€11,904. One mandatory deposit. Two main providers. Here's exactly how to choose, open, and fund your Sperrkonto from India, and what to do when you land in Germany.
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).
| 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) |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do this within 14 days of moving into accommodation. You receive an Anmeldebestätigung (registration confirmation), you will need this for almost everything else.
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.
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.
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.
| 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 |
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