# How Much Do You Need in a German Sperrkonto? (2026) > How much has to sit in a German blocked account in 2026 and what each Sperrkonto provider charges: Expatrio, Fintiba, Care Concept, Coracle, Studely, EDUBAO and Kotak compared. By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds A [student blocked account](/moving/student-visa) holds **EUR 11,904** for the year and pays out **EUR 992 a month**, a figure unchanged since September 2024 and valid for 2025 and 2026. The [**Chancenkarte** and job-seeker route](/moving/work-permit-routes) needs **EUR 13,092**, paid out at **EUR 1,091 a month** in 2026. The deposit is your own money; what differs between providers is the fee, which runs from **EUR 108.80** at Care Concept to **EUR 277.80** at Fintiba in the first year. ## How Much Has to Be in the Account? The amount is set by visa route, not by provider. Every provider in this comparison uses the same figures. | Route | Deposit for the year | Released per month | Applies to | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Student visa | EUR 11,904 | EUR 992 | 2025 and 2026, unchanged since September 2024 | | Chancenkarte and job seeker | EUR 13,092 | EUR 1,091 | 2026 | | Language course and qualification recognition | EUR 13,092 | EUR 1,091 | 2026 | Student visa EUR 11,904 for the year, EUR 992 a month. Applies to 2025 and 2026, unchanged since September 2024. Chancenkarte, job seeker, language course, recognition EUR 13,092 for the year, EUR 1,091 a month, in 2026. Figures from the provider catalogue, accessed 20 August 2026. Confirm the current amount with your German mission before you transfer. ## What a Sperrkonto Is, and What It Is Not A **Sperrkonto** is an account you fund once and can then draw on only at a fixed monthly rate. What the mission wants is the **Sperrbescheinigung**, the blocking confirmation the provider issues once the money has arrived. It is not an official product with an official supplier. The Federal Foreign Office abolished its provider list in mid-2022 and endorses nobody, so acceptance rests on the mission recognising the confirmation in practice. That is a real distinction when you are weighing a small regional provider against an established one. ### The deposit EUR 11,904 or EUR 13,092. It is yours throughout and is refunded in full if the visa is refused. ### The fee EUR 0 to EUR 277.80 in the first year depending on the provider. Only Expatrio refunds it if the visa is refused. ### The buffer EUR 100 at Expatrio, Fintiba and Care Concept, EUR 80 at Coracle, EUR 70 at EDUBAO. Refundable, returned with a payout. ### The insurance Premiums in a bundle go to [the insurer](/insurance/health-insurance), not the provider, and are never included in the headline account price. ## Which Provider Should You Use? 9 accounts that are open to new applicants and have a provider page we can point you at. They are ordered by how well the catalogue rates them for students, then by editorial rating. ### Expatrio Blocked Account (Standalone) 4.6Best overall. The highest-volume provider, the only major one that refunds its setup and service fees if the visa is rejected, and one of the few that accepts US citizens. [Visit provider](https://www.expatrio.com/blocked-account)Setup fee119,00 €Monthly fee9,00 €First-year fees227,00 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €Where the money sitsUniCredit (formerly Aion Bank, Belgium; acquired by UniCredit 2024), EU deposit protection up to €100,000 under the Italian guarantee schemeHow long it takesAccount setup ~10-15 min online; blocking confirmation typically within 1-3 business days after funds arrive (SWIFT 3-7 business days; faster via Flywire partner)Who can open oneWorldwide incl. USA (no FATCA exclusion). Minors (under 18) NOT accepted.Health insuranceOptional via Value Package: statutory (GKV) TK/BARMER (~€128-140/month for students under 30, paid to insurer) or private DR-WALTER (~€37/month for language students/Studienkolleg/over-30); free incoming travel insurance (up to 92 days) included in bundlesIf the visa is refusedOn visa rejection: deposit refunded in full AND setup/service fees refunded (money-back guarantee stated on expatrio.com/blocked-account, accessed 2026-08-20). Refund requires embassy rejection notice; ~2-4 weeks processing.Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - Highest-volume, highest-rated provider (Trustpilot 4.5, 10,477 reviews, 2026-08-20) - One-stop Value Package: blocked account + health insurance + free German current account (Girokonto) + ISIC card in one onboarding - Only major provider that refunds setup and service fees on visa rejection Cons - Price raised sharply: standalone **€119** + **€9**/month from 7 July 2026 (was **€89** + **€5**), now **€227**/yr, near Fintiba's **€277.80** - **€100** buffer required on top of deposit and fees (refundable) Best for Students who want the highest-volume provider ### Expatrio Value Package (Blocked Account + Health Insurance + Bank Account) 4.6Best bundle. One application produces the blocking confirmation, the insurance confirmation and a free German Girokonto, so the first EUR 992 payout has somewhere to land. [Visit provider](https://www.expatrio.com/value-package)Setup fee119,00 €Monthly fee9,00 €First-year fees227,00 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €Where the money sitsUniCredit (formerly Aion Bank)How long it takes10-15 min setup; insurance confirmation lands in same dashboard (saves 2-3 days at embassy stage)Who can open oneWorldwide incl. USA; no minorsHealth insuranceYes, core of the product: GKV (TK/BARMER) or private DR-WALTER; includes free incoming/travel insurance up to 92 daysIf the visa is refusedFull refund incl. setup fee on visa rejectionPrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - Single application covers visa documents: blocked confirmation + insurance confirmation + German IBAN - Free Girokonto means first **€992** payout lands without opening another bank account - ISIC student card and free incoming insurance included Cons - Insurance premiums sit on top of the **€227** blocked-account fees - GKV student rates only for under-30s; older students pushed to private DR-WALTER tariffs Best for First-year students who also need insurance and a Girokonto ### Fintiba Blocked Account 4.3Fastest confirmation. Paying by card can produce the blocking confirmation instantly, and it is the only major provider that accepts under-18 applicants through a parent-held account. [Visit provider](https://fintiba.com/blocked-account-germany/)Setup fee159,00 €Monthly fee9,90 €First-year fees277,80 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €Where the money sitsSutor Bank (Hamburg), BaFin-supervised; German statutory deposit protection up to €100,000How long it takesRegistration ~10 min (passport only); confirmation within hours of funds arriving; card payment = instant confirmation; SWIFT 2-7 business days; Fintiba Transfer 2-4 daysWho can open oneWorldwide EXCEPT US citizens/residents (FATCA exclusion). Minors accepted (parent/guardian as account holder; process agreed with Federal Foreign Office).Health insuranceFintiba Plus bundle: GKV BARMER (~€140/month students <30) or DAK; private MAWISTA (~€35/month) for language/Studienkolleg; free travel insurance up to 92 days with GKV optionIf the visa is refusedDeposit fully refunded on visa rejection with embassy rejection notice; setup fee generally NOT refundedPrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - Fastest confirmation path: credit-card payment can yield instant blocking confirmation - Only major provider accepting minors (under-18) via parent-held accounts - Explicit Chancenkarte product with correct **€1,091**/month (2026) logic built in Cons - Most expensive mainstream option after Nov 2025 price rise (**€277.80**/yr vs Expatrio **€227**) - US persons excluded (FATCA) Best for Applicants with a visa appointment days away, and minors ### Fintiba Plus (Blocked Account + Health Insurance bundle) 4.2The same Fintiba account with statutory or private cover attached, and free incoming travel insurance for the first 92 days. [Visit provider](https://fintiba.com/plus/)Setup fee159,00 €Monthly fee9,90 €First-year fees277,80 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €Where the money sitsSutor Bank (Hamburg)How long it takesSame as standalone; insurance confirmation issued alongside blocking confirmationWho can open oneWorldwide except US persons; minors acceptedHealth insuranceYes, GKV (BARMER/DAK) or private MAWISTA; free 92-day travel/incoming cover with GKV optionIf the visa is refusedDeposit refunded on visa rejection; setup fee retainedPrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - One onboarding for blocked account + insurance - Incoming travel insurance free for first 92 days - Minor-compatible bundle Cons - Highest fee base of active majors - Insurance premiums not included in headline price Best for Fintiba users who want insurance in the same onboarding ### Care Concept Sperrkonto / BASTI (Blocked Account & Student Insurance) 4.2Lowest fees. The cheapest active account in the catalogue at EUR 108.80 of fees