto (consulate accepted) BASTI from €4.90/month 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Blocked account for the Germany visa 📑 On this page (20) - [→ What is a blocked account in Germany?](#what-is) - [→ Amount 2026 — €11,904 / €992 per month](#amount) - [→ What goes wrong at the embassy — and how it's solved](#problems) - [→ Reality check: visa appointment delay cost](#reality) - [→ Why open the Sperrkonto before booking the embassy slot](#timing) - [→ How to open a blocked account — 6 steps](#open) - [→ BASTI Sperrkonto — feature overview vs. other providers](#providers) - [→ Provider landscape — Sparkasse, Sutor Bank, BaFin](#provider-landscape) - [→ Ausbildung visa — does the Sperrkonto apply?](#ausbildung) - [→ Quick answers — German blocked account](#quick-answers) - [→ Recommended bundles](#recommended) - [→ BASTI fees & premiums (Basic / Smart / Premium)](#prices) - [→ Which visa needs a Sperrkonto?](#visa-routes) - [→ By country of citizenship — recommended route](#country-citizens) - [→ First 30 days in Germany — post-arrival checklist](#moving-checklist) - [→ Case study — Mumbai → Munich in 21 days](#case-study) - [→ Related guides](#topics) - [→ Glossary](#glossary) - [→ Official sources & further reading](#sources) - [→ FAQ](#faq) # Blocked account for the Germany visa — Sperrkonto opening, €11,904 amount, embassy acceptance and health insurance bundle ![International student in Germany at a German bank counter holding the Sperrkonto certificate and a passport, on the way to the German consulate visa appointment](/assets/hero-slide-2-visum-studium-sperrkonto-krankenversicherung-C0PD1_S4.webp) Sources: § 13a AufenthV · AufenthG · Auswärtiges Amt · BAMF · BaFin · EU Visa Code 810/2009 · Care Concept AG AVB · Sutor Bank prospectus **No proof of finances — no German student visa, no language-course visa, no Chancenkarte.** That is the simple rule the German consulate applies in almost every visa file. The case officer does not ask whether the applicant has €11,904 saved — they verify the Sperrkonto certificate (the _Sperrkontobestätigung_) issued by a BaFin-regulated German bank, regardless of whether the route is the student visa, the Studienkolleg visa, the language-course visa or the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) for skilled workers from outside the EU. The standard route for foreigners is [BASTI — Sperrkonto from €4.90/month + €65 one-time setup, with the €11,904 deposit held at Sutor Bank](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) — the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle regularly accepted at German consulates as proof of finances under § 13a AufenthV. Source: Care Concept AG AVB 2026; Sutor Bank prospectus. For the Schengen visa-window before German enrolment opens the standard cover is [Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) — bundled free with BASTI Smart and Premium. After enrolment, students switch to [DAK garantie from ~€135.52/month](/en/insurance-plans/dak-gesundheit/overview/) via the M10 notification — also discounted inside BASTI Smart. Below: why the embassy of Germany rejects the file when the proof of funding sits at a non-German bank, when the Verpflichtungserklärung can substitute for the Sperrkonto — and how the BASTI bundle (Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie) is structured. Whether the move is a German student visa application from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria, Vietnam or Turkey, a US-passport Chancenkarte file, or a UK-passport Studienkolleg year, the proof-of-finances line is the same: the German consulate wants €11,904 sitting in a BaFin-regulated German blocked account before any decision. This page covers the German student visa requirements, what counts as a block account in Germany, how the monthly €992 payout works, how to withdraw money from the blocked account in Germany after arrival, why a second-year top-up is normally needed, and what the difference between a blocked account and a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) is in practice. Editor's note: supporting Sperrkonto and visa files with Care Concept covers since 2009, the two most common mistakes we see at the German consulate counter are a foreign-bank "blocked savings account" the case officer cannot verify, and a Schengen travel policy that misses the German student-visa health-insurance wording. Both are avoidable — the BASTI provider matrix, the 6-step opening checklist and the post-arrival 30-day plan further down show which fee, certificate wording and bundled cover keep the appointment from stalling. Last reviewed by Steffan Grund on September 4, 2026. [Editorial standards & how we verify prices](/impressum/) — prices, statute references and Sperrkonto amounts are checked against the Care Concept AG AVB, the current § 13a AufenthV / BAföG rate and Sutor Bank disclosures on every quarterly review. Blocked Account Provider BASTI / VietinBank / Care Concept Visa Financial Proof Blocked account, bank account, German IBAN and debit card Online Setup Open and fund the account to receive your blocked-account confirmation ## What is a blocked account in Germany? **Quick answer:** A blocked account (German: Sperrkonto ) is a German bank account that holds the proof-of-finances deposit the German consulate requires for the student visa, the language-course visa and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. The amount is set by § 13a AufenthV — €11,904 for a 12-month stay in 2026 (12 × the €992 BAföG monthly rate). After arrival in Germany the bank releases €992 per month to the holder. In practice every German consulate accepts a **blocked bank account** opened at a BaFin-supervised German bank. **BASTI** (the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle from €4.90/month) is the route we place; other BaFin-regulated providers in this market that international students commonly research include **Expatrio**, **Fintiba**, **Coracle**, **Deutsche Bank** and **Sparkasse**. Each provider publishes its own fees, processing time and conditions on its own website. Foreign-currency "blocked savings accounts" at a non-German bank are not what § 13a AufenthV asks for — the consulate verifies the Sperrkontobestätigung from a German bank. The binding decision always rests with the responsible visa officer. ![Steffan Grund](/assets/steffan-grund-B5K5tUm9.jpg)Written by **Steffan Grund** Reviewed: **September 9, 2026** Sources§ 13a AufenthV · AufenthG · Auswärtiges Amt · BAMF · BaFin · EU Visa Code 810/2009 · Care Concept AG AVB · Sutor Bank prospectus 4.9/5 458 customer responses · [our own survey](/en/review-methodology/) Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009 ## Ready for the German consulate appointment? Pick your blocked-account bundle. [BASTI Sperrkonto (Consulate accepted · with Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) ](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/)[Care Visa Protect (Schengen window · ≤ 92 days) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) ](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/)[DAK garantie from ~€135.52/month (DAK garantie via BASTI Smart) ](/en/insurance-plans/dak-gesundheit/overview/) [🔍 Plan Finder](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[📋 All Plans](/en/product-overview-germany/) 🏛️ Authority-approved 📄 Instant proof 🔒 DAK / HanseMerkur 🏷️ Transparent pricing 4.9/5 · Over 10,000 policies placed since 2009 from 458 customer responses · [our own survey](/en/review-methodology/), not independently verified · [How this rating works](/en/review-methodology/) ## 📌 TL;DR — at a glance - **Standard Sperrkonto bundle:** BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time setup. €11,904 deposit (12 × €992, §13a AufenthV). Bilingual (DE/EN) certificate emailed within working days. - **Embassy of Germany / consulate acceptance:** BASTI is regularly accepted at German consulates for the student visa, the language-course visa and the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card). Final decision rests with the visa officer. - **Health-insurance bundled free:** BASTI Smart and Premium include Care Visa Protect (Schengen window, from €0.85/day) and DAK garantie (statutory student insurance after M10, ~€135.52/month) at no extra cost. - **Short Schengen visit instead?** Care Visa Protect alone (from €0.85/day, minimum €8.50) covers up to 92 days — no Sperrkonto required. The Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) often substitutes for the proof of finances on a family-visit C-visa. Key facts at a glance Reviewed September 9, 2026 - **Proof-of-finances amount 2026:** €11,904 for a 12-month stay (12 × €992 BAföG rate, § 13a AufenthV). Same as 2025. (Source: § 13a AufenthV). - **Monthly payout (Sperrfreigabe):** €992 per month — released after Anmeldung in Germany and the opening of a regular Girokonto. (Source: Sutor Bank / BAföG rate). - **BASTI account fee:** €4.90/month + €65 one-time setup. Sutor Bank holds the deposit; Care Concept handles the application and the bundled insurance. (Source: Care Concept AG / Sutor Bank). - **BASTI Smart bundle saving:** Care Visa Protect (≥ €8.50 minimum) and DAK garantie at the discounted rate — about €153 saved on the Incoming insurance over the visa-window months. (Source: Care Concept AG). - **Typical German embassy appointment lead time:** weeks to months in India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey. Opening the Sperrkonto first avoids losing a slot to a missing document. (Source: Auswärtiges Amt — consulate-page lead times). ## What goes wrong at the German consulate — and how each problem is solved **Quick answer:** Four problems come up in almost every German student or Chancenkarte visa file: the "blocked savings" was opened at a non-German bank, the €11,904 was transferred but the certificate has not arrived yet, the Schengen travel policy does not match the German student-visa wording, and the embassy slot was booked before the Sperrkonto was opened. Each one has a clean answer below — usually BASTI from €4.90/month. ## Avoid the mistakes that can delay your application ### Visa proof needs money blocked A blocked account can help prepare financial proof for German visa or residence documents. ### Account must be funded The confirmation is not just a simple PDF. Open and fund the blocked account as required. ### Banking after arrival BASTI combines blocked account, bank account, German IBAN and debit card in one setup. ### Insurance can be bundled Smart and Premium packages can include incoming health insurance plus accident and liability insurance. ## Reality check: what a visa delay actually costs ## One wrong insurance choice can cost you money, time and your application deadline A medical incident can become expensive fast — but the wrong certificate can also delay your visa, enrollment, residence permit or work start. 🏥 €500–€1,500 Emergency doctor visit One urgent doctor or emergency-room visit can already create a painful bill — before tests, medication or follow-up treatment are added. 🏨 €2,000–€10,000+ Hospital treatment If observation, surgery, overnight stay or specialist treatment is needed, costs can quickly move from hundreds to thousands of euros. 