How to use this calculator
- Confirm how many months you need to cover — 12 for a standard student visa
- Pick a provider to see its opening fee included in the total
- Transfer the blocked amount and book your visa appointment — the embassy only checks the confirmed deposit
- After arrival, the account releases €992 per month as your living budget
Germany is the clearest case of an official number you can plan around: €992 per month of living costs, €11,904 for the standard twelve months. The figure is set by the German Federal Foreign Office and appears in every consulate's checklist. The blocked account is not optional for most applicants — unless you hold a scholarship covering the standard amount or a German sponsor formally undertakes to support you.
The internet is full of €11,208 — that was the 2023 requirement at €934 per month. The amount rose in 2024 and again since. Depositing €11,208 today means a guaranteed rejection at document check, and it is the single most common numerical error in German student visa applications.
After you arrive and register your address, the blocked account pays out €992 monthly — it works like a built-in budget. Because rent in Munich or Frankfurt can consume most of the release, plan supplementary funds beyond the blocked minimum; the blocked amount is a floor for visa purposes, not a realistic Munich budget.
Beyond the account itself, three numbers matter for your German plan: graduates can stay 18 months to seek work; the EU Blue Card salary threshold is €50,700 (€45,934.20 in shortage occupations including IT, and for recent graduates); and students may work 120 full days or 240 half days per year, with on-campus research assistant roles not counting against the quota.
Comparing the providers
Expatrio (€89), Edubao (€95), Coracle (€99) and Fintiba (€159) all open accounts that satisfy the visa requirement — the embassy does not prefer one. The differences are the opening fee, payout account bundle-ins and app experience. Some providers also bundle health insurance, which you need anyway for enrolment.
Opening takes a few days once your identity documents pass verification, but international transfers into the account can take another one to two weeks. Open the account at least six weeks before your embassy appointment.
APS and other prerequisites
Applicants from China, India, Vietnam and Mongolia must obtain an APS certificate before applying — it authenticates your academic documents and takes four to eight weeks. Book it first; it is the longest lead-time item in most German application timelines.