for the first year, with a free German Girokonto and unusually good insurance economics for students over 30. [Visit provider](https://www.care-concept.de/care_concept_blocked_account.php)Setup fee50,00 €Monthly fee4,90 €First-year fees108,80 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €How long it takesOnline application; ~2-5 business days typicalWho can open oneWorldwideHealth insuranceYes, core strength: incoming insurance, DAK statutory insurance (~€135.52-145.52/month), accident+liability €7.50/month; special private tariffs for students over 30 (saves ~€140/month vs GKV)If the visa is refusedDeposit refunded on visa rejection per standard process; fee terms on sitePrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - Lowest first-year fees of active providers (**€108.80**) - Free Girokonto with German IBAN included - Best over-30 student insurance economics via private tariffs Cons - Blocked account sits with VietinBank (Vietnamese bank's German branch), less familiar to some consular staff; carry the provider's acceptance note - **€100** buffer on top Best for Fee-sensitive applicants and students over 30 ### Studely Blocked Account Germany 3.6A flat fee with no monthly charge, and local offices in Africa and India where cash can be deposited in person when a SWIFT transfer is hard. [Visit provider](https://www.studely.com/en/allemagne)Setup fee152,00 €Monthly fee0,00 €First-year fees152,00 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €How long it takesAccount in ~1 day; confirmation after funds received (transfer 3-7 days)Who can open oneWorldwide; strong presence India, Vietnam, West/North Africa (local offices for cash deposits)Health insuranceHealth insurance offered separately (~€151.42/month); card €50/yrIf the visa is refusedDeposit refunded on visa rejection (fees per terms), verify current termsPrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - No monthly fee on the **€152** flat package - Local offices in Africa/India allow in-person cash deposits, useful where SWIFT transfers are hard - Bundled arrival services (SIM, insurance, housing support) Cons - French IBAN/escrow structure, some consulates scrutinise non-German IBANs more closely (verify acceptance with your mission) - Pricing inconsistent across regional sites (**€152** vs **€70**+**€4.70**/month) Best for Applicants in francophone Africa and India who deposit cash locally ### EDUBAO Blocked Account 3.4The cheapest renewal on the market at EUR 49, which is what decides the total cost of a three-year or four-year degree. [Visit provider](https://www.edubao.org/blocked-account)Setup fee99,00 €Monthly fee6,00 €First-year fees171,00 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €How long it takes1-3 business days after funds arriveWho can open oneWorldwide; strongest in China, Vietnam, MaghrebHealth insuranceNo native bundle; partner offers for students, vocational trainees, preparatory coursesIf the visa is refusedDeposit refunded on visa rejection; fee terms on sitePrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - Cheapest extension fee (**€49**), good for multi-year degrees - Moderate first-year cost (**€171**) between Coracle and Expatrio - Chinese/Vietnamese-language onboarding Cons - Dated website; thin recent review data (no meaningful Trustpilot presence found) - Lemonway escrow, no German deposit insurance Best for Multi-year degrees where the extension fee matters ### Kotak Mahindra German Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) 3.2No account-opening or monthly fee for applicants in India, using familiar domestic banking rails instead of a SWIFT transfer. [Visit provider](https://www.kotak.com/en/digital-banking/insta-services/send-money-abroad/kotak-german-blocked-account-sperrkonto.html)Setup fee0,00 €Monthly fee0,00 €First-year fees0,00 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payoutNot publishedHow long it takesDays (in-branch/KYC in India)Who can open oneIndia residents onlyHealth insuranceNoIf the visa is refusedPer bank terms on visa rejectionPrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - Zero account fees, cheapest nominal route for Indians - Familiar Indian banking rails; no SWIFT complexity - Serves students, spouses and job seekers Cons - No German IBAN, funds typically must be re-transferred to a German bank after arrival before the residence permit is issued - No EU deposit protection (Indian DICGC cover only) Best for Applicants resident in India ### Coracle Blocked Account (incl. Prime bundle) 3.0Was the cheapest mainstream product at EUR 