A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is how most students prove financing: you deposit €11,904 (the 2026 amount — €992 × 12 months; always verify the current figure before transferring) and after arrival you can withdraw up to €992/month.

How to do it:

Choose a provider (Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle are the established ones — compare setup fees, monthly fees, and how fast they issue confirmations).
Open the account online with your passport.
Transfer the required amount plus the provider's stated buffer for fees and exchange-rate movement.
Download the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung) — this goes into your visa application.

Timing matters: international transfers can take days and get queried by banks. Do this at least 4–6 weeks before your visa appointment.

Alternatives: a formal sponsor's declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany with sufficient income, or a scholarship letter covering your costs. Some embassies also accept parents' documented income — your embassy's checklist is the authority.

After arrival you'll activate the payout to a normal German bank account — that's a later step.

Red flags:

Being asked to transfer to a personal IBAN. Blocked-account providers are companies with business accounts — anyone giving you a private account number is stealing your deposit.
Sending exactly €11,904. Transfer fees and currency movement can land you €50 short — and a short account means no blocking confirmation and a missed appointment. Send the buffer.
Unknown "providers" advertising cheap blocked accounts on social media — use the established names your embassy's checklist accepts.
Agents offering to "lend" you the blocked amount to show the embassy — that's visa fraud, and you'd also owe a stranger €12,000.

How to do it:

Choose a provider (Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle are the established ones — compare setup fees, monthly fees, and how fast they issue confirmations).
Open the account online with your passport.
Transfer the required amount plus the provider's stated buffer for fees and exchange-rate movement.
Download the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung) — this goes into your visa application.

Timing matters: international transfers can take days and get queried by banks. Do this at least 4–6 weeks before your visa appointment.

After arrival you'll activate the payout to a normal German bank account — that's a later step.

Red flags:

Being asked to transfer to a personal IBAN. Blocked-account providers are companies with business accounts — anyone giving you a private account number is stealing your deposit.
Sending exactly €11,904. Transfer fees and currency movement can land you €50 short — and a short account means no blocking confirmation and a missed appointment. Send the buffer.
Unknown "providers" advertising cheap blocked accounts on social media — use the established names your embassy's checklist accepts.
Agents offering to "lend" you the blocked amount to show the embassy — that's visa fraud, and you'd also owe a stranger €12,000.

Open your blocked account (Sperrkonto)

Open your blocked account (Sperrkonto)