Blocked account amount 2026: how much you need for Germany

For a German student visa in 2026, the standard blocked account amount is €11,904 for one year, which works out to €992 a month. That figure has applied since the 2024 winter semester and is tied to BAföG, the federal student-aid rate. Some visa types need about 10% more, so check the exact figure with your embassy before you transfer.

How much money do you need for a German student visa?

The blocked account is your proof that you can cover living costs for your first year: €11,904, or €992 for each month. It's the number the embassy checks. It isn't the total cost of your move, because tuition where it applies, the semester contribution and your arrival costs all come on top.

Some visa types need roughly 10% more than the standard figure. If your German mission's website lists a different amount for your case, follow the mission. It decides your application, not a blog post or an agent's checklist from last year.

The rule is the same whether you apply from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal or Sri Lanka: the embassy looks at the euro amount. What differs is how you get the money there, which is covered further down.

Why is the amount €11,904?

The figure follows BAföG, the federal student-aid rate that reflects what a student in Germany is expected to need each month. When BAföG goes up, the blocked account amount follows, and it's updated every one to two years. Today that means €992 a month, and twelve months of €992 gives €11,904.

If you're applying for a 2027 intake, don't assume the number stays the same. Check your embassy's website in the month you transfer the money, in case a new rate has been announced.

What does the blocked account cover, and what doesn't it?

The monthly €992 is meant for everyday living: rent, food, health insurance, transport, your phone and study materials. Depending on the city, rent can take a large share of it, so look at local prices before you choose where to study. Treat €11,904 as the minimum for living, not your full budget.

It doesn't cover these, which you need to budget for separately:

• Tuition fees where they apply, such as €1,500 a semester for non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg, or the fees TUM charges non-EU students who enrolled from winter semester 2024/25.
• The semester contribution, usually €100–€350, paid to your university each semester.
• Arrival costs: flights, a rent deposit, your first weeks before the first payout, and the visa fee (check the current fee on your German mission's website).
• Application costs, such as the APS certificate for applicants from Pakistan, India, China and Vietnam, and uni-assist fees if your university uses it.

For a fuller breakdown, see our guide to the cost of studying in Germany. It's written for applicants from Pakistan, but most of the costs are the same for everyone.

How does the monthly release work?

You pay the full amount in before your visa appointment and get a confirmation to show the embassy. After you arrive, you open a German current account and link it to the blocked account. From then on, €992 is released to you each month. You can't take out more than that in a month, which is the whole point of the account.

When you open the account, the German mission is named as the account beneficiary, and after arrival that role passes to the local immigration office. Neither can take your money, but their agreement is needed to lift the block early.

Plan for a gap at the start. Your first payout depends on how quickly you open the German account and on the provider's own process, and you may need a rent deposit before then. Keep some savings outside the blocked account for those first weeks.

How do you convert €11,904 into your own currency?

Take €11,904, multiply it by the exchange rate your bank will actually give you on the day you send it, and add the transfer charges on both ends. Don't plan with the rate you see on a search engine, because banks usually add their own margin.

Then add a buffer. Exchange rates move between the day you plan and the day you pay, and a transfer that lands short can hold up your confirmation letter. Ask your bank early which documents it needs for an education payment abroad and how long it takes. If family members are paying part of the money, agree who sends what and when, so the full amount arrives before your appointment.

Can anything replace the blocked account?

Sometimes. The Federal Foreign Office lists other ways to prove your finances: documents showing your parents' income and finances, a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone with enough income or assets, or a renewable bank guarantee at a bank in Germany.

A scholarship can count too, for example one from DAAD or another organisation recognised in Germany. DAAD scholarships usually pay a monthly amount plus a travel allowance, often with insurance. Check the current rate in the call for your programme, then ask your embassy whether your award letter covers the full requirement or whether you need to top up the difference in a blocked account.

Next steps

Put the blocked amount, your transfer costs and the extras above into the study abroad cost calculator to see your real first-year cost. The Germany study guide covers the rest of the process. If a scholarship could replace part of your blocked account, our guide to DAAD scholarships is a good place to start.

FAQ

Is the blocked account amount going up in 2027?

It may. The figure is tied to BAföG and reviewed every one to two years, so if you're applying for a 2027 intake, check your embassy's website before you transfer.

Can I withdraw more than €992 a month?

Not from the blocked account. The monthly release is fixed, so keep separate savings for one-off costs like a rent deposit or furniture.

Does the blocked account pay my tuition?

No. It covers living costs only. Tuition fees where they apply, the semester contribution and your flights are separate.

Is €11,904 enough to live on in Germany?

It's the minimum for the visa, based on the student-aid rate. Whether it's enough depends on your city and your rent, so price your city before you commit.

Do I need a blocked account if I have a scholarship?

Possibly not. A scholarship from a recognised organisation such as DAAD can count as proof of funds, but ask your embassy whether it covers the full amount or whether you need to top up the rest.