“Do I really have to lock away €11,904 before I can apply for my German visa?”
Yes in almost every case, and it is your own money — the provider releases about €992 to you each month after you arrive. Only a full scholarship, a German sponsor's formal declaration or an accepted bank guarantee replaces it.
What it is
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) holds a fixed sum that you cannot withdraw in one go. The German mission uses it as proof that you can support yourself for twelve months. Once you arrive and register, the provider releases a fixed monthly amount — currently €992.
So it is not a payment to anyone. It is a liquidity test, and that is the part families usually misunderstand: the money comes back to you, but it has to exist, in one place, before the appointment.
How much and with whom
The requirement is set by the Federal Foreign Office and currently stands at €11,904 for twelve months. Several providers are accepted; the mission publishes the list. Opening the account and receiving the confirmation document usually takes two to three weeks, and providers charge a setup and monthly service fee.
Deposit slightly more than the minimum. Exchange-rate movement between your transfer and the mission's check has caused avoidable rejections.
Plan the transfer six to eight weeks before you want the appointment. Two to three weeks for the provider, plus whatever your bank needs for an outward remittance of that size, is the sequence that goes wrong most often.
Alternatives
A full scholarship, a formal German sponsor declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung), or a bank guarantee can replace the blocked account in specific cases. For most Indian students the blocked account remains the practical route.
The exception worth checking is the sponsor declaration: if a close relative is already resident in Germany with sufficient income, they can take on the obligation at the local Ausländerbehörde and you skip the deposit entirely. It depends on their income, not on your admission, so ask them to check before you assume it.
The next decision
Decide how your family will free up the blocked account deposit, and by which month, because the visa appointment cannot be booked until the confirmation document exists.
If that is where you are stuck, read how the deposit sits inside a full German first-year budget, or where the blocked account confirmation fits in the visa appointment sequence.
Questions students ask next
- Can I deposit more than the minimum?
- Yes, and you should add a small buffer. Exchange-rate movement between your transfer and the mission's check has caused avoidable rejections on files that were otherwise complete.
- What happens to the money if my visa is refused?
- Providers return the balance once you close the account, minus their setup and service fees. Keep the refusal letter — most providers ask for it.
Official sources
Figures in this guide are indicative and were checked on 2026-07-28. Fees, visa rules and financial-proof amounts change; confirm the current numbers with the university and the relevant embassy or immigration authority before you act.