Blocked Account Germany 2026: The €11,904, Expatrio vs Fintiba vs Coracle, and How to Fund It From India

Your admission letter from a German university has arrived. Tuition is free or close to it. Then the visa checklist asks for something called a Sperrkonto, holding a year of living costs, confirmed before your visa appointment.

That is the blocked account Germany requires from most Indian students: €11,904 for 2026, paid back to you at €992 a month once you are living there. It is not a fee. Every euro comes back to you. But it has to be in the right kind of account, with the right paperwork, before your visa interview.

This guide covers the 2026 amount and what it costs in rupees, a straight comparison of Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle at today's prices, and the exact steps to fund the account from India without losing money to tax, fees or a bad exchange rate.

 

 

What Is a Blocked Account in Germany?

A blocked account, Sperrkonto in German, is a bank account you cannot freely withdraw from. You deposit a year of living costs before you travel, and the bank releases only a fixed amount each month after you arrive.

The account exists so money meant to last a year is not spent in the first month. It has a named beneficiary, the German mission where you applied or the foreigners authority in Germany. The beneficiary cannot touch your money, but the block can only be lifted with its agreement, which matters if your plans change.

The Federal Foreign Office says you are free to choose where to open the account. It removed its list of providers in mid-2022 and makes no recommendations, so the choice is yours.

 

Blocked Account Germany Amount for 2026

 

What you need	Amount
Total blocked for a 12-month visa	€11,904
Released to you each month	€992
Basis	Maximum BAföG support for German students

Source: Federal Foreign Office guidance and the 2026 figure published by providers such as Expatrio. The amount can vary by the purpose of your stay, so confirm with the German Mission in India before you transfer.

 

The amount follows the maximum support German students get under BAföG, and changes when BAföG does. That is why older pages still show €11,208, the previous figure. If a page does not say which year its number belongs to, ignore it.

What €11,904 is in rupees

At Matrix Forex's euro remittance rate of ₹108.12 on 6 October 2026, the deposit alone is about ₹12.87 lakh, and each €992 monthly release is worth about ₹1.07 lakh. Every one-rupee move in the euro changes the full deposit by about ₹12,000, so the rate on the day you send matters.

 

Expatrio vs Fintiba vs Coracle: 2026 Comparison

Three online providers have dominated blocked accounts for Indian students. In 2026, only two are taking new customers.

 

	Expatrio	Fintiba	Coracle
Taking new applications	Yes	Yes	Paused since August 2025
Setup fee	€119	€159	Listed as "coming soon"
Monthly fee	€9	€9.90	n/a
Fees for a 12-month account	€227	€277.80	n/a
Total to transfer for €11,904 blocked	€12,131	€12,181.80	n/a
Blocking confirmation	Opening confirmation within 24 hours; blocking confirmation once funds arrive	1 to 5 business days after funds arrive	n/a
If your visa is refused	Full refund, including service fees	Blocked amount refunded; opening fee and transfer fees kept	n/a
Bank holding the money	UniCredit (formerly Aion Bank)	A licensed German bank	n/a

Sources: Expatrio, fees effective 7 July 2026; Fintiba for refund and confirmation terms, with fees as reported by 2026 comparison guides because Fintiba's own page displays them only at signup; Coracle's pause as reported by 2026 guides, with its site listing the opening fee as "coming soon". Checked 6 October 2026. Fees change, so confirm at signup.

 

Expatrio

The cheaper of the two on fees, by about €50 over a year. Its strongest point for Indian families is the refusal policy: if the visa is refused, Expatrio says it returns the whole blocked amount and its service fees. Its bundle can add health insurance and a German current account, which you need anyway to receive the monthly payouts.

Fintiba

Slightly more expensive after its 2026 price change, and it keeps the opening fee if your visa is refused. It is well established, quick to open, and also bundles insurance and a current account. Choose it if you prefer its app or its insurance options, not on price.

Coracle

Coracle stopped taking new blocked account applications in August 2025 while it changed its banking setup, and several guides still list it as open. Its website now shows the opening fee as "coming soon". If you already have a Coracle account, it should keep working. If you are opening one now, check its site on the day, and do not build your visa timeline around a reopening date nobody has confirmed.

