Germany blocked account: amount, banks and steps

Germany blocked account: what is it for?

A Germany blocked account (Sperrkonto in German) is a way to show the German embassy that you can pay your living costs during your first year of study. You pay a sum set by the authorities in advance into an account held by a provider in Germany, and you can then withdraw only a limited amount each month.

For Tunisian students, this proof appears on the list of documents the German Embassy in Tunis asks for with a study visa application. It is not the only proof accepted, but the embassy page names only one other: a declaration of commitment from a sponsor living in Germany.

How it works, as described by the Federal Foreign Office:

• you choose a bank or provider that offers this kind of account, and opening is usually done online;
• you pay in the required amount, plus the provider's own fees;
• the German mission where you apply for the visa is named as the beneficiary of the block (Sperrbegünstigter), and after you arrive the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) takes over that role;
• the beneficiary has no access to your money; its role is only to make sure the funds stay available month after month.

This guide focuses on the study visa. It also gives pointers for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) and for vocational training (Ausbildung), which use the same tool with different amounts.

Source: Federal Foreign Office - Sperrkonto (German) · checked 23 Oct 2026

How much is the blocked account in 2026 and for the 2027 intake?

The amount is not set by the bank. It depends on the purpose of your stay and is based on the maximum rates of Germany's federal student support (BAföG), according to the Federal Foreign Office.

For a study visa filed in Tunis, the embassy page (article dated 7 October 2025, accessed on 23 October 2026) requires:

• EUR 11,904 for the first year of the stay;
• that is EUR 992 per month.

The German Embassy in Tehran shows the same figures marked "Stand: 2026", and the DAAD states that this rate has applied since January 2025.

For other purposes, the Tunis embassy pages give:

• Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): EUR 1,091 per month, or EUR 13,092 for a card valid for 12 months (French checklist, July 2025 version);
• vocational training (Ausbildung): at least EUR 822 net or EUR 990 gross per month, normally covered by the training allowance; a blocked account or a sponsor's declaration can cover any shortfall, multiplied by 12 (page dated 16 June 2025). If a language course comes before the training, EUR 992 per month is required for that period.

For the 2027 intake, be careful. On 12 August 2026 the German government adopted a draft BAföG reform that would raise the housing allowance from EUR 380 to EUR 440 on 1 April 2027 and the basic need from EUR 475 to EUR 503 in the 2027/28 winter semester. Parliament still has to pass it. Because the blocked account follows these rates, the amount could change for the 2027 intake: the new figure is to be confirmed. Check the Tunis embassy page right before you transfer your money, and do not rely on a figure from a forum or an old page.

Source: German Embassy Tunis - Study visa (Studium) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Blocked account banks and providers: how to choose

Many applicants look for the "recommended" bank. There is no official one. The Federal Foreign Office removed the list of providers it published until mid-2022. It states that it recommends no provider, has no business relationship with them and is not liable if one of them fails. You are free to use any bank or provider that offers the service.

Opporiva does not recommend a provider either and receives nothing from them. To compare offers, ask yourself:

• Is the provider authorised to operate in Germany, and is your money held by a German bank?
• What are the opening, monthly and closing fees? They come on top of the blocked amount.
• Does the opening confirmation show both the total amount paid in and the amount available each month? The Tunis embassy's Opportunity Card checklist rejects a confirmation without these two figures, and the embassy in Tbilisi applies the same rule to students.
• Does the provider accept a transfer from a Tunisian bank, and how long does it take for the funds to be credited?
• How do you get your money back if the visa is refused or your plans change?
• Does customer service answer in French or English?

Read the terms and conditions before you pay. Fees and opening times vary from one provider to another and are to be confirmed directly with each one.

Source: Federal Foreign Office - Opening and closing a blocked account (English) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Opening a German blocked account from Tunisia: step by step

The order of the steps matters, because the money must have arrived and the confirmation must be in your hands before your visa appointment.

• Step 1: get your admission. For a study visa, the Tunis embassy asks for an unconditional admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) from a German university.
• Step 2: check the current amount on the Tunis embassy page on the day you open the account.
• Step 3: choose your provider and apply to open the account, usually online, with the documents the provider asks for.
• Step 4: prepare the transfer from Tunisia. Transfers abroad are governed by the Central Bank of Tunisia's foreign exchange rules. Ask your bank which documents it needs and which ceilings apply: Opporiva could not verify these rules today, so they are to be confirmed with your bank.
• Step 5: transfer the full amount plus the provider's fees, then wait for the opening confirmation.
• Step 6: check that the confirmation shows the total amount paid in and the amount available each month. A simple transfer receipt is not enough.

