URGENT: This Is What Blocked Account In Germany Will Amount To From 2022!

First and foremost, what is a Blocked Account? A mandatory account in the German bank, which you cannot open the German visa for studying without!

ATTENTION: as of 1st of September 2022, you need to apply for a visa with a higher sum.⁠ Make sure to check 💯if it impacts you.

• Read more about the best bank for the Blocked Account here.

• How to dodge the Blocked Account overall you can find here.

• Coracle - the best Blocked Account provider

New Blocked Account Regulation

As of 1st of September 2022, the German government has announced, that all foreign students considering moving to Germany for studies must have in mind an increased blocked account Balance. 11,172 Euro must be deposited to a blocked account in order to get the student visa.

Drawback: Initial financing required is extended (to keep in mind that 1st-year expenses are much higher than the next years, because of the university deposit, tuition fees as well as the accommodation deposit payments). Generally, when consulting students, I advice you schedule your expenses the following way:

• Year 1: 30000 Euro for everything absolutely plus maintaining good social living standard