Open Your Blocked Account in Minutes

If you are applying for a German visa as an international student, job seeker, language course participant or au-pair, you need a Blocked Account to prove financial stability. It’s a key requirement for obtaining your visa and showing you can cover your living expenses in Germany.

Certain underlying banking regulations and/or international anti-money laundering regulations do not allow us to open Blocked Accounts if you fall under the following categories: People with US Tax status; Residents of North Korea (KP); Iranian nationals, except: Iranians who reside outside of Iran, and have a non-Iranian address or Iranians who obtained a visa from the German embassy in Iran with a condition to open a Blocked Account after arrival in Germany with a German address.

A Blocked Account is a special type of bank account required for your visa that proves you have enough funds to support yourself while living in Germany. The money is “blocked” and released in monthly installments once you arrive.

In the unlikely case that your visa application is rejected, don’t worry, you will receive a refund of your blocked amount with the exception of the account opening fees and any transfer fees that might have been charged.

You will only need a valid passport to open your Blocked Account with Fintiba. In some cases, additional documents may be requested depending on your nationality or visa type.

Yes. The Fintiba Blocked Account is completely safe. Your funds are held securely with a licensed German bank, and Fintiba is a trusted, long-standing provider officially recognised by German authorities.

Yes, the Fintiba Blocked Account is fully compliant and is officially accepted and approved by the German Federal Foreign Office. This also means that the Fintiba Blocked Account is accepted by all German embassies and consulates worldwide as well as immigration offices all over Germany.

Yes, a Blocked Account extension is possible. You may easily extend your Fintiba Blocked Account directly in your account. You can transfer the additional blocking sum needed for your visa or residence permit extension to your existing Blocked Account. Please note that expired or terminated accounts cannot be extended. In this case, you would need to initiate an account reopening process.

No, the Blocked Account is not mandatory for all visa types but it is the most accepted method to demonstrate proof of funds for visa types such as the student visa or Opportunity Card. In some cases, alternative proof of funds such as a Declaration of Commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung), scholarship, or confirmed income from a job are accepted.

In 2025, the official required amount is €11,904, which equals €992 per month. If you are applying for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), however, the minimum amount you need is €1,091 per month (€13,092). This amount is set by German authorities and is adjusted on a regular basis to reflect the estimated living costs for one year.

The initial fee for the blocked account is {{price:initial_fee}} and the monthly account management fee of {{price:monthly_fee}} will follow. The payment of the monthly account administrative fees of {{price:monthly_fee}} starts as soon as the money enters your account. The fees are charged for the duration your account remains open. Therefore, only open your blocked account if you are certain that it is required for your visa application.

Opening a Blocked Account with Fintiba takes as little as 10 minutes. However, please note that there is a difference between opening your Blocked Account (going through the registration process) and getting your blocking confirmation (the document needed for your visa application). To get your blocking confirmation, you first need to transfer the blocked amount, which on average takes between 1 to 5 business days to arrive in your Blocked Account. After the amount arrives, your blocking confirmation is then automatically issued.

Once you’ve arrived in Germany, you need to open a regular bank account (Girokonto) and connect it to your Blocked Account via the Fintiba App. Your monthly payout will then be transferred to your bank account. Fintiba makes the process seamless and fully digital.

You cannot use your Blocked Account to directly pay your living expenses. Additionally, please don't provide your Blocked Account details (IBAN, BIC) to your service providers, as their direct debit requests will be declined. To pay your rent and other expenses, you will need to open a German bank account and receive an IBAN. With this, you can then set up your monthly payouts from your Blocked Account to your bank account through the Fintiba App.

Yes, you can transfer more than the required amount to your Blocked Account. However, the maximum amount you can transfer is clearly outlined on the first page of your "Transfer Information Document". You can find this document in the "Documents" section of your account once your Blocked Account is opened.

No, you do not need to open a new Blocked Account for your second year of university. According to official requirements, a blocked account is typically only mandatory for the first year of your university studies in Germany. If you stay longer, you’ll need to prove sufficient financial means again to extend your residence permit. This doesn’t always have to be through a blocked account. Alternatives like a scholarship, working student job, parental support, or a Declaration of Commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) are also accepted.