Blocked account 2026: the €11,904 rule explained

What proof of financial means is

German residence law says your living costs are secure when you can pay them, including health insurance, without public money. For students, the minimum is tied to the monthly rates of BAföG, the state financial support that German students can receive.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior announces the minimum for each calendar year by 31 August of the year before, in the Federal Gazette. So the number is set again every year, and a figure on an old blog or checklist may already be out of date.

The 2026 amount: €992 a month

For 2026, the minimum for a student visa is €992 a month. In a blocked account that means €11,904 for one year. The Federal Gazette notice published on 29 August 2025 set this figure for 2026, and the German Missions in Pakistan ask for the same amount on their funding page.

A few details to keep in mind:

• The Embassy and the Consulate General can ask for a blocked amount covering up to two years in particular cases.
• If you have to pay tuition fees on top of the semester fee, or you need a Studienkolleg or a preparatory language course that charges fees, you must also show that you can pay those fees.
• The provider's banking fees come on top of the amount you block.

Option 1: the blocked account

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) holds your money so that you can only take out a set amount each month. This makes sure the money meant for a whole year cannot all be withdrawn at the start of your stay. The account is usually opened for one year, unless your planned stay is shorter.

You choose the provider. Banks and similar providers offer blocked accounts with different conditions, and the Federal Foreign Office does not recommend any of them. Compare fees and conditions carefully. The German Missions in Pakistan also ask you to make sure the provider offers a login code for authorities, or a contact, so the mission can verify your account.

The account names a beneficiary: the German mission where you apply, before your visa is granted or used, and the foreigners' authority after you arrive. The beneficiary cannot withdraw your money. If your visa is refused, the refusal notice is enough to lift the block.

Getting your signature attested

Your signature on the account opening documents has to be attested in Pakistan by one of these:

• the German Embassy in Islamabad
• the Consulate General in Karachi
• the Honorary Consul in Lahore

What to bring, and how to book

Bring your passport and a black-and-white copy that includes page 2, the page showing your signature. At the Embassy the fee is €25, paid directly there. The mission gives about 5,400 PKR as a guide, but the rupee amount can change with the exchange rate. Bring the exact amount: if you don't, or there is no change at the counter, you will have to make a new appointment.

This attestation is a separate appointment from your visa appointment, so you have to book both. Book them yourself through the official mission and portal pages. The German Missions in Pakistan warn that agents and consultants can never get you a visa appointment or an earlier one, or improve your chances of success, and that appointments booked through an agent or consultant may be cancelled without warning.

Option 2: a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung)

If someone who lives in Germany, such as a relative or friend, has enough money, they can sign a formal obligation, the Verpflichtungserklärung, under sections 66 to 68 of the Residence Act. Your sponsor makes this declaration in person at a foreigners' office in Germany and must prove their means, for example with payslips and bank statements covering at least six months.

By signing, the sponsor takes responsibility for costs that may arise for you in Germany. Make sure they understand that before they go to the appointment.

Option 3: a scholarship

An official German or foreign scholarship can also serve as proof. For scholarships from Pakistan, the German Missions set one clear rule: only a scholarship awarded by HEC can be accepted, and a scholarship awarded by a Pakistani university is not enough.

Seeking a university place? The amount is higher

Some students apply for a different visa that lets them come to Germany to look for a university place. With it you can stay in Germany for up to nine months and apply for a degree programme there. For this visa the law adds a 10 percent surcharge to the student amount, so in 2026 you need at least €1,091 a month instead of €992.