How to choose

Compare the total rupees leaving your account, not the setup fee. That total includes the provider's fees, your Indian remittance charges and, above all, the exchange rate on your transfer. A provider that converts rupees for you at a poor rate can cost more than its fees. On a ₹13 lakh transfer, a rate just 1% worse costs about ₹13,000. That is more than double the gap between Expatrio's and Fintiba's fees for the whole year, about ₹5,500.

 

How to Fund Your Blocked Account From India, Step by Step

1. Open the account online. Apply with Expatrio or Fintiba using your passport and admission letter. You receive the account details and a payment reference that identifies your money.
2. Check who is allowed to send. Expatrio's help centre says funds must come from your own account or from a close family member such as a parent. Transfers from other third parties may be rejected. Check your provider's rule before you pay.
3. Send the money as an education remittance. Under RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, a resident can send up to USD 250,000 per financial year, so the deposit fits easily. The transfer goes under purpose code S0305, education, which is what keeps TCS at the education rate. Our guide to what a purpose code is explains why the label matters.
4. Quote the reference exactly and choose "OUR" charges. The reference lets the provider match your money to your account. "OUR" means you pay the bank charges, so the full euro amount arrives and the account is not left a few euros short.
5. Keep the paperwork. You need the A2 form, PAN, passport and admission letter for the remittance. Keep the SWIFT reference too, since that is what traces a transfer that goes quiet between correspondent banks.
6. Download the blocking confirmation. Once the money lands, the provider issues the confirmation your visa appointment needs.

The full rupee cost, worked out

This is the cost of funding an Expatrio account for a 12-month visa, self-funded, sent at ₹108.12 per euro on 6 October 2026, assuming no other education remittance earlier in the financial year.

 

Item	Amount
Euros to send (€11,904 blocked plus €227 Expatrio fees)	€12,131
In rupees at ₹108.12	₹13,11,604
TCS at 2% on the amount above ₹10 lakh	₹6,232
GST on currency conversion	₹1,046
Total leaving your account	₹13,18,882, plus your remittance provider's fee

TCS is not a cost you lose. It is tax collected in advance, credited against your income tax, and you can claim it back in your ITR. The 2% rate applies from 1 April 2026, down from 5%. If the deposit is funded by an education loan from a qualifying financial institution, TCS is zero. Our TCS on forex guide covers every category, and the GST on forex explainer shows how that ₹1,046 is calculated.

 

If tuition or other education payments have already gone out this financial year, the ₹10 lakh threshold may already be used, and TCS applies to the whole deposit.

 

When to Start: Count Back From Your Visa Appointment

The usual mistake is not the provider. It is starting too late.

Four things happen in order, and each can stall:

 

Step	Typical time
Open the account and pass identity checks	Minutes to a day
Send the money from India	3 to 5 business days, occasionally up to 14
Provider matches the transfer to your account	Usually within the transfer time
Blocking confirmation issued	Up to a few business days after funds arrive

Sources: Expatrio and Fintiba published timelines. Our guide on how long a remittance takes explains the delays.

 

Start the day your admission letter arrives, not the week of your appointment. Appointment slots in India fill well ahead, and a confirmation that arrives a day late can cost you an intake.

 

 

After You Land: Getting Your €992 a Month

The blocked money is released only after you activate the account in Germany. Typically you need to:

1. Register your address with the local authority (the Anmeldung).
2. Open a German current account, the Girokonto, or use the one bundled with your provider.
3. Activate the blocked account in the provider's app with those documents.

Expatrio says it can release up to three monthly payouts at activation if you arrive mid-way, and pays any amount above the blocked total with the first payout. The catch is timing: rent deposits and first-month costs come before activation. Carry some euros and a loaded forex card for the first few weeks. RBI's rules on carrying foreign currency set the limits, and when paying by card in Germany, decline the "pay in INR" option. Our guide to dynamic currency conversion shows what that choice costs.

 

If Your Visa Is Refused or Your Plans Change

The Federal Foreign Office sets out the rules. A visa refusal notice lifts the block, and the money can be returned. If the visa was granted but you did not travel, withdrew the application or left the Schengen area early, the mission can issue a certificate to release the funds.