99 flat, and existing holders can still extend, but it has taken no new applications since August 2025. [Visit provider](https://www.coracle.de/en/blocked-account)Setup fee99,00 €Monthly fee0,00 €First-year fees99,00 €Required deposit11.904,00 €More detailsMonthly payout992,00 €How long it takes2-4 business days when activeWho can open oneWorldwide (when active)Health insuranceCoracle Prime bundle (health insurance) reduced setup fee to €59If the visa is refusedFull deposit refund on visa rejection; fee refund per termsPrices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. Pros - Was cheapest major provider: **€99** flat, no monthly fees, **€80** buffer returned with first payout - High historical satisfaction (Trustpilot ~4.9 in early 2025) - Simple app-first experience Cons - NOT AVAILABLE for new applicants since Aug 2025, do not plan a 2026 visa file around Coracle - Trustpilot fell to 3.5 (3,158 reviews, 2026-08-20) amid payout-delay and unresponsive-support complaints during the pause Best for Existing customers extending an account ## Providers We Will Not Link To Two further regional providers appear in our catalogue, but we could locate no primary tariff page for either as of 20 August 2026. Their fees below come from a third-party blocked-account comparison published in July 2025. We are not linking to them, because we have nothing verifiable to link to, and we would rather say so than invent a URL. ### DDKonto Blocked Account €89 setup + €4.90/month (third-party comparison, July 2025, no primary tariff page located). Served: China only. - Little transparency: legal entity, banking model and deposit protection unverified - Chinese-language only support - No primary source located, treat as last-resort regional option ### RemitX Blocked Account €89 setup + €5/month (third-party comparison, July 2025); 1-year programs only. Served: India only. - Only 1-year programs (no multi-year) - Legal entity/deposit protection unverified - No primary tariff page located If you intend to use either of them, ask your German mission whether it accepts their blocking confirmation before you transfer any money. ## Accounts That No Longer Take New Applicants Older guides still recommend these. They are not options for a 2026 visa file. - Deutsche Bank Sperrkonto (LEGACY, discontinued). DISCONTINUED, Deutsche Bank stopped offering blocked accounts for students/visa applicants in July 2022. Existing legacy accounts were serviced to term. Do NOT list as an available option. - ICICI Bank Student Giro Blocked Account (LEGACY, paused). PAUSED, not accepting new blocked-account registrations since ~July 2024. - DropMoney Blocked Account (LEGACY, paused). PAUSED, temporarily no new accounts (per July 2025 comparison; unchanged as of 2026-08-20 checks). ## How Do You Open a Sperrkonto? - **Pick the provider before the visa appointment, not after.** A transfer by SWIFT takes several business days on top of the provider's own processing. - **Register online.** A passport is enough to start at most providers; setup takes 10 to 15 minutes at Expatrio and around 10 minutes at Fintiba. - **Verify your identity by video.** Expatrio and Fintiba both run video identification as part of onboarding. - **Transfer the deposit plus the buffer.**Send EUR 11,904 or EUR 13,092 plus the provider's buffer, in one payment where possible. - **Download the Sperrbescheinigung.** Confirmations are typically issued within one to three business days after the money lands, and instantly at Fintiba if you paid by card. - **Take it to the visa appointment.** After arrival the account pays out monthly, and the Ausländerbehörde may ask to see it again when you collect the Aufenthaltstitel. ## Why Do Proof-of-Funds Files Fail? - **The buffer was forgotten.** Transferring exactly EUR 11,904 to a provider that requires a EUR 100 buffer leaves the account short and the confirmation unissued. - **The wrong amount for the route.** A Chancenkarte applicant funding EUR 11,904 instead of EUR 13,092 has underfunded the account by a full year of the difference. - **Timing.** A SWIFT transfer can take up to seven business days, and the confirmation only comes after the money arrives. - **An eligibility rule nobody mentioned.** Fintiba excludes US persons under FATCA; Expatrio does not accept applicants under 18; Kotak Mahindra serves residents of India only. - **An account the mission does not recognise.