Important Update on Blocked Account in Germany [2022]

As an international student in Germany, one of the most important things to consider is your finances. In particular, you need to ensure that you have enough money to support yourself financially when living in the country.

One common way to do this is by opening a Blocked Account (Sperrkonto). A Blocked Account is a particular type of account in which a certain amount of money is "blocked" or set aside for you to use for living expenses. Blocked accounts are crucial for student visa applications, as they serve as proof of sufficient financial resources.

The German government sets and regularly reviews the monthly living costs amount. One of the most recent changes occurred in January 2021, and the monthly blocked amount was raised to €861. However, the German government (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz - BAföG) has announced another revision to the blocked amount. It will be increased to €934 starting from January 1, 2023.

This change affects international students applying for German student visas for 2023, starting in January 2023. You should contact the German embassy responsible for issuing your visa to confirm how the increased amount may affect your visa application.

Expatrio gets you covered! Whether you have already opened your Blocked Account or plan to do so, we assist you with adjusting your blocked amount if needed. Read on to find out more information.

Expatrio Guide | Increased Blocked Account Amount

1. If you have already applied for a visa or residence permit.

If you need to increase the amount of money blocked for your visa or residence permit, the German authority handling your immigration application will contact you directly. We also ask you to double-check with them yourself.

2a. If you have already transferred a partial or the total blocked amount to Expatrio but have not yet had your visa or residence permit appointment.

You can simply submit a change request on your Expatrio portal:

1. Just log into your user portal.
2. Click on "Blocked account."
3. Scroll down and click on "change details."

From there, you can update both the monthly amount and the number of months, then submit the change request.

We will process your change request within one business day, and you can set up a new Payment on your Expatrio portal afterward to transfer the required amount.

If your blocked account is already live, you can use your Blocked Account Statement (Kontoauszug) as proof of your current Blocked account balance.

 2b. If you have not yet transferred any funds to Expatrio

You can simply update your blocked account on your Expatrio portal:

From there, you can update both the monthly amount and the number of months, then submit the change request. Your blocked account setup will reflect the new values immediately.

2c. If your blocked account is already live

If your blocked account is already live (i.e., the monthly payouts have already started) and you need to update the monthly amount for the remaining months, please contact customer support, and we will help you set this up.

Tip: You can make the process faster if you tell us which months you need to update, what should be the new monthly amount, which country you want to transfer from, and in what currency.

For all 2a, 2b, and 2c cases, please contact the German authority handling your visa application to confirm if you are required to add money to your Blocked Account.

3. How do I secure a document stating the new blocked amount? Or Is it possible to obtain a document that states the new amount of money I transferred?

If your blocked account is not activated yet (i.e., your monthly payouts did not start yet), you will get a new 06 Blocked Amount Confirmation with the new monthly amount after the setup of your blocked account has been updated and the additional funds arrive.

4. Is there an additional fee I need to pay to increase the amount?

No, we do not charge fees for change requests.

Should you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to help!

Changes in BAföG rates 2022/23

1. The monthly BAföG payment for students will rise from €427 to €452.
2. Students who no longer live with their parents receive €360 instead of €325 for rent.
3. Students who no longer have family health insurance through their parents now receive BAföG subsidies for health and nursing care coverage.
4. The government's proposal to raise the childcare allowance for students with children from €150 to €160 is under consideration.
5. BAföG's age limit of 30 will be raised to 45 for students to begin studying later.

For more information regarding other potential changes, please check this article here.

Free Studies in Germany?

Download our free ebook to discover how you can study for free in Germany, including an overview of tuition-free studies regulations in different German federal states, the general cost of living, and how to save money as a student.