Key Takeaways
- €11,904 blocked account is mandatory for Germany student visa — equal to €992/month × 12
- Expatrio: faster (3–7 days), cheaper setup (€49), health insurance bundle available
- Fintiba: slower (1–2 weeks), higher setup fee (€99), stronger Deutsche Bank backing
- Fund via SWIFT wire transfer under India's LRS scheme — Wise and payment apps are NOT accepted
- If visa is rejected, full deposit is refunded (setup fee is non-refundable)
- After arriving in Germany: open N26/DKB bank account first, then activate monthly withdrawals
What Is a Blocked Account?
A Sperrkonto (blocked account) is a special German bank account where you deposit €11,904 before applying for your student visa. The account is "blocked" — the bank controls how much you can withdraw each month. Once you arrive in Germany and open a local bank account, the provider releases exactly €992 per month.
Think of it as a regulated piggy bank. The German government requires it as proof that you have enough money to live for your first year without working (though you can work part-time). The €992/month figure matches Germany's official minimum cost-of-living estimate for students.
Why €11,904? Since January 2024, the monthly release amount was updated from €934 to €992 (12 × €992 = €11,904). If you open an account before reading this, double-check the current amount — it is updated annually by the German government in line with the Bundessozialhilfegesetz (social welfare reference amount).
Expatrio vs Fintiba — Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Expatrio | Fintiba |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | €49 one-time Cheaper | €99 one-time |
| Monthly fee (while in Germany) | €4.90/month | €4.90/month |
| Account opening time | 3–7 business days Faster | 7–14 business days |
| Banking partner | Sutor Bank (Hamburg) | Deutsche Bank More recognisable |
| Health insurance bundle | Yes — DFV (Deutsche Familienversicherung) Available | No bundled insurance |
| Customer support (English) | Email + chat; 1–3 day response | Email + phone; often faster Better support |
| Refund on visa rejection | Full refund (30–45 days) | Full refund (30–45 days) |
| Interface language | English (full) | English (full) |
| Certificate validity for visa | Accepted by all German consulates | Accepted by all German consulates |
| Interest on deposit | Minimal (pass-through rate) | Minimal (pass-through rate) |
- Lower setup fee saves €50
- Faster account opening (3–7 days)
- Health insurance bundle available
- Simple, clean interface
- Sutor Bank less well-known
- Support can be slow (email only)
- Deutsche Bank backing — widely trusted
- Phone support available
- Strong compliance reputation
- Higher setup fee (€99)
- Slower processing (7–14 days)
- No health insurance bundle
Step-by-Step: Opening Your Blocked Account
Register on Expatrio.com or Fintiba.com
Use your personal email (not a university email — you may not have this yet). Enter your passport details exactly as they appear. Name spelling must match your passport — this is the document used at your visa appointment.
Complete KYC (Know Your Customer) identity verification
Upload your passport scan and complete a video call or automated ID check. Expatrio uses an automated video-ID process (IDnow) that takes ~10 minutes. Fintiba may require a PostIdent procedure at a Deutsche Bank branch — in India, this is done via their digital partner. Approval typically takes 1–2 business days.
Receive your account IBAN and transfer instructions
After KYC approval, you receive a German IBAN (International Bank Account Number) and SWIFT/BIC code for the incoming wire transfer. You'll also receive a reference number to include in the transfer — this is critical for matching your payment to your account.
Send €11,904 from your Indian bank via SWIFT/LRS wire transfer
Go to your bank branch (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, IDFC, Kotak — all work) and initiate an outward foreign remittance. Select "Education" as the remittance purpose under LRS. Transfer must be from a student account or parent/guardian account. Include your reference number in the transfer remarks. See detailed LRS guide below.
Wait for deposit to credit (3–7 days)
SWIFT transfers from India take 3–7 working days. Track on your bank's app or ask for a UTR number. Once credited, Expatrio/Fintiba sends a confirmation email. The account is now "funded" but still blocked — withdrawal is only possible after you arrive in Germany.
Download your blocking certificate (Sperrkonto-Bescheinigung)
Log into your dashboard and download the official certificate. This is the document you upload to CSP Phase 1 and bring to VFS Phase 2. The certificate shows: your name, IBAN, deposit amount (€11,904), and that the account is a compliant German blocking account. Consulates recognise both Expatrio and Fintiba certificates.
