+++ UPDATE: Find the newest information on the amount for 2022 here! +++
Official statement of the German Federal Foreign Office regarding the blocked amount increase
Many students have been contacting us in recent days about the increase in the blocked amount from 853 Euros to 861 Euros, as per the requirement from some German Foreign Offices abroad as well as across Germany.
After we initially could only provide a recommendation and had no clear response from the German Foreign Office, the increase in the blocking amount has now been officially confirmed. The Federal Ministry of the Interior recently announced the requirement rate for 2021 to secure living costs in accordance with § 2 Abs. 3 S. 7 AufenthG. Therefore, as of November 1, students will have to prove an amount of € 861.00/month or € 10,332.00/year for their visa application. The date of the visa appointment will be the determining factor for the necessity of an increased amount.
Should the blocked amount be increased?
We always recommend clarifying the exact requirements with the responsible authority. However, as we have already experienced many cases in which the foreigner’s authority here in Germany has demanded the higher amount of 861 Euros, we suggest choosing the higher amount to be on the safer side and avoid last-minute stress. The final decision of the required blocked amount is made by the responsible local foreign office. They can base their final decision on the personal situation of a visa applicant. Scholarships, for example, can lead to lower requirements while higher living costs in some cities might lead to additional blocking requirements.
Additionally, there are certain kinds of visa that require a 10%-increase of the standard monthly blocked amount. This applies to visa for the recognition of foreign qualifications, visa for language acquisition and visa for the purpose of applying for a course of study or apprenticeship (§§ 16d, 16f (1), 17 AufethG – German Residence Act). Meaning for language students as well as for job-seekers. If you plan to apply for one of the mentioned visas, please make sure to increase the monthly amount by 10%. In case you are doing a preparatory language course and are already accepted by a German university, this rule does not apply for you.
Fast and easy increase of the blocked amount within the Fintiba account
Easing the journey to Germany has always been our top priority and therefore we have made the process of adjusting the blocked amount as simple as it could be. The amount can easily be changed by the students themselves in the Fintiba account. The amount can be easily changed by the students themselves in their Fintiba account. To do so, they simply go to the “Blocked Account” card in the Fintiba account, where they can change the blocked amount according to their needs by clicking on “Change Blocked Amount”. To do this, a smartphone must be connected to the account. Once the changes have been made, students can transfer the missing difference, so that the blocking confirmation is automatically reissued as soon as the money arrives on the account.