** [Non-German IBANs](/finance/open-bank-account) and escrow structures are scrutinised more closely by some missions, which is why Studely flags this itself. ## How We Compared These ### What we scored First-year fees, the extension fee, how fast the blocking confirmation is issued, who is eligible to open one, where the money actually sits, and whether the fee is refunded if the visa is refused. ### Where the figures come from Every fee and deposit on this page is read from our provider catalogue, sourced from the providers' own pages and accessed on 20 August 2026. Where only a third-party comparison exists, we say so on the record rather than presenting it as a provider figure. ### How we get paid Some links earn a commission. The ranking was set before the prices were collected, and no provider pays for placement or sees the ranking before it publishes. Sources: provider pages and the Federal Foreign Office blocked-account page, accessed August 2026. Next review: November 2026. ## Compare two providers Already down to two? Each comparison declares a winner on every criterion that decides the purchase. [Expatrio Sperrkonto vs Fintiba SperrkontoExpatrio costs EUR 50.80 less in first-year fees, EUR 227 against EUR 277.80, accepts US citizens and refunds the setup fee if the visa is refused.](/moving/compare/expatrio-sperrkonto-vs-fintiba-sperrkonto)[Expatrio Sperrkonto vs Care Concept SperrkontoCare Concept costs EUR 118.20 less in first-year fees, EUR 108.80 against EUR 227, from a EUR 50 setup fee and EUR 4.90 a month.](/moving/compare/expatrio-sperrkonto-vs-care-concept-sperrkonto)[EDUBAO Sperrkonto vs Studely SperrkontoStudely charges EUR 19 less across a full year, EUR 152 against EUR 171, because it has no monthly fee at all against EDUBAO's EUR 6.](/moving/compare/edubao-sperrkonto-vs-studely-sperrkonto) ## Related Guides [### Student Visa Where the Sperrkonto sits in the student file.](/moving/student-visa)[### Work and Residence Routes Blue Card, skilled-worker permits and the Chancenkarte.](/moving/work-permit-routes)[### Anmeldung The registration your residence permit waits on.](/moving/address-registration)[### Open a Bank Account Where the monthly payout lands.](/finance/open-bank-account) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How much money do you need in a German blocked account in 2026? EUR 11,904 for a student year, released at EUR 992 a month. That amount applies to 2025 and 2026 and has been unchanged since September 2024. The Chancenkarte and job-seeker route, and the language-course and qualification-recognition visas, require EUR 13,092 a year, released at EUR 1,091 a month in 2026. ### Which Sperrkonto provider is officially approved? None of them, in the strict sense. The Federal Foreign Office abolished its official provider list in mid-2022 and endorses no provider. What matters in practice is that German missions accept the blocking confirmation, which they do for the established providers. Ask your own mission if you plan to use a smaller regional provider. ### What does a Sperrkonto actually cost? Fees only, for the first twelve months: Care Concept EUR 108.80, EDUBAO EUR 171, Studely EUR 152 on its flat package, Expatrio EUR 227 for accounts opened from 7 July 2026, and Fintiba EUR 277.80 for accounts opened from 3 November 2025. Kotak Mahindra charges no account fees but earns on the currency conversion. The deposit itself is separate and stays your money. ### Do you have to budget more than the deposit and the fee? Yes. Most providers require a transfer buffer on top of the deposit: EUR 100 at Expatrio, Fintiba and Care Concept, EUR 80 at Coracle and EUR 70 at EDUBAO. The buffer is refundable and is returned with a payout. Health insurance premiums, where a bundle includes them, are paid to the insurer and sit on top of the account fee. ### Can you open a Sperrkonto if you are American, or under 18? US citizens and residents are excluded by Fintiba under FATCA; Expatrio accepts them. Minors are the mirror image: Expatrio does not accept applicants under 18, while Fintiba does through a parent-held account in a process it agreed with the Federal Foreign Office. ### Is your money protected in a blocked account? It depends on who holds it, and the models differ. Fintiba deposits sit with Sutor Bank in Hamburg under German statutory deposit protection up to EUR 100,000. Expatrio funds sit with UniCredit, formerly Aion Bank, under the Italian guarantee scheme up to EUR 100,000. Coracle, EDUBAO and Studely use escrow or safeguarding with payment institutions rather than a bank deposit-guarantee scheme. --- Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds Last updated: n/a Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.