India to Germany Wire Transfer — LRS Guide
The RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) allows Indian residents to remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year for permitted purposes — and education abroad is one of them. Here's exactly how to do it.
Step-by-Step LRS Wire Transfer
- Visit your bank branch with: passport, PAN card, admission letter (or CSP registration confirmation), and Expatrio/Fintiba account details (IBAN + SWIFT/BIC)
- Request an A2 form (outward remittance form) — most banks have moved to digital A2 forms in net banking
- Fill in: beneficiary name (e.g., "Expatrio GmbH" or "Fintiba GmbH"), IBAN, SWIFT code, bank address, amount in EUR, purpose code "S0305" (educational expenses)
- In the "remarks" or "payment details" field, enter your Expatrio/Fintiba reference number exactly — critical for account matching
- Submit with your PAN and passport copy. Bank deducts TCS (Tax Collected at Source) at 5% if amount exceeds ₹7 lakh in a year — claim it back in your ITR
- You receive a SWIFT confirmation slip. Save it — VFS may ask for it as additional financial proof
Wise and similar services route transfers through payment networks, not direct bank-to-bank SWIFT. Expatrio and Fintiba only accept funds from a direct SWIFT wire from an Indian bank. Sending via Wise will result in the payment being rejected or unmatched — your account will not be funded and you will need to resend, wasting 1–2 weeks.
Total Cost Breakdown — What It Actually Costs
Note: The €11,904 principal is fully refundable — either monthly releases in Germany, or lump refund if visa is rejected. The only sunk costs are the setup fee and monthly fees.
Health Insurance Bundles
German law requires all students enrolled at a German university to be covered by statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). You cannot use your Indian travel insurance after enrolment — you must sign up for German statutory health insurance.
Expatrio + DFV Bundle
- Travel insurance for visa application period (free)
- Statutory health insurance from arrival
- All university enrolment requirements met
- No separate enrolment form needed
- One provider for both account + insurance
Choose Your Own Provider
- TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) — most popular with students
- AOK — widest network, easiest to enrol
- Barmer — good for those with chronic conditions
- Apply online or in person after Anmeldung
- All recognised by German universities
Student under 30 or in 14th semester or less: You qualify for the student statutory insurance rate (~€120/month). After this, you must move to the regular employment rate. Most Master's students are well within the 14-semester limit.
After Arriving in Germany — Activate Your Account
Register your address (Anmeldung) at the Einwohnermeldeamt
Do this within 14 days of moving into accommodation. You receive an Anmeldebestätigung (registration confirmation) — you will need this for almost everything else.
Open a German bank account
N26 (fully online, English, no in-person visit needed) is the easiest for new arrivals. DKB offers a free account with a Visa card. Deutsche Bank and Sparkasse require in-person visits but are widely accepted. You need a German IBAN to receive your blocked account monthly releases.
Link your German IBAN on Expatrio/Fintiba
Log into your blocked account dashboard and add your new German bank account IBAN. This is where the monthly €992 releases will be transferred. Without this step, you cannot receive your monthly allowance.
Request your first monthly release
Both Expatrio and Fintiba release €992 on the first business day of each month once you have linked your German account and verified arrival. The first release includes any backpay from your actual arrival date. Set a calendar reminder every month if automatic releases aren't configured.
What If Your Visa Is Rejected?
| Action | Expatrio | Fintiba |
|---|---|---|
| Request account closure | Via dashboard or email | Via email to support |
| Documents required | Visa rejection letter (copy) | Visa rejection letter (copy) |
| Refund timeline | 30–45 business days | 30–45 business days |
| Amount refunded | Full €11,904 deposit | Full €11,904 deposit |
| Setup fee refunded? | No — non-refundable | No — non-refundable |
| Monthly fees charged? | Only months account was active | Only months account was active |
| Can you reuse for next application? | Yes — account stays open | Yes — account stays open |
Need Help Choosing or Opening Your Blocked Account?
Our Germany advisors can walk you through the full process — including bank transfer, LRS forms, and TCS documentation.
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