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Blocked account & proof of funds, explained simply
The blocked account is the part of the process that worries families the most - and the most misunderstood. The key fact: this money is not a payment to anyone. It stays yours, and it is paid back to you, month by month, once you arrive.
What a blocked account is
- A German bank account in your name into which you deposit your first year of living costs
- Currently roughly €11,900 (the amount is adjusted yearly - we always confirm the current figure)
- “Blocked” means: you cannot withdraw it all at once - you receive a fixed amount monthly (~€990)
- It exists to prove to the embassy that your living costs are covered
How to open one from Africa
- Choose an approved provider (e.g. Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle) - fully online, no German address needed
- Open the account, receive the IBAN, transfer the money via bank transfer
- Receive the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung) as PDF - this goes into your visa file
- Allow 1–3 weeks including the international transfer
After you arrive in Germany
- You activate the account and receive ~€990 every month onto your German current account
- The money finances your rent, food and insurance - exactly as planned
- If your visa is refused, the money is returned to you (minus small provider fees)
Alternatives and other countries
- Formal sponsor declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung): a person in Germany guarantees your costs
- Scholarship letter: replaces the blocked account partly or fully
- France, Finland and others require proof of funds too, but usually as bank statements - no blocked account needed
- Never borrow “show money” from an agent - embassies recognise it, and it can mean a ban
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