German missions ask applicants to open the account well before the visa application. Leave a margin of several weeks between the transfer and your TLScontact appointment, because an international transfer and the provider's checks take time.

Source: German Embassy Tunis - Study visa (Studium) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Alternatives to a blocked account: a sponsor in Germany or a scholarship

For a study visa, the Tunis embassy accepts two kinds of proof of funds: the blocked account, or a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung, under sections 66 to 68 of the German Residence Act) signed by a person living in Germany.

What to know about the declaration of commitment, according to the Federal Foreign Office:

• the sponsor normally submits it to the foreigners authority in their town, which checks their financial capacity and certifies their signature;
• the sponsor commits to covering your living costs (food, housing, clothing and other basic needs), including care if you fall ill or need long-term care;
• as a rule, no more than six months should pass between the declaration and the issuing of the visa;
• the original must be presented to the German mission.

This is a heavy financial commitment for the person who signs. Only ask someone who fully understands what it involves.

Scholarships: the DAAD lists a recognised scholarship among the possible proofs of funds, and the embassy in Tbilisi, for example, accepts the award letter of a scholarship from a public body in Germany (DAAD, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, DFG, political foundations and others). The Tunis embassy page does not mention scholarships. If you hold one, ask the embassy whether your award letter is enough and whether a blocked account top-up is required when the scholarship is below the monthly amount.

Source: German Embassy Tunis - Study visa (Studium) · checked 23 Oct 2026

The study visa file in Tunis: where the blocked account fits

Proof of funds is only one document among others. According to the Tunis embassy page, the study visa file includes in particular:

• the completed and signed application form (Videx);
• a passport valid for at least six more months, with a copy of page 2;
• three biometric photos;
• a motivation letter;
• the unconditional admission letter from the German university;
• proof of language skills: DSH or TestDaF for a German-taught programme, IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent for an English-taught programme (exceptions exist);
• the baccalauréat certificate, certified by the Tunisian Ministry of Education and the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and, if you have one, your university degree, certified by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• proof of funds: a blocked account or a declaration of commitment;
• proof of adequate health insurance. Students can only join statutory health insurance after enrolling at a German university, so if you arrive before enrolment you need private cover for the first 90 days after entry.

Applications are submitted in person through TLScontact, with the originals, a readable copy of each document and a German translation. Documents must not be stapled or held with paper clips.

The embassy states that the list is not exhaustive, that it may ask for other documents and that a complete file does not guarantee a visa.

Source: German Embassy Tunis - Study visa (Studium) · checked 23 Oct 2026

After arrival, a refusal or a cancelled plan: releasing the account

Once you are in Germany, you receive the authorised share every month, for example EUR 992 per month for a student under the rate shown in 2026. The account is usually opened for one year, unless your planned stay is shorter. For the rest of your studies, the foreigners authority in your town will tell you what proof of funds it expects when you renew your residence permit: to be confirmed locally.

To close the account, the block must first be lifted, and that is only possible with the agreement of the beneficiary of the block. The Federal Foreign Office sets out these cases:

• national visa refused: the refusal notice is enough to lift the block;
• you never applied: contact the German mission in your country of residence, which can issue a consular certificate for your bank;
• you withdrew your application, did not use your visa, or left the Schengen area before receiving your residence permit: contact the mission where you applied;
• you are already in Germany: contact your foreigners authority.

Closing fees and refund times depend on the provider: check them before you open the account.

Source: Federal Foreign Office - Opening and closing a blocked account (English) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Common mistakes to avoid

A few mistakes come up again and again:

• Paying in an outdated amount. Old pages still show figures that no longer apply. Only the amount shown by the Tunis embassy at the time of your application counts.
• Submitting a transfer receipt instead of the official opening confirmation showing both amounts.
• Forgetting the provider's fees, which come on top of the blocked amount.
• Waiting until the last week: an international transfer can be delayed, and you also need to get a TLScontact appointment.
• Handing your money or your file to an intermediary who promises a visa. Nobody can guarantee a visa.

Opporiva is a free information service. We never apply on your behalf and we do not handle money for you. To fund your studies, also look at the Germany scholarships in the catalogue: depending on what the embassy accepts, a scholarship can reduce or even replace the need for a blocked account.

Source: Opporiva editorial team · checked 23 Oct 2026