- Opportunity Card
- Student visa
- Language-course visa
Most visas expect the account to cover a full year; adjust if yours differs.
Blocked-account providers typically charge a one-off setup fee plus a small monthly management fee; enter your provider's fees to see the true cost.
Opportunity Card / job-seeker
Based on €1,091/month × 12 months
How to show it
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is the usual way to prove these funds for your visa application. The money is deposited before your visa and released back to you in monthly instalments after you arrive; it is your money, not a fee. Open the account before your visa appointment.
Alternatives to a blocked account
- Declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) A sponsor already in Germany formally guarantees your living costs at the Ausländerbehörde; can replace a blocked account.
- Scholarship An official scholarship covering the monthly rate can serve as proof of funds.
- Ausbildung training salary For a company-based (paid) Ausbildung, your training salary usually counts as proof: if it covers the monthly rate you often need no blocked account, just the contract and pay scale. Only school-based/unpaid training needs the full amount.
- Part-time job / parental income A confirmed job contract or documented parental income covering the monthly rate may be accepted, at the authority's discretion.
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How this is calculated
Several German visas, including the Opportunity Card, student visas, and language-course visas, require proof that you can support yourself financially. The Federal Foreign Office sets a required monthly amount, which this calculator multiplies by the number of months you need to cover.
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is the usual way to show these funds: you deposit the total before your visa is issued, and it's released to you monthly after you arrive in Germany.
For the alternatives to a blocked account and how the monthly release works, read the blocked account (Sperrkonto) guide.
Assumptions & notes
- The monthly rate is set by the Federal Foreign Office and updated periodically; always confirm the current figure with the competent German mission before relying on it.
- A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is the common way to show these funds.
- VERIFIED 2026-08-23: €992/month student/language/Ausbildung (→ €11,904/yr) and €1,091/month Opportunity Card/job-seeker (→ €13,092/yr). The Auswärtiges Amt confirms the amount is pegged to the BAföG student maximum rate but defers the exact figure to the consular portal (no single government page states the number). €992 is the BAföG-based blocked amount effective Winter Semester 2024, unchanged through 2026; corroborated across Expatrio, mygermanuniversity, study.eu, CBS and how-to-germany. €1,091 (OC/job-seeker) corroborated for 2026. All match this pack.
- Ausbildung (vocational training): the €992/month figure is the subsistence base. A company-based (paid) Ausbildung usually needs NO blocked account: if your training salary covers the monthly rate, the contract/salary suffices. School-based or unpaid training needs the full amount (or a Verpflichtungserklärung / scholarship). Verify your specific case with the German mission.
- Setup and monthly provider fees are entered by you in the calculator; this tool does not store or look up any provider's prices.
Official sources
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures are general in nature and may not reflect your circumstances. Verify against official sources or a qualified adviser before making decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is a blocked account (Sperrkonto)? +
It's a special German bank account used to prove you have enough money to support yourself during your stay. You deposit the required amount before your visa is issued, and it's released to you in monthly instalments once you arrive in Germany.
How much do I need for the Opportunity Card or a student visa? +
The Federal Foreign Office sets a required monthly amount that's reviewed periodically: currently around €1,091/month for the Opportunity Card (job-seeker) route and around €992/month for student and language-course visas. This calculator multiplies that monthly figure by the number of months you need to cover.
Is the required amount fixed, or does it change? +
It changes from time to time as the Federal Foreign Office updates its guidance, so always check the current figure with the German embassy or consulate handling your application before relying on this estimate.
How is the money released to me after I arrive? +
Once you're in Germany and have registered, you can typically withdraw up to one-twelfth of the total (the monthly amount) each month from the blocked account, rather than the full sum at once.
Is this an official funding requirement? +
No. This is a free estimate to help you plan. Only the German authorities can confirm the exact amount and rules for your specific visa. Treat this as guidance, not legal or immigration advice, and verify details with the Auswärtiges Amt or Make-it-in-Germany.