🏦 €11,904 + buffer Proof is not ready until funded A blocked account is not just a PDF — it must be opened and funded before the confirmation can support visa documents. - Wrong or incomplete proof can delay your visa, enrollment or authority process. - Cheap home-country policies may miss the exact coverage, dates or repatriation wording required. - The cheapest policy can become expensive if it is the wrong proof for your situation. Before you apply, check: coverage amount, validity dates, destination area and repatriation cover. ## Why open the Sperrkonto before booking the embassy slot ## Why act before your visa financial proof is due A blocked account is not just a PDF. The account must be opened and funded before confirmation can support visa documents. 🏦 Funding takes time Your blocked-account confirmation depends on opening and funding the account as required. 💶 €11,904 + buffer The blocked amount is based on the required monthly amount, plus the provider buffer where applicable. ⚡ Online setup helps BASTI combines blocked account, bank account, German IBAN and debit card in one process. 🛡️ Insurance may be bundled Smart and Premium can include insurance options depending on package and eligibility. ## Amount 2026 — €11,904 in the blocked account (€992 per month) **Quick answer:** The German blocked-account amount for 2026 is **€11,904** — the same figure as 2025. It equals 12 × €992, the current monthly BAföG rate referenced by § 13a AufenthV. The amount is reviewed annually; always confirm the rate on the German consulate page for the home country before transferring funds. Year Monthly BAföG rate Annual proof-of-finances Legal basis 2023 €934 €11,208 § 13a AufenthV 2024 (from Sept) €992 €11,904 § 13a AufenthV (BAföG-Novelle) 2025 €992 €11,904 § 13a AufenthV 2026 (current) €992 €11,904 § 13a AufenthV Indicative figures based on § 13a AufenthV and the BAföG monthly rate. See the official text at [gesetze-im-internet.de — § 13a AufenthV](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__13a.html). The Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) updates the rate on individual consulate pages annually. ## How to open a blocked account for Germany — 6 steps About 30 minutes online for steps 1–4. Bilingual PDF certificate (German + English) by email within a few working days of the deposit clearing. Sperrfreigabe is requested after arrival in Germany. ## Blocked account ready in 3 steps Prepare your blocked account, bank account and visa documents in one online flow. 1. 1 🎯 Choose your package Pick Basic, Smart or Premium depending on whether you also need insurance options. 2. 2 📝 Complete the online registration Enter your personal details, visa purpose and required monthly blocked amount based on the embassy requirement. 3. 3 ✅ Prepare your visa proof Open the blocked account, fund it as required and use the confirmation for your visa or residence documents. ## BASTI Sperrkonto — feature overview **Quick answer:** Editorial overview of BASTI's own verifiable terms. German consulates routinely accept any blocked account opened at a BaFin-regulated German bank; the table below documents what BASTI itself publishes. Verify the current pricing on each provider's own website before applying; final acceptance always rests with the responsible visa officer. Feature BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) Monthly account fee [€4.90 per month](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) One-time setup fee €65 (online application) Deposit (§ 13a AufenthV, 2026) €11,904 (12 × €992 BAföG rate) Health insurance included Care Visa Protect (Schengen window) + DAK garantie (post-enrolment) inside the Smart and Premium tiers Issuing German bank Sutor Bank (BaFin-supervised) Application channel Fully online from any country Consulate acceptance Regularly accepted at German consulates worldwide [BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank)](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) **Monthly:** €4.90 · **Setup:** €65 one-time **Deposit:** €11,904 (§ 13a AufenthV) **Bundle:** Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie (Smart / Premium) **Bank:** Sutor Bank (BaFin) **Application:** fully online from any country Editorial information about BASTI's own verifiable terms. Always verify the current price on each provider's own website before applying — consulate acceptance does not depend on the BaFin-regulated provider chosen. ## German blocked-account market — regulatory context **Quick answer:** The German Sperrkonto market is supervised by BaFin (the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). Several BaFin-regulated providers issue Sperrkonto certificates accepted by German consulates. BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) is the bundled route placed on this page; verifiability of every German bank is public via the BaFin company database. Sutor Bank — formally Max Heinr. Sutor oHG — holds the BASTI deposit and appears in the [BaFin company database (English)](https://www.bafin.de/EN/PublikationenDaten/Datenbanken/datenbanken_node.html). Every BaFin-regulated route issues the same legal certificate format (Sperrkontobestätigung); the German consulate sees that certificate regardless of the provider chosen. We do not rank providers — we describe the BASTI bundle and link to its terms; applicants are encouraged to compare published terms on each provider's own website before applying. Common provider names that international students research when preparing the German student visa include Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle, Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse and Sutor Bank (the partner bank behind the BASTI bundle). This is an informational enumeration only — each provider publishes its own fees, processing times and conditions on its own website, and acceptance of any BaFin-regulated Sperrkonto rests with the responsible German consulate. This page focuses on the BASTI route. ## Ausbildung visa & vocational-training trainees — does the blocked account apply? **Quick answer:** Yes, in most cases. The German consulate verifies the same §13a AufenthV proof of finances (€11,904 for a 12-month stay) for the Ausbildung visa as for the student visa. The standard exception is a paid Ausbildung where the training company's monthly salary clearly exceeds the BAföG threshold and is documented in the training contract — the consulate may then accept the salary as proof of finances instead of the Sperrkonto. Health-insurance proof works exactly the same way. For unpaid or low-pay vocational training — vocational schools, healthcare assistant programmes, hospitality apprenticeships — the BASTI Sperrkonto is the cleanest path: it adds [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) for the Schengen entry window and [DAK garantie](/en/insurance-plans/dak-gesundheit/overview/) for the statutory student insurance the vocational school registers via the M10 notification. Trainees over 30 (or exempt from the GKV student tariff) use [Care College](/en/insurance-plans/care-college/overview/) during the language preparation that precedes most Ausbildung programmes. Practical sequence: confirm with the training company whether the monthly salary qualifies as financial proof; if not, open the BASTI Sperrkonto first, then book the German consulate appointment. Reversing the order routinely costs an appointment slot when the certificate isn't ready on the day. ## Quick answers — German blocked account in one paragraph each Compact, sourceable answers for the highest-volume questions about the German Sperrkonto . Every answer is editorial information based on §13a AufenthV, the AufenthG and BASTI's own published price sheet — the final visa decision always rests with the responsible German consulate. ### How does a German blocked account work? A German Sperrkonto holds the §13a AufenthV deposit at a BaFin-supervised bank. €11,904 (the 2026 amount) is transferred before the visa appointment. After arrival, address registration and opening a Girokonto, the bank releases €992 per month to the holder; the deposit itself stays at the German bank as ongoing proof of finances. ### How much money is required in a blocked account for Germany? €11,904 for a 12-month German student, language-course or Chancenkarte visa — the 2026 figure under §13a AufenthV (€992 BAföG monthly rate × 12). Lower balances are not accepted as the standalone financial proof for a full-time degree visa; scholarships and a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) can substitute in narrower cases. ### How to open a blocked account for Germany? Six online steps: choose a BaFin-regulated provider (BASTI is the bundled route placed on this page), open the account with passport + admission letter, transfer €11,904 by SWIFT, receive the bilingual Sperrkontobestätigung, upload it to the visa application, then request Sperrfreigabe after Anmeldung in Germany. Steps 1–4 typically take 5–10 working days end-to-end. ### Is a blocked account necessary for the Chancenkarte? Yes — the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card (Germany's points-based job-seeker visa) requires the same §13a AufenthV proof of finances. Most applicants use the BASTI Sperrkonto with €11,904 for 12 months; a Verpflichtungserklärung from a host in Germany can substitute in selected cases. ### Can I withdraw money from the German blocked account? After arrival in Germany you withdraw €992 per month — released by the bank via Sperrfreigabe once your Anmeldebestätigung and a German Girokonto IBAN are on file. Lump-sum withdrawal of the €11,904 deposit is not possible; that's the "blocked" part the German consulate verified. ### How to transfer money to a German blocked account from India / Pakistan / Nigeria? Standard SWIFT wire in EUR from the home-country bank (HDFC / ICICI / SBI; ABL / Bank Alfalah; GTBank / Access) to the IBAN issued by Sutor Bank (BASTI) or the equivalent German Sperrkonto bank. Allow 1–5 working days for clearing. Regulated transfer services (Wise, Remitly) also reach Sutor Bank when the sender's name matches the application. ### Do I need a blocked account for Ausbildung in Germany? Usually yes — the same €11,904 §13a AufenthV deposit applies to the Ausbildung visa. The standard exception is a paid training contract whose monthly salary clearly exceeds the BAföG threshold, in which case the consulate may accept the salary as financial proof instead of the Sperrkonto. ### Does the blocked account need to be renewed in year 2? Yes — at residence-permit renewal the Ausländerbehörde re-verifies §13a AufenthV proof of finances. Most students top up the existing BASTI Sperrkonto with the next 12 months (€11,904) by SEPA transfer; a Verpflichtungserklärung or proof of qualifying part-time income can substitute. ### How do I close the blocked account after my studies? After the residence ends, send a written cancellation to the Sperrkonto provider together with proof of departure or a new Aufenthaltstitel that no longer needs financial proof. The remaining balance is wired to a nominated IBAN — usually a German Girokonto or a home-country account in the holder's name — within a few working days of the closure confirmation. ### How do I transfer money from India / Pakistan / Bangladesh using Wise or Remitly? Wise (TransferWise), Remitly and standard SWIFT wires in EUR all reach the German Sperrkonto IBAN. The sender's