Blocked Account Documents: 2026 Checklist and Mistakes That Delay Your Application in Germany

BASTI adds a €65 setup fee + €4. Passport, visa application form, university admission letter (or Studienkolleg / language course confirmation), and a residence address (home country address is accepted). 90/month; €11,904 is deposited for the 12-month student visa.

Wrong passport number, incomplete admission letter, or under-deposit (less than €11,904 for 2026). BASTI verifies within 2–5 days; errors reset the clock. File the insurance proof (Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day) in parallel to avoid stacked delays.

2–5 working days from application submission if all documents are correct. €11,904 deposit clears via SWIFT in 1–3 days. Insurance (Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day) is issued instantly and can be filed separately at the embassy.

BASTI (€4.90/month + €65 setup) is the cost leader and recognised by all German embassies. Smart tier bundles Care Visa Protect + DAK Garantietarif (−€120/year); Premium adds DAK Fit&Travel — useful for students who need insurance in the same package.

Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day (€30,000 Schengen cover) for the embassy appointment. From day 1 of Immatrikulation: DAK-Studenten (~€135.52/month, M10 automatic) under 30 or Care Student (€101.54/month, GKV-equivalent) over 30 / GKV-exempt.

Typically: valid passport (min. 6 months validity), completed identity verification (video or postal), and proof of deposit (11,904 EUR). Some providers also require a university admission letter for student visas.

Prepare all documents in advance, use the passport spelling exactly, choose video identification over postal, and ensure your deposit comes from your own bank account. For health insurance, Care Visa Protect (from 0.85 EUR/day) provides instant proof.