Blocked Account for Germany 2026: €11,904 Sperrkonto Explained (Pakistan)

2 min read · Updated 1 October 2026

If you want to study in Germany from Pakistan, there's one number you can't avoid: eleven thousand nine hundred and four euros. That's the money most students must show for a German student visa.

Today: what a blocked account is, how much you need in 2026, what it costs, and the mistakes that delay visas.

First, what is a blocked account?

In German it's called a Sperrkonto. You deposit the money for your first year before your visa appointment. In Germany, you can then take out only a fixed amount each month. It proves that you can pay your living costs while you study.

So how much is it?

Right now, it's nine hundred and ninety two euros per month, or eleven thousand nine hundred and four euros for one year. This amount has applied since September twenty twenty four, and it's still the figure for the winter semester twenty twenty six.

The amount is linked to the German student grant, called BAföG. A planned increase in the housing part has been moved to twenty twenty seven, so the required amount could go up again. Always check the embassy website before you transfer.

Next, the costs.

You open the account online with an approved provider. Expect a setup fee of up to around one hundred and fifty euros, and in many cases a small monthly fee. Compare the total cost, not just the setup fee. Some providers include health insurance packages.

Here's how it works, step by step.

One: open the account online and upload your passport. Two: transfer the full amount from Pakistan. Bank transfers can take several days, so plan ahead. Three: download the confirmation and take it to your visa appointment.

Once you're in Germany, you register your address, open a normal bank account, and the provider pays your monthly amount into it.

Are there alternatives?

Yes. A scholarship can replace the blocked account if it covers your costs. Or someone living in Germany can sign a formal declaration, called a Verpflichtungserklärung, promising to pay for you. They must prove they earn enough.

And you can work while you study: up to one hundred and forty full days, or two hundred and eighty half days, per year. But you can't use future income to replace the blocked account.

Common mistakes: sending too little because of exchange rates or bank fees, transferring too late before the appointment, and using an unapproved provider. Check every detail with the German embassy in Islamabad or the consulate in Karachi.

In short: Plan for eleven thousand nine hundred and four euros, choose an approved provider, transfer early, and bring the confirmation to your appointment.