name on the wire must match the Sperrkonto applicant. Domestic compliance (LRS in India, State Bank in Pakistan, Central Bank in Nigeria) sits with the sending bank; the German bank issues the bilingual Sperrkontobestätigung once the deposit settles, typically 1–5 working days. ### Can I top up an existing blocked account for year 3? Yes — the same Sperrkonto stays open year on year. To extend for year 3 the holder simply transfers another €11,904 (the §13a AufenthV amount) to the existing Sperrkonto IBAN before the next residence-permit renewal at the Ausländerbehörde. No new application is needed; only the certificate dated for the next 12 months is reissued. ### Chancenkarte blocked account amount — what's the exact figure? The Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card uses the same §13a AufenthV proof of finances as the student visa: €11,904 for a 12-month job-search stay in 2026. A Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) signed by a host in Germany can substitute in selected cases; the German consulate publishes the accepted route for each country on its own website. ### Transfer from your country to the German blocked account — how it works From India (Mumbai, Delhi), Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi), Bangladesh (Dhaka), Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja), Egypt (Cairo), Iran (Tehran), Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara), Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City), the Philippines (Manila), Indonesia (Jakarta) and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), the wire to the German Sperrkonto IBAN is a routine SWIFT in EUR. The applicant simply books the transfer at their local bank using the IBAN and BIC printed on the BASTI application confirmation; the Sperrkontobestätigung is issued by Sutor Bank once the funds clear — typically one to five working days from the sending side. The relevant home-country compliance rules (LRS / RBI in India, State Bank in Pakistan, the Central Bank of Nigeria, etc.) sit entirely on the sending side and do not affect what the German consulate sees. ## After your studies — closing, refunding or topping up the Sperrkonto **Quick answer:** The Sperrkonto stays open year on year and is not automatically closed at the end of one residence permit. For year 2 and year 3, the holder simply tops up the existing account with another €11,904 (the §13a AufenthV amount) by SEPA transfer before the next Ausländerbehörde renewal. When the residence ends, a written cancellation refunds the remaining balance to a nominated IBAN in the holder's name. For most international students the practical sequence is: year 1 is funded with the original €11,904 deposit; the bank releases €992 per month from Sperrfreigabe onwards; before the Ausländerbehörde renewal in month 11 or 12 the holder transfers the next year's €11,904 to the existing BASTI IBAN; the provider reissues a fresh Sperrkontobestätigung dated for the next 12 months that the Ausländerbehörde attaches to the file. No new application is required. At graduation, when the residence converts to a job-search permit or an employment-based Aufenthaltstitel, the Sperrkonto is no longer needed as proof of finances. The holder sends a written cancellation to the provider together with proof of the new title or proof of departure; the remaining balance is wired to a nominated IBAN — usually the holder's German Girokonto or a home-country account in their own name — within a few working days. The blocked-account fee stops with the closure confirmation. Indicative editorial guidance; closure mechanics depend on the responsible provider and the bank holding the deposit. Verify the current closure form and refund route with the provider before sending the cancellation notice. ## What international students say about BASTI Sperrkonto for the German student-visa appointment 4.9/5 458 customer responses · [our own survey](/en/review-methodology/) “ 5/5 > “My biggest worry was that the embassy wouldn't accept the insurance. > The proof was accepted immediately — no questions asked. > That saved me a lot of stress.” ![Georges from Cameroon](/assets/georges-kamerun-C6GQZGzu.jpg) Georges Cameroon “ 5/5 > “I needed proof of insurance urgently for my visa appointment. > The confirmation arrived within minutes by email. > Everything worked first time at the embassy.” ![Olga from Russia](/assets/olga-russland--B_6p7O-.jpg) Olga Russia “ 5/5 > “Found the best solution and best service for health insurance for foreign visitors and guests in Germany. > Fast, simple and affordable. > Highly recommended!” ![Michael from Germany](/assets/michael-deutschland-CFcwSzJg.jpg) Michael Germany “ 5/5 > “The online sign-up was done in just a few minutes. > When I actually had to see a doctor, the billing went smoothly. > I was really covered — not just on paper.” ![Yunhee from Australia](/assets/yunhee-australien-CaHyNO5z.jpg) Yunhee Australia ### Now choose your plan 4.9/5 458 customer responses · [our own survey](/en/review-methodology/) ## Recommended blocked-account & insurance bundles — by case 🇩🇪 Consulate accepted · Sperrkonto + insurance ### BASTI Blocked Account from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Smart bundles Care Visa Protect (Schengen window) + DAK garantie (statutory student insurance after M10) at no extra cost · Sutor Bank holds the €11,904 deposit For visas, university studies, language school, Studienkolleg, vocational training & the German Opportunity Card - Accepted by German authorities; usable for visa documents - Blocked account + bank account + German IBAN in one application - Debit card included – practical after arrival in Germany - Low fees: €4.90/month + €65 one-time fee - Online registration possible from abroad - Monthly blocked amount adjustable based on embassy requirements - 3 packages available: Basic, Smart & Premium - Smart/Premium: incoming health insurance included - Smart/Premium: accident & liability insurance included - Suitable for students, language students, Studienkolleg, vocational training & job search Why BASTI Blocked Account? For anyone who needs an accepted blocked account for a German visa or residence permit — with a bank account, German IBAN and matching insurance options in one application. Why Smart or Premium? More security before entering Germany: health insurance, bank account and blocked account are combined, so you need fewer separate applications and can better prepare important documents. - 🏛️ Powered by VietinBank · BASTI / Care Concept - 📄 Suitable for visas, embassies & immigration authorities - 💳 Blocked account + bank account + German IBAN + debit card - 🏷️ From €4.90 / month · €65 one-time fee · €100 buffer [BASTI Blocked Account – Quick Overview](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) [Apply online now](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/apply/) → Complete the application, open and fund your blocked account, prepare your visa proof ✈️ Schengen window · ≤ 92 days ### Care Visa Protect from only €0.85 / day (1–92 days possible) Meets the EU Visa Code (Reg. 810/2009): €30,000 medical + repatriation. Use as the bridge from arrival until the M10 to DAK garantie. For Schengen visas, tourists, family visits & business travel - Proof of insurance for visas & immigration authorities quickly available (PDF) - Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements - Affordable coverage from €0.85/day (minimum premium applies) - Doctor, hospital, prescription medication & dental emergency coverage - For Germany, Austria, the EU/Schengen Area, Liechtenstein or Switzerland - Ideal for short stays, family visits, tourists & business travelers - Multiple-visa option: several trips up to a total of 92 days/year - Must be purchased before entry - Age-based rates: from €0.85/day up to age 64 · from €2.60/day for ages 65–74 - Coverage term: 1–92 days · entry age 0–74 Why Care Visa Protect? For foreign visitors with a Schengen visa who need fast, affordable proof of insurance for an embassy, visa office or immigration authority — suitable for tourists, family visits and short business trips. Why a 92-day coverage term? Ideal for typical short stays and Schengen trips: enough coverage for a visit, vacation or business trip — without buying long-term insurance. - 🏛️ HanseMerkur Travel Insurance AG, Hamburg - 📄 Instant proof of insurance for visas & immigration authorities (PDF) - 🔒 Doctor, clinic, dental emergency & repatriation coverage - 🏷️ From €0.85 / day · coverage up to 92 days [Care Visa Protect – Quick Overview](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/plan-details/) [Apply online now](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/apply/) → Complete the application, receive your instant PDF, submit your proof ## BASTI — fees, premiums and what's included (Basic / Smart / Premium) **Quick answer:** BASTI has three tiers. The blocked-account fee is identical across all three (€4.90/month + €65 one-time). The Smart and Premium tiers add Care Visa Protect (Schengen visa-window cover) and DAK garantie (statutory student insurance after M10 enrolment) inside the bundle — a typical saving of about €153 on the Incoming insurance line vs. buying it separately. Fees & premiums BASTI Basic Bestseller BASTI Smart BASTI Premium Monthly fee €4.90 €4.90 €4.90 One-time processing fee €65.00 €65.00 €65.00 Buffer amount €100.00 €100.00 €100.00 Incoming health insurance FREE FREE Statutory health insurance (DAK) €145.52 €135.52 €145.52 Accident & liability insurance €7.50 €7.50 Required blocked amount: €11,904 = 12 × €992 monthly blocked amount, plus a €100 buffer (BAföG rate, as of 2026) — this is a deposit, not a fee. One-time processing fee €65 (€50 account opening + €5 balance confirmation + €10 account management). Smart saves about €153 on incoming insurance. As of 2026. [BASTI — Overview](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) [Apply now](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) ### BASTI bundles Care Visa Protect — premium by trip length Care Visa Protect Daily premium Multiple Visa (annual contract) up to age 64 €0.85/day €110/year 65 – 74 years €2.60/day €215/year Prices per person. Minimum premium €8.50 per trip. Maximum benefit €50,000 (well above the Schengen minimum of €30,000). Deductible €0. Must be purchased before travel. As of 2026. [Care Visa Protect — Overview](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) [Apply now](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) ## Which Germany visa needs a Sperrkonto? **Quick answer:** The blocked account is required when the visa is a long-stay national D-visa and the applicant cannot show another accepted proof of finances. Schengen C-visas (≤ 90 days) do not need a Sperrkonto; some short and family-visit routes use a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) instead. Visa route Recommended bundle From German full-degree student visa (D-visa) [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) + [DAK garantie](/en/insurance-plans/dak-gesundheit/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Language-course visa (D-visa, > 90 days) [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care College](/en/insurance-plans/care-college/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Studienkolleg foundation-year