Do I need a blocked account for a student permit, even if I already live here?
For a student permit in 2026 you need to show €992 a month, or €11,904 a year. A blocked account is the most common way but not the only one; a scholarship or someone's formal obligation is also accepted. If you study on another permit (family, Blue Card), this proof isn't required.
How much: To get a student residence permit (§ 16b), you must show you can support yourself. In 2026 that's €992 a month, or €11,904 a year. The amount is based on the maximum BAföG rate and hasn't changed since 2024.
Accepted ways:
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto): You deposit a year's amount in advance and can withdraw up to €992 a month. Set-up and monthly fees vary by provider; compare them.
- Formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung): Someone in Germany with sufficient income formally commits to covering your costs.
- Scholarship: At least €992 a month from a recognised organisation. A smaller one can be topped up another way.
- Your family's income: In some cases, proof of your parents' income and assets is accepted too.
If you already live in Germany: If you're switching to a student permit from another permit, such as a job-seeker permit, the LEA asks for the same proof of financial means. How much of what you'll earn from work is counted depends on the case; ask the LEA or an advice centre before applying.
If you study on another permit: If you study on a family reunification permit, an EU Blue Card or a settlement permit, you don't need to switch to a student permit, so no blocked account is required.
When extending: When you extend your permit, you need to show financial means for the next year again.
Where you can get help
- Auswärtiges Amt: Sperrkonto
Official information from the German Federal Foreign Office on proof of financial means and blocked accounts for a student residence permit.
- Deutsches Studierendenwerk: Studierende und Fachkräfteeinwanderung
Summary of recent legal changes on student residence permits, changing the purpose of residence and job-seeking after graduation.
This information is based on community experience and is not legal advice. Rules can change; check important things with the responsible office.
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