German Blocked Account Providers Compared: Choosing a Sperrkonto Service

What you are actually choosing

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is one accepted way to show proof of funds for the German student visa: you deposit a set sum that is "blocked" and released to you in monthly instalments after arrival. The required amount is the same regardless of provider — it is set by the German authorities and reviewed yearly.

So what you are comparing between providers is not the amount, but the service: how you open the account, how fast you get the confirmation, what it costs, and how the monthly release works. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify the rules on the official government source.

What differs between providers

Recognised providers offer broadly the same product but differ on the details that matter when you are on a deadline. Opening can be fully online with video identification, or partly paper-based. Setup and monthly fees vary, as do the documents accepted from your country.

Processing speed is often the deciding factor — some confirmations arrive within a few business days, others take longer, which directly affects when you can book your visa appointment.

• Opening process — online video-ID versus in-person or postal verification
• Setup fee and any monthly maintenance charge
• Time to issue the blocked-account confirmation
• Supported home countries and accepted ID documents
• How and when the monthly amount is released after arrival

Confirming a provider is recognised

Only confirmations from providers recognised by the German authorities are accepted at the visa stage. Rather than relying on a ranking or a marketing page, check that the provider you pick is acknowledged on official German sources before you transfer any money.

The German Federal Foreign Office and Make it in Germany describe the blocked-account route and the kind of evidence accepted. The German mission handling your application can confirm what it will accept.

A practical comparison checklist

Because providers change their fees and features, compare a shortlist directly on each provider's own official page rather than a third-party summary. Line up the same criteria for each so you are comparing like for like.

Keep the deposit amount out of the comparison — it is fixed by the authorities, not the provider. Focus on speed, cost and convenience, and confirm acceptance before committing.

• Is the provider recognised for German student-visa proof of funds?
• Total cost over your expected period of study (setup plus monthly fees)
• How quickly is the confirmation issued?
• Can you open it from your country with your ID documents?
• How is the monthly release handled once you arrive?

Where to verify before you pay

Treat the choice of provider as a service decision and the amount as a separate, official figure to confirm at application time. Read the current required sum on the German Federal Foreign Office or Make it in Germany, and read each provider's terms on its own official site.

Because both fees and the required amount can change, verify on the official government source and the provider's official page before transferring any money.