What you get back depends on your provider: Expatrio says it refunds the full amount and its fees, while Fintiba keeps the opening fee. Keep your original remittance documents, because you need them for both the refund and your TCS claim.

 

Do You Have to Use a Blocked Account?

Not always, but most Indian students do. German missions generally accept other proof as well: a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) signed by someone resident in Germany, a confirmed scholarship from a recognised body, and in some cases a guarantee from a German bank.

Each depends on something you may not have: a sponsor in Germany with enough income, or a scholarship confirmed in writing before your appointment. The blocked account needs only money, which is why it stays the default. If you think you qualify for an alternative, confirm it with the German Mission in India.

Weighing other countries? Canada uses a GIC of CAD 22,895, the UK wants maintenance funds held for 28 days, and why Indian students are switching to Germany compares the costs.

 

Common Mistakes With a German Blocked Account

Using last year's amount. €11,208 is out of date. For 2026, it is €11,904.

Sending exactly €11,904. Provider fees and bank charges come out too. Send the provider's stated total, such as €12,131 for Expatrio, with "OUR" charges.

Paying from a friend's or relative's account. Providers accept your own account or a close family member's. Money from anyone else can be rejected and sent back, costing you weeks.

Choosing Coracle from an old guide. It has not taken new applications since August 2025.

Ignoring the exchange rate. On ₹13 lakh, a 1% worse rate costs about ₹13,000, far more than the gap between providers' fees.

Missing the education-loan route. A qualifying education loan takes TCS to zero, which on this deposit is about ₹6,200 you do not have to find upfront.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the blocked account amount for Germany in 2026?

The blocked account amount for Germany in 2026 is €11,904 for a 12-month student visa, released at €992 a month after you arrive. The figure follows the maximum BAföG support rate for German students and can vary by the purpose of your stay, so confirm it with the German Mission in India before transferring.

 

Which is the best blocked account provider: Expatrio, Fintiba or Coracle?

In October 2026, Expatrio and Fintiba are the two main online providers taking new applications, and Coracle has paused new accounts since August 2025. Expatrio charges €119 setup and €9 a month and refunds its fees if your visa is refused. Fintiba is reported at €159 setup and €9.90 a month and keeps its opening fee on refusal.

 

How much does an Expatrio blocked account cost?

Since 7 July 2026, Expatrio charges a €119 setup fee and €9 a month. For a 12-month visa, you transfer €12,131 in total: €11,904 blocked for your visa plus €227 in fees. If your visa is refused, Expatrio says it refunds the blocked amount and its service fees.

 

How do I transfer money to a German blocked account from India?

Open the account online, then send the provider's stated total as an education remittance under RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, with purpose code S0305. Pay from your own account or a parent's, quote the provider's payment reference exactly, and choose "OUR" charges so the full amount arrives. Keep the A2 form and SWIFT reference.

 

How much TCS applies on a blocked account transfer from India?

From 1 April 2026, TCS on education remittances is 2% of the amount above ₹10 lakh in a financial year, down from 5%. On a deposit of about ₹13.1 lakh, that is about ₹6,200. If the money comes from an education loan from a qualifying financial institution, TCS is zero. TCS is adjusted against your income tax.

 

How long does it take to get the blocking confirmation?

Opening the account takes minutes to a day. The transfer from India usually takes 3 to 5 business days and occasionally up to 14. Fintiba says confirmation then takes 1 to 5 business days after the funds arrive. Start when your admission letter arrives, not when your visa appointment is booked.

 

What happens to my blocked account money if my German visa is refused?

A visa refusal notice lifts the block, and the money is returned to you. Expatrio says it also refunds its service fees, while Fintiba keeps its opening fee. If your visa was granted but you did not travel, the German mission can issue a certificate to release the funds.

 

Send Your Blocked Account Deposit at a Rate You Can See

The German authorities set the deposit. What it costs to get there depends on who sends it. Matrix Forex is an RBI-authorised Authorised Dealer Category-II (licence NDL-ADII-0023-2023), and we handle education remittances to Germany with the purpose code, A2 form and TCS paperwork done correctly, at a rate you see and lock before you pay. Start with sending money to Germany or our student remittance page, and pick up a forex card for your first weeks before the payouts begin.