visa [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card (job-seeker D-visa) [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Au-pair D-visa (Germany) Care Au-Pair (Sperrkonto usually not required) from €21/month Family-visit Schengen C-visa (≤ 90 days) [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) or Verpflichtungserklärung (host) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) Skilled-worker D-visa with confirmed German employer [Care Visa Protect (entry bridge)](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) Tourist Schengen C-visa [Care Visa Protect — no Sperrkonto required](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) German full-degree student visa (D-visa) → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) + [DAK garantie](/en/insurance-plans/dak-gesundheit/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Language-course visa (D-visa, > 90 days) → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care College](/en/insurance-plans/care-college/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Studienkolleg foundation-year visa → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card (job-seeker D-visa) → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) + [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) Au-pair D-visa (Germany) → Care Au-Pair (Sperrkonto usually not required) from €21/month Family-visit Schengen C-visa (≤ 90 days) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) or Verpflichtungserklärung (host) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) Skilled-worker D-visa with confirmed German employer → [Care Visa Protect (entry bridge)](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) Tourist Schengen C-visa → [Care Visa Protect — no Sperrkonto required](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) Not sure which fits? [Try the 30-second tariff finder](/en/tariffinder-germany/). ## Germany visa & blocked-account requirement by country of citizenship **Quick answer:** The Sperrkonto requirement is the same for every nationality applying for the German student or Chancenkarte D-visa. What differs is the German consulate processing time, the documentation depth and whether visa-free Schengen entry is available. The grid below covers the ten passports we see most often in BASTI applications. 🇮🇳 India **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required for tourism **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto €11,904 for student / Chancenkarte → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) → [DAK garantie](/en/insurance-plans/dak-gesundheit/overview/) 🇵🇰 Pakistan **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto; long German consulate lead times → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇧🇩 Bangladesh **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto for full-degree student visa → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇮🇷 Iran **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto; sanctions affect transfer routing → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇪🇬 Egypt **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto for student / Chancenkarte → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇳🇬 Nigeria **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto; proof of funding scrutinised → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇹🇷 Turkey **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto for student / Chancenkarte → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇨🇳 China **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto; APS certificate also required → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇻🇳 Vietnam **Short stay:** Schengen C-visa required **Long stay:** D-visa + Sperrkonto; APS certificate also required → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) 🇺🇸 United States **Short stay:** Visa-free ≤ 90/180 days (Schengen) **Long stay:** D-visa or Chancenkarte for stays > 90 days + Sperrkonto → [BASTI Sperrkonto](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/) → [Care Visa Protect](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/) Visa rules change — always confirm at the responsible German consulate (embassy of Germany) before booking. See the [Auswärtiges Amt — German missions worldwide](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/auslandsvertretungen) for the official German consulate list and per-country specifics. ## First 30 days in Germany — post-arrival checklist **Quick answer:** After the German consulate issues the D-visa and the applicant lands in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf or beyond, the first 30 days follow the same six steps — Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, a German Girokonto, Sperrfreigabe, the M10 notification, the switch from Care Visa Protect to DAK garantie, and the residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde. 1. Step 1 — Anmeldung within 14 days Register the German address at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in. The Anmeldebestätigung is the prerequisite for Sperrfreigabe, the Girokonto, university enrolment and the residence permit. 2. Step 2 — Open a German Girokonto Open a normal German current account (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, ING, DKB, N26). The IBAN receives the €992 monthly Sperrkonto payout and pays rent, transport and the DAK garantie premium. 3. Step 3 — Request Sperrfreigabe Send the Anmeldebestätigung and the new German IBAN to your Sperrkonto provider. The provider releases the €992 monthly payout schedule, usually within 1–3 working days. 4. Step 4 — Enrol at the university (M10-Meldung) At enrolment the registrar requires the electronic M10 insurance notification. Care Visa Protect does not generate an M10; students switch to **DAK garantie** (statutory student insurance, ~€135.52/month inside BASTI Smart) which sends the M10 automatically. 5. Step 5 — Switch from Care Visa Protect to DAK garantie End the Care Visa Protect contract once DAK garantie has confirmed cover. BASTI Smart and Premium include the discounted rate for the first months. 6. Step 6 — File the Aufenthaltstitel at the Ausländerbehörde Bring the Anmeldebestätigung, passport, Sperrkonto certificate, DAK garantie M10 confirmation and enrolment certificate. The Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium is then issued for the academic year. Indicative timing — most students complete steps 1–3 in the first week and steps 4–6 over the first month. The Ausländerbehörde retains the binding decision on every residence-permit file. ## Case study — Mumbai → Munich student visa in 21 days with BASTI **Persona:** Aarav, 22, accepted to a Master's at TU München. Mumbai consulate appointment booked 5 weeks out. Conditional admission letter on file; no German bank relationship yet. **Decision:** Aarav opened BASTI fully online from Mumbai. The €11,904 was wired from his ICICI account on day 2; Sutor Bank confirmed receipt on day 6; the bilingual Sperrkontobestätigung PDF arrived on day 7. Care Visa Protect (Schengen window) and the DAK garantie pre-registration came inside the same BASTI Smart bundle — one online application instead of three separate contracts. **Outcome:** Mumbai consulate accepted the file at the first appointment; the D-visa was issued in standard processing. Aarav landed in Munich on day 21 after the BASTI application, did the Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt München in week 1, requested Sperrfreigabe the same week, and switched from Care Visa Protect to DAK garantie at TU München enrolment with the M10 notification. Estimated time saved vs. opening the Sperrkonto and the insurance separately: ~10 working days of paperwork. ## Related guides — visa, insurance and arrival in Germany ### Related insurance hubs (Germany) - → [Visa health insurance Germany (Schengen + national D)](/en/health-insurance-visa-foreigners-germany/) - → [Health insurance for foreign students in Germany](/en/health-insurance-foreign-students-germany/) - → [Expat health insurance Germany](/en/expat-health-insurance-germany/) - → [Health insurance for foreigners in Austria](/en/health-insurance-foreigners-austria/) ### Deep guides on the blocked account - → [Blocked account for student visa — monthly logic (€992 / month) and health insurance proof](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/blocked-account-student-visa-monthly-rate-logic-and-health-insurance-proof-germany/) - → [Blocked-account documents checklist — providers, mistakes and what delays the file](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/blocked-account-documents-checklist-providers-mistakes-the-delay-germany/) - → [Sperrkonto at residence-permit extension — when is it required again?](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/blocked-account-at-extension-residence-permit-when-is-it-again-required-germany/) - → [Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card — Sperrkonto and health-insurance proofs](/en/blocked-account-visa-germany/opportunity-card-residence-without-study-blocked-account-health-insurance-proofs-germany/) ### German reference page (hreflang sibling) - → [Sperrkonto für das Deutschland-Visum](/sperrkonto-visum-deutschland/) — DE-language hub with the same BASTI recommendation matrix ## Glossary — blocked account, German visa and insurance terms **Quick answer:** The terms below appear in nearly every German consulate file and Ausländerbehörde appointment for foreigners. Mastering them shortens the paperwork from days to one afternoon. The German blocked-account market is supervised by BaFin. **BASTI**(Care Concept × Sutor Bank) is the bundled online route placed on this page; several other BaFin-regulated routes also issue Sperrkonto certificates accepted by German consulates. Acceptance does not depend on the BaFin-regulated provider chosen — the documents below appear in every consulate file. Sperrkonto (blocked account) A German bank account that holds a fixed amount of money the visa applicant cannot withdraw before arriving in Germany. The Sperrkonto serves as the proof of finances (Finanzierungsnachweis) every German consulate and the Ausländerbehörde require for the student visa, language-course visa and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. Each month the bank releases a maximum monthly payout to the holder. § 13a AufenthV (Aufenthaltsverordnung) The German residence-ordinance section that sets the minimum proof-of-finances amount for student-related residence titles. The amount is benchmarked to the BAföG rate (currently €992 per month, i.e. €11,904 for a 12-month stay) and is reviewed annually. BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) The blocked-account bundle offered by Care Concept AG together with Sutor Bank (the licensed German bank that holds the deposit). BASTI charges €4.90/month plus a one-time €65 setup fee. The Smart and Premium tiers add Care Visa Protect (Schengen-window cover) and the DAK garantie tariff (statutory German student insurance after enrolment) inside the bundle. Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) A formal declaration of liability signed by a host in Germany at the local Ausländerbehörde. It can replace the Sperrkonto as proof of finances in some short-stay and family-visit cases — but is not usually accepted for the full multi-year student visa. Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card Germany's points-based job-seeker visa launched in 2024 for skilled workers from outside the EU. It allows up to 12 months in Germany to look for qualified work and requires proof of finances — typically a Sperrkonto with the current 12-month BAföG amount, or a Verpflichtungserklärung in selected cases. Bürgeramt / Anmeldung Germany's address-registration office. Newcomers register within 14 days of moving in (Anmeldung). The Anmeldebestätigung is required to activate the Sperrkonto, to open a regular Girokonto, to enrol at the university and to file the Aufenthaltstitel. Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) The German residence title issued by the Ausländerbehörde after entry — typically the Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium for students or the Chancenkarte residence permit for job seekers. The Sperrkonto certificate and proof of health insurance are re-checked at issue and at every renewal. M10-Meldung The electronic insurance notification (DTA M10) that every German statutory or private health insurer sends to the university registrar. Without an M10 message the student cannot be formally enrolled — even after the visa is granted and the Sperrkonto is activated. Sperrfreigabe (release of the blocked amount) The administrative step at the German bank that converts the blocked balance into the monthly payout schedule (€992/month at the current BAföG rate). Sperrfreigabe is requested after entry into Germany, address registration and opening a regular Girokonto. Auszahlungsbeleg (payout statement) The monthly bank statement from the Sperrkonto bank documenting the €992 (or higher, depending on year) payout. Some Ausländerbehörden ask for the most recent Auszahlungsbeleg during residence-permit renewal as evidence that the funds are flowing as planned. Proof of finances (Finanzierungsnachweis) The umbrella term German consulates use for the document proving the applicant can pay for their stay. The Sperrkonto certificate is the standard proof-of-funding format; scholarship awards, Verpflichtungserklärungen and qualifying parental income statements can be accepted in narrower cases. DAK garantie (DAK-Gesundheit) The German statutory health-insurance contribution variant used by students under 30. After enrolment at a German university, students switch from Care Visa Protect (the visa-window bridge) to DAK garantie via the M10 notification. BASTI Smart and Premium include the first months of DAK garantie at no extra cost. Care Visa Protect (Schengen cover) Care Concept's Schengen-compliant insurance for the visa window before German enrolment opens. Meets the EU Visa Code (Reg. 810/2009) minimum: €30,000 medical cover plus repatriation, valid in all Schengen states, from €0.85/day with a minimum premium of €8.50. Bundled free with BASTI Smart and Premium. Studienkolleg Foundation-year programme in Germany for international applicants whose secondary-school certificate is not directly recognised. Studienkolleg students need the same Sperrkonto and health-insurance proofs as full-degree students; Care Visa Protect bridges the visa window and Care College covers the Kolleg phase, but Care College is NOT an M10 statutory cover for university enrollment — the M10 notification comes from DAK-Gesundheit (under 30) or Care Student (over 30 / exempt) once you matriculate. Schengen C-visa vs. national D-visa (Germany) A Schengen C-visa covers short stays up to 90 days in any 180-day window — no Sperrkonto required. A national D-visa is the long-stay visa for stays beyond 90 days; the student, language-course and Chancenkarte routes all use a national D-visa and require the Sperrkonto. Sutor Bank (V-Bank AG) The licensed German bank that holds the BASTI Sperrkonto deposit. Sutor Bank is BaFin-supervised (German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and is the bank counterparty on the Sperrkonto certificate the embassy receives. Embassy of Germany / German consulate The diplomatic missions abroad that accept the visa file and the Sperrkonto certificate. The Auswärtiges Amt maintains the official list of consulates worldwide. The Sperrkonto certificate is typically uploaded with the visa application or presented at the appointment as a printed PDF. Sparkasse Sperrkonto A blocked-account variant some German Sparkasse branches offer for student-visa applicants. The workflow at a local bank branch typically requires an in-person appointment in Germany or a notarised application from abroad. Health-insurance proof is handled in a separate contract. Deutsche Bank blocked account Deutsche Bank also issues Sperrkonto certificates accepted by German consulates. Applicants who choose a bank-branch route normally arrange their visa-window health insurance and post-enrolment statutory insurance under separate contracts. Other BaFin-regulated providers (informational mention) Several BaFin-regulated blocked-account providers operate in Germany alongside BASTI. Each runs its own applicant portal for tracking the deposit and downloading the Sperrkontobestätigung. Acceptance at German consulates does not depend on the BaFin-regulated provider chosen; verify the current fees on each provider's own website. Ausbildung (vocational training visa) Germany's dual-system vocational training. Trainees from outside the EU apply for the Ausbildung visa, which the German consulate verifies the same way as the student visa: a Sperrkonto with the §13a AufenthV proof of finances (€11,904 for 12 months) — unless the training company pays a salary high enough to substitute as financial proof. Care Visa Protect bridges the Schengen window; statutory student insurance (DAK garantie) covers the training period. Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) — extended Beyond the short-stay use noted above: for the family-reunification visa and selected long-stay cases, a host in Germany can sign a Verpflichtungserklärung at their local Ausländerbehörde committing to cover the applicant's living costs. The host needs to prove sufficient income. For full-time degree and Chancenkarte visas the Sperrkonto is still the route German consulates normally require. eGK (elektronische Gesundheitskarte) The German electronic health card every statutory-insurance holder (and most private-insurance holders) receives. After enrolment + M10 notification, the statutory student insurer (DAK garantie via BASTI Smart/Premium) issues the eGK by post. The card is needed for every doctor visit and pharmacy purchase in Germany. JVEG (Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze) The German statutory annual-income threshold (€77,400 in 2026) above which employees may opt out of GKV and into private (PKV) cover. Mostly relevant after graduation when a former student starts working — irrelevant during the Sperrkonto / student-visa phase, but cited here for context with the DAK garantie student tariff. Familienzusammenführung / family reunification Spouse and minor-child reunification under § 30 ff. AufenthG. For student-visa holders the German consulate typically expects a second §13a AufenthV deposit (€11,904 per accompanying adult) or a Verpflichtungserklärung. Accompanying family members also need their own Schengen-window health-insurance proof — Care Visa Protect — until they can join statutory family cover. SWIFT / IBAN / BIC The international transfer rails the Sperrkonto deposit travels on. SWIFT is the bank-to-bank messaging network used for cross-border wires; the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) of the German Sperrkonto bank is the destination account number; the BIC (Bank Identifier Code) identifies the German bank. Inside the Eurozone, SEPA transfers reach the Sperrkonto in 1–2 working days; SWIFT wires from non-SEPA countries (India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the UAE, the UK after Brexit) typically settle in 2–5 working days. SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) The Eurozone-wide payment area covering 36 countries. SEPA Credit Transfers in EUR reach the Sperrkonto in 1–2 working days at no or low cost. Applicants funding the deposit from inside SEPA (Italy, Spain, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, etc.) typically use SEPA rather than SWIFT to save on FX and wire fees. Geldwäschegesetz (GwG) The German Anti-Money-Laundering Act. The Sperrkonto bank applies GwG checks to the €11,904 deposit: the funds must arrive in the applicant's own name, and large or third-party transfers (e.g. from parents, scholarships, education loans) may trigger a source-of-funds questionnaire. Standard documentation — parent's bank statement, scholarship award letter or loan-approval letter — usually clears the check within a few working days. Freistellungsauftrag A tax-exemption order German residents file with their bank so that capital-gains interest below the annual saver's allowance (€1,000 for singles, €2,000 for couples in 2026) is paid out without 25 % Kapitalertragsteuer withholding. Sperrkonto interest is tiny in practice, but filing a Freistellungsauftrag with the Sperrkonto bank after Anmeldung is the standard housekeeping step. Wise / Revolut / Western Union (informational mention) Common cross-border remittance services international students use to move the deposit from their home-country bank to the German Sperrkonto bank. As long as the sender name matches the applicant on the Sperrkonto application and the funds arrive in EUR via SWIFT or SEPA, the German bank accepts the transfer. Each service publishes its own FX and fee schedule — compare on the service's own website before sending. ## Official sources & further reading Every statute reference, amount and authority procedure on this page is checked against primary German sources at every quarterly editorial review. The links below open the original government and EU pages — useful when the visa officer asks where a requirement comes from. - → [gesetze-im-internet.de — § 13a AufenthV (proof-of-finances amount)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__13a.html) - → [gesetze-im-internet.de — AufenthG (residence act, incl. § 68 Verpflichtungserklärung)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/) - → [Auswärtiges Amt — German missions worldwide (consulate list)](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/auslandsvertretungen) - → [make-it-in-germany.com — Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)](https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/opportunity-card) - → [BAMF — Migration and residence (English portal)](https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/zuwandererdrittstaaten-node.html) - → [BaFin — Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (regulator of the German Sperrkonto banks)](https://www.bafin.de/EN/Homepage/homepage_node.html) - → [EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R0810) Issuer: Care Concept AG, Bonn (Germany) — BaFin-supervised insurance broker, banking partner Sutor Bank. Independent of every other named provider. This page is editorial information and does not replace individual legal or migration advice from a licensed German professional. ## Frequently asked questions about the blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the Germany visa ## Frequently Asked Questions What is the blocked account (Sperrkonto) amount for Germany in 2026 (and 2025)? The current proof-of-finances amount for a 12-month German student or language-course visa is €11,904 (€992 × 12). This figure is anchored to the BAföG monthly rate set under § 13a AufenthV and was the same in 2025. The Auswärtiges Amt and the Ausländerbehörde review the rate annually — applicants should always confirm the current amount on the German consulate page for their country before transferring funds. What is a blocked account in Germany and how does it work? The applicant transfers €11,904 (the 2026 amount) to the account before the visa appointment. A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a German bank account that holds the proof-of-finances deposit the consulate requires. Once in Germany, after address registration (Anmeldung) and opening a regular Girokonto, the bank releases a fixed monthly payout of €992 to the holder. The deposit cannot be withdrawn earlier — that is the 'blocked' part. How do I open a blocked account for Germany — and how long does it take? Most applicants complete steps 1–4 in 5–10 working days. The standard process has six steps: (1) choose a German blocked-account provider regulated by BaFin (BASTI by Care Concept and Sutor Bank, Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle, Deutsche Bank), (2) open the account online with a valid passport and the conditional admission letter, (3) transfer €11,904 from the home-country bank account, (4) receive the Sperrkonto certificate (PDF, in German + English) by email, (5) upload the certificate with the visa application or bring it to the German consulate appointment, (6) after arrival in Germany, request the Sperrfreigabe to activate the €992 monthly payout. BASTI bundles the account with Care Visa Protect (Schengen window cover) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment) so a single application covers both the financial and the health-insurance visa requirements. How much bank balance is required for a Germany student visa? Exactly the §13a AufenthV proof-of-finances amount: €11,904 for a 12-month stay (€992/month × 12). Lower balances are not accepted as the standalone proof for a full-time degree visa. Scholarship awards, a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) signed by a host in Germany, or qualifying parental income statements can substitute in narrower cases — always confirm with the responsible German consulate for the home country. Do I need a blocked account to study in Germany if I already have a Schengen visa? Yes — a Schengen C-visa only covers stays up to 90 days. Every full-time German degree programme, every German language-course visa, every Studienkolleg programme and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card require a national D-visa, and the German consulate verifies a §13a AufenthV proof of finances (a Sperrkonto or an accepted equivalent) before issuing the D-visa. Is BASTI typically accepted by German embassies? BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) costs €4.90/month plus a €65 one-time setup. Yes. BASTI is offered by Care Concept AG together with Sutor Bank — a BaFin-supervised German bank that issues the Sperrkonto certificate. The bilingual (DE/EN) PDF certificate is regularly accepted by German consulates worldwide for the student visa, the language-course visa and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. The binding decision always rests with the responsible visa officer at the German consulate. How do I choose a BaFin-regulated blocked-account provider for the Germany visa? Any blocked account opened at a BaFin-regulated German bank is in principle accepted by German consulates as proof of finances under § 13a AufenthV. Useful criteria when picking a provider are the published monthly account fee, the one-time setup fee, whether the application is fully online, and whether the visa-window health insurance and post-enrolment statutory student insurance are arranged inside the same application or separately. BASTI is the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle: €4.90 monthly account fee, €65 one-time setup, fully online from any country, with Care Visa Protect (Schengen window) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment) included in the Smart and Premium tiers. Always check the current published fees on each provider's own website; final acceptance always rests with the responsible visa officer at the German consulate. Can I withdraw money from the blocked account in Germany — and how much per month? The current maximum payout is €992 per month (the §13a AufenthV BAföG rate). After arrival in Germany, address registration (Anmeldung) and opening a regular Girokonto, the bank releases the funds in monthly tranches. Withdrawing the full balance in one go is not possible — that defeats the proof-of-finances purpose the German consulate verified. Does the blocked account need to be renewed for year 2 in Germany? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). For most full-degree students the visa is issued for one year and renewed at the Ausländerbehörde. At renewal, the Ausländerbehörde re-verifies the proof of finances — that typically means topping up the Sperrkonto for another 12 months (€11,904 at the 2026 rate), showing a Verpflichtungserklärung, or proving a scholarship / part-time-work income that covers the §13a AufenthV amount. Holders of BASTI keep the same account and add the next year's deposit by SEPA transfer. What is the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) — and does it need a blocked account? The visa requires proof of finances — typically the same Sperrkonto with the §13a AufenthV amount (€11,904) or a Verpflichtungserklärung signed by a host in Germany. The Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) is the points-based job-seeker visa launched in 2024 for skilled workers from outside the EU, allowing up to 12 months in Germany to look for qualified work. BASTI works for the Chancenkarte the same way it works for the student visa. What's the difference between a blocked account and a Verpflichtungserklärung? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). A Sperrkonto is the applicant's own money held at a German bank and released monthly. A Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) is a formal declaration of liability signed by a third-party host in Germany at their local Ausländerbehörde — the host commits to cover the applicant's stay. The Verpflichtungserklärung is the standard substitute for short-stay and family-visit visas; for full-time degree, language-course and Chancenkarte visas, the Sperrkonto is the route the German consulate normally requires. Can I keep using my Sperrkonto if I move from one German city to another? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes. The Sperrkonto is an account at a single German bank (Sutor Bank in the case of BASTI) and is not tied to the city of residence. After moving from Munich to Berlin (or Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and beyond), the holder updates the address at the Bürgeramt (Anmeldung), notifies the bank and the Ausländerbehörde at the new place of residence; the monthly payout and the deposit are unaffected. Can I work in Germany on a student visa while my Sperrkonto pays out €992 a month? The Sperrkonto payout of €992 per month and side-job income are separate; the bank does not reduce the monthly tranche when the holder earns wages. Yes — German student visa holders may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year alongside their studies, and student jobs (Werkstudent, HiWi) often do not count against that quota. Earnings above the mini-job threshold trigger statutory student-insurance contributions, which is where DAK garantie (bundled in BASTI Smart/Premium) becomes relevant after university enrolment. How long does the German student visa last, and when does the Sperrkonto need topping up? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). The national D-visa for studies is typically issued for three to six months and is converted to a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) at the local Ausländerbehörde after address registration. The residence permit is normally issued for one or two years and renewed for the duration of the programme. At each renewal the Ausländerbehörde re-verifies proof of finances under § 13a AufenthV — the Sperrkonto is topped up to cover the next 12 months (€11,904 at the 2026 rate) by SEPA transfer to the existing BASTI account. Can I bring my spouse or family to Germany on a student visa, and do they need their own blocked account? In practice this means a second §13a AufenthV deposit (€11,904 per accompanying adult) or a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG). Family reunification (Familiennachzug) for student-visa holders is possible but more restrictive than for skilled workers — the German consulate typically expects proof that the student can cover the additional family member's living costs on top of the €992 monthly Sperrkonto payout. Accompanying family members also need their own health-insurance proof for the visa application — Care Visa Protect bridges the Schengen window before they can join the holder's statutory family cover under GKV. Can I open a Sperrkonto at a German high-street bank branch instead of using an online provider? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes — some German high-street banks offer a Sperrkonto for student-visa applicants. The branch-based workflow typically requires an in-person appointment in Germany or a notarised application from abroad, and visa-window health insurance plus liability/accident cover are arranged under separate contracts. BASTI is the online alternative consolidating the three documents German consulates verify (Sperrkonto certificate, Schengen-window health-insurance certificate, post-enrolment statutory-insurance commitment via DAK garantie) into one online application — useful for applicants who cannot travel to Germany for a bank appointment. All BaFin-regulated routes are accepted; final acceptance always rests with the responsible visa officer at the German consulate. How do I transfer the €11,904 to a German blocked account from India, Pakistan, Dubai or Nigeria? The certificate is issued only after the funds clear, usually 1–5 working days after the wire is sent. The deposit is sent by international SEPA / SWIFT wire from the home-country bank account to the German Sperrkonto IBAN issued by Sutor Bank (BASTI) or the equivalent issuing bank. Transfers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE (Dubai), Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Vietnam and China are routine; the sender simply books a SWIFT in EUR with the applicant's name as the reference. Compliance checks (LRS / RBI for India, State Bank for Pakistan, Central Bank of Nigeria) sit on the sending side, not on the German bank. FX margin and SWIFT charges sit with the sending bank. Which type of blocked-account route makes sense for an international student in Germany? Student KV: €101.54/month (Care Student) or €150.65/month (DAK statutory, 2026). Any BaFin-regulated blocked-account route is recognised as proof of finances by German consulates. BASTI is the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle: a €4.90 monthly account fee, a €65 one-time setup, and the two visa-mandatory insurances (Care Visa Protect for the Schengen window, DAK garantie for post-enrolment statutory cover) included in one online application. Applicants who want a single application covering both the financial proof and the health-insurance requirement typically choose BASTI; those who already hold a separate German health-insurance contract can take any other BaFin-regulated route for the Sperrkonto only. Always verify the current monthly and setup fees on each provider's own website before applying. How does a blocked account work in Germany — in plain English? A German Sperrkonto holds the proof-of-finances deposit (€11,904 for 12 months under §13a AufenthV) at a BaFin-supervised German bank. While the visa application is in process the money cannot be withdrawn. After arrival, address registration (Anmeldung) and the opening of a regular Girokonto, the holder requests Sperrfreigabe — the bank then releases a fixed €992 per month to the holder's Girokonto. The deposit itself remains at the German bank as ongoing proof that the residence remains financed. Is a blocked account necessary in Germany — are there alternatives? Alternatives the consulate may accept in narrower cases are a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) signed by a host in Germany, an awarded scholarship, or qualifying parental income statements. For a full-time German degree visa, a German language-course visa (over 90 days), Studienkolleg and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card, the German consulate verifies a §13a AufenthV proof of finances — and the Sperrkonto is the route that works for every consulate worldwide. For short Schengen C-visas (≤90 days) no Sperrkonto is required. How much money should be in a blocked account for Germany in 2026? Exactly the §13a AufenthV proof-of-finances figure: €11,904 for a 12-month stay (€992 monthly BAföG rate × 12). The figure has been stable from 2024 H2 through 2026. Always reconfirm on the home-country German-consulate page before transferring the deposit, because the rate is reviewed annually. How do I unblock my German blocked account after arrival? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). There is no real 'unblock' — the deposit stays at the German bank as ongoing proof of finances. What does get activated is the monthly payout (Sperrfreigabe). After arrival you (1) register your German address at the Bürgeramt (Anmeldung), (2) open a regular Girokonto with any German bank, (3) send the Anmeldebestätigung and the new German IBAN to the Sperrkonto provider, (4) the provider releases €992 to your Girokonto every month, usually starting within 1–3 working days. Is a blocked account required for an Ausbildung (vocational training) visa in Germany? Usually yes — the German consulate verifies the same §13a AufenthV proof of finances (€11,904 for 12 months) for the Ausbildung visa as for the student visa. The standard exception is a paid Ausbildung where the training company's monthly salary clearly exceeds the BAföG threshold and is documented in the training contract; in that case the consulate may accept the salary as proof of finances instead of the Sperrkonto. Health-insurance proof works the same way: Care Visa Protect bridges the Schengen window, then statutory student insurance (DAK garantie) covers the training period. Can I get a loan to fund my German blocked account? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes — many international students fund the €11,904 deposit with an education loan from a home-country bank (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, SBI in India; ABL, Bank Alfalah in Pakistan; Access, GTBank in Nigeria). The German bank does not check the source as long as the funds are sent by SWIFT in the applicant's own name and clear AML rules in the sending country. The Sperrkonto certificate (Sperrkontobestätigung) is then issued once the deposit has cleared. How do I transfer money to a German blocked account — SWIFT, Wise or Remitly? Allow 1–5 working days for the funds to clear. The standard route is a SWIFT wire in EUR from the home-country bank to the IBAN issued by the German Sperrkonto bank (Sutor Bank in the case of BASTI). Regulated alternatives — Wise (TransferWise), Remitly, Western Union Business Solutions — also reach Sutor Bank when the holder's name on the sending side matches the Sperrkonto application. The bilingual (DE/EN) Sperrkontobestätigung is emailed once the deposit settles. Sperrkonto vs Verpflichtungserklärung — which path fits your visa? Sperrkonto is the applicant's own money held at a German bank under §13a AufenthV — the default for full-degree, language-course, Studienkolleg and Chancenkarte D-visas. A Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) is a host's declaration of liability and is the default for family-visit Schengen C-visas, often accepted for short courses and selected family-reunification cases, and rarely accepted as standalone proof for the multi-year student visa. When in doubt, the home-country German consulate page lists which document is accepted for which visa category. What is a Sperrkonto for foreign students — in one sentence? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). A Sperrkonto für ausländische Studenten is a German bank account that holds the §13a AufenthV proof-of-finances deposit (€11,904 for a 12-month German student visa) at a BaFin-regulated German bank, releasing €992 per month to the holder after arrival, address registration and the opening of a regular Girokonto. Bank-branch Sperrkonto or online Sperrkonto — what is the practical difference? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). A bank-branch Sperrkonto typically involves an in-person appointment in Germany or a notarised application from abroad, with visa-window health insurance arranged under a separate contract. BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) is the fully online alternative from any country: €4.90/month plus a one-time €65 setup fee, with Care Visa Protect (Schengen window) and DAK garantie (post-enrolment statutory student insurance) inside the Smart and Premium tiers — consolidating the three documents German consulates verify into one application. How do I send money from Wise, Revolut or my home bank to a German Sperrkonto? Typical settlement: 1–2 working days (SEPA), 2–5 working days (SWIFT). Use either a SWIFT wire (typical from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the UAE, the UK) or a SEPA Credit Transfer (from inside the Eurozone) in EUR to the IBAN printed on the Sperrkonto application. The sender name on the transfer must match the applicant on the Sperrkonto file. Common remittance services include Wise, Revolut, Western Union Business Solutions and the applicant's own home-country bank — compare FX and fees on each provider's own page before sending. The bilingual Sperrkontobestätigung is issued once the deposit clears; BASTI then forwards it for the visa appointment. Which IBAN does the Sperrkontobestätigung show, and why does the embassy check it? German IBANs follow the format DE + 2 check digits + 8-digit Bankleitzahl + 10-digit account number (22 characters total). The Sperrkontobestätigung lists the German IBAN of the bank that holds the blocked deposit (Sutor Bank in the case of BASTI), together with the bank's BIC, the applicant's full name and the blocked amount in EUR. The consulate cross-checks the IBAN against the Bundesbank list of licensed banks and against the BaFin register; this is how the embassy confirms the deposit sits at a real, BaFin-supervised German bank rather than at an unlicensed escrow. Can my parents transfer the €11,904 directly from their bank account to the German Sperrkonto? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes — third-party transfers from parents are routine and accepted by every BaFin-regulated Sperrkonto bank, but the Geldwäschegesetz (GwG, the German anti-money-laundering law) requires a short source-of-funds declaration: a recent parent bank statement, a salary slip or a notarised affidavit, plus the parent–child relationship document (birth certificate or family register). Once that file is on record, the deposit clears within a few working days and the Sperrkontobestätigung is issued in the applicant's name. Does the Sperrkonto certificate need to be apostilled or sworn-translated for the visa file? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). No. The Sperrkontobestätigung issued by BaFin-regulated German banks (including Sutor Bank for BASTI) is bilingual (German / English) by default. German consulates worldwide accept the bilingual PDF directly — no apostille, no sworn translation, no notarisation needed. Applicants typically upload the PDF with the visa application and bring a printed copy to the appointment. How is the Sperrkonto taxed in Germany — does the Finanzamt see it? The €11,904 principal is the applicant's own savings and is not taxable. The Sperrkonto bank may credit a small amount of interest on the blocked balance; that interest counts as capital gains (Kapitalerträge). Up to the annual saver's allowance (€1,000 for singles in 2026) it is exempt — once you have a German address you file a one-page Freistellungsauftrag with the Sperrkonto bank and 25 % Kapitalertragsteuer withholding is waived. In practice the amounts are tiny and most students never owe Finanzamt anything on the Sperrkonto. What happens to the Sperrkonto if I drop out of university or transfer to another German university? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Dropping out does not freeze, refund or close the Sperrkonto by itself: the funds stay in the account and the €992 monthly payout continues until the deposit is exhausted, regardless of enrolment status. What changes is the residence permit — the Ausländerbehörde re-categorises the visa (e.g. to a job-seeker / Chancenkarte route, to a language-course visa, or to a departure window) and may require a fresh proof of finances for the new category. A transfer between German universities is administratively easier: the Sperrkonto continues unchanged and only the Immatrikulationsbescheinigung needs updating at the Ausländerbehörde and at the DAK garantie student insurer. Blocked account Germany from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Dubai or Nigeria — how do I send the money? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Whether you are funding the deposit from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE (Dubai) or Nigeria, the mechanic is the same: a SWIFT wire in EUR is sent to the German Sperrkonto IBAN printed on the application — for BASTI that is the IBAN issued by Sutor Bank with the BIC SSBKDEHHXXX. Applicants in India or Pakistan typically book the wire at the home-country bank counter, or use a regulated remittance service such as Wise or Remitly. A SEPA Credit Transfer in EUR is only available from inside the Eurozone. Transfer fees and the FX margin sit with the sending bank — compare them on each provider's own page before sending. Provider landscape — Fintiba, Expatrio, Coracle, Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse and BASTI by Care Concept × Sutor Bank BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) costs €4.90/month plus a €65 one-time setup. The main BaFin-regulated routes are BASTI (the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle that includes Care Visa Protect and DAK garantie), Fintiba (Fintiba GmbH together with its partner bank, with the customer login at fintiba.com), Expatrio (Expatrio Global Services GmbH, login and contact at expatrio.com — frequently mis-typed as 'expatio' or 'x patrio'), Coracle (a separate online provider with its own login portal) and the bank-branch routes from Deutsche Bank and Sparkasse, both of which can open a Sperrkonto for student-visa applicants. Acceptance at German consulates does not depend on the chosen provider — the practical differences sit in the monthly account fee, whether you can apply fully online from your home country, and whether the visa-window health insurance is bundled into the same application. Blocked account Germany job seeker / Opportunity Card and the German work visa — does the same Sperrkonto apply? Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Yes. The job-seeker visa for Germany and the points-based Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) require the same § 13a AufenthV proof of finances of €11,904 for the 12-month job-search window — the deposit and the certificate are identical to the student-visa case. A German work visa issued after a signed employment contract no longer needs a Sperrkonto, because the salary itself satisfies § 13a AufenthV; the residence-permit step at the Ausländerbehörde will still re-check proof of finances and a valid health-insurance certificate. For wider planning around moving to Germany, the federal portal make-it-in-germany.com is the canonical English-language reference alongside the Auswärtiges Amt consulate pages. Tax on Sperrkonto interest — Freistellungsauftrag, Finanzamt and Kapitalertragsteuer Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Interest credited on a Sperrkonto is taxed in Germany under ordinary capital-gains rules. A Freistellungsauftrag filed with the issuing bank exempts capital gains up to the saver's allowance (€1,000 for singles, €2,000 for couples in 2026); above that, the bank withholds 25 percent Kapitalertragsteuer and reports it to the Finanzamt of your registered city. In practice the interest credited on the €11,904 deposit is tiny, so the Finanzamt impact is negligible — filing the Freistellungsauftrag is a five-minute housekeeping step in the bank portal after Anmeldung. Sperrkonto Verlängerung, 11904 Euro blocked account and the year-2 top-up — blocked account Germany renewal year 2 The figure has been €11,904 since 2024 H2 (the same amount in 2025 and 2026). Topping up the Sperrkonto in year two and the so-called €11,904 question are the same operation in practice: at residence-permit renewal the Ausländerbehörde re-verifies the § 13a AufenthV amount, and the holder transfers another €11,904 by SEPA to the existing Sperrkonto IBAN. So yes, most full-degree students do need a blocked account for the second year in Germany — unless a scholarship, a Verpflichtungserklärung or documented part-time-work income already covers the § 13a AufenthV amount. Renewing the Sperrkonto every year is the standard cycle that underlies the multi-year residence permit. What happens to the blocked account if the visa is rejected — blocked account refund Germany Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). If the German consulate rejects the visa, the refund process is straightforward: the applicant emails the consulate's negative decision (or a written withdrawal) to the Sperrkonto provider, the provider closes the account and sends the deposit back to the original sending account — usually within 5–15 working days, minus the monthly account fees accrued and any SWIFT return charges from Sutor Bank or the issuing German bank. Block account Germany, blocked bank account Germany, how to open / get / make / unblock — variant phrasings The 2026 rate applies from January 1, 2026; check § 13a AufenthV / § 5 SGB V for the current thresholds. A few quick definitions, because applicants ask the same question in different ways. A 'block account' or 'blocked bank account' in Germany is simply the casual English name for a Sperrkonto. Opening, creating or 'making' a blocked account for the German student visa all refer to the same six-step online application described further up. Withdrawing money from the account is limited to €992 per month once Sperrfreigabe has been activated after arrival; there is no way to take the full deposit out in one go. 'Unblocking' the account in everyday language means triggering that Sperrfreigabe step. Funding the deposit with an education loan from a home-country bank is routine and accepted. The required amount for a 12-month visa is €11,904 in every case, and a blocked account (or an accepted equivalent) is mandatory for the full-degree, Studienkolleg, language-course, Chancenkarte and Ausbildung visas. Studienkolleg Visum, language course visa Germany and Ausbildung visa Germany — Sperrkonto checklist by category The Verpflichtungserklärung under § 68 AufenthG is the formal name of the host-liability declaration; the monthly bank statement showing the €992 payout is the Auszahlungsbeleg of the Sperrkonto. The Studienkolleg visa, the German language-course visa, the Ausbildung (vocational training) visa and the full degree route share the same Sperrkonto rule. The visa file consists of three documents: (a) the Sperrkonto certificate as proof of finances — the German consulate sometimes calls this the Finanzierungsnachweis; (b) a Schengen-window health-insurance certificate that satisfies the German visa insurance requirement (Care Visa Protect, which also covers the underlying Schengen application); and (c) a post-enrolment statutory commitment via the M10 electronic notification, which DAK garantie delivers. The binding requirements for each visa category are published by the responsible German consulate. German embassy / consulate worldwide — German consulate Germany, USA, Nepal, Nigeria and Schengen photo rules Schengen cover: €30,000 minimum sum insured (EU Reg. 810/2009, Art. 15). Every German embassy and consulate worldwide accepts the bilingual Sperrkonto certificate in the same way — the German mission network in the United States (Washington DC plus the New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Miami, Boston and Atlanta consulates), the German embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, and the German embassy in Nigeria with its consulates in Abuja and Lagos all follow the same workflow. The binding decision always rests with the visa officer at the responsible mission. The Schengen visa photo requirements are uniform across the Schengen Area: 35 × 45 mm, biometric, neutral background, taken within the last six months — and the same photo standard applies to the national D-visa. Working as a student, family on a student visa, IELTS and US-citizen rules Students may work in Germany for up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year, with Werkstudent and HiWi roles usually sitting outside that quota. A few practical questions that come up again and again. The initial D-visa lasts three to six months and is then converted into a one- or two-year Aufenthaltstitel at the Ausländerbehörde, renewed for the duration of the programme. The German student visa is process-driven rather than lottery-based: a complete file with a valid Sperrkonto and health-insurance certificate produces high approval rates. US passport holders need a student visa for stays over 90 days but may enter Germany visa-free and apply for the residence permit from inside the country. Bringing a spouse or family to Germany on a student visa is possible through family reunification, which usually requires a second § 13a AufenthV deposit or a Verpflichtungserklärung. A German student visa without IELTS is realistic where the university accepts TOEFL, the Duolingo English Test, Cambridge certificates or a school-leaving certificate issued in English as language proof. Source of funds, AML and parent / third-party deposits — Geldwäschegesetz Sperrkonto Blocked-account deposit: €11,904 for 12 months (§ 13a AufenthV, €992 × 12). Source-of-funds checks for the German student visa sit inside the German anti-money-laundering law (Geldwäschegesetz, GwG). When parents transfer money to the German blocked account, or when a third party funds the deposit, Sutor Bank — or whichever German bank issues the Sperrkonto — clears the file with a recent parent bank statement, a salary slip, a scholarship award letter or a loan-approval letter, usually within a few working days of the SWIFT arrival. Dropping out of university or transferring between German universities does not freeze the Sperrkonto: a fresh enrolment certificate is sent to the Ausländerbehörde, and the deposit plus the €992 monthly payout continue uninterrupted. A separate note for later in the journey: many international students eventually look for a TK branch office in their German city, and the German-English mash-up word 'Imbursement' is simply Erstattung — reimbursement of medical bills. On the federal side, Make it in Germany (make-it-in-germany.com) is the canonical English-language portal explaining how the proof-of-finances rule fits into the wider immigration framework, while the Fintiba, Expatrio and Coracle dashboards handle ongoing account servicing online. A branch-bank Sperrkonto at Sparkasse follows the same logic, just with an in-person appointment. 4.9/5 458 customer responses · [our own survey](/en/review-methodology/) Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009 ## Ready for the embassy of Germany appointment? Pick the bundle that fits your visa. [BASTI Sperrkonto (Consulate accepted · with Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie) from €4.90/month + €65 one-time (€11,904 deposit) ](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/overview/)[Care Visa Protect (Schengen window · ≤ 92 days) from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) ](/en/insurance-plans/care-visa-protect/overview/)[Apply now — BASTI Bilingual PDF certificate within working days ](/en/insurance-plans/blocked-account/apply/) [🔍 Plan Finder](/en/tariffinder-germany/)[📋 All Plans](/en/product-overview-germany/) 🏛️ Authority-approved 📄 Instant proof 🔒 DAK / HanseMerkur 🏷️ Transparent pricing Part of: [Health insurance for foreigners in Germany](/en/health-insurance-foreigners-germany/) — the umbrella hub for every visa, student, employee and retiree route. Editorial guidance only. Embassy and immigration-office requirements can vary by consulate, city and individual file; final acceptance always rests with the responsible authority. [Imprint (German)](/impressum/)[Privacy (German)](/datenschutz/)[Contact (German)](/kontakt/) Copyright © 2026 Health insurance for foreigners, foreign guests and visitors in Germany and the EU. All rights reserved. All information without guarantee, errors excepted. Note: The content of this site is for general information and orientation purposes only. It does not constitute legal or insurance advice. For binding information, please contact the responsible Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' authority) or a lawyer. Last updated: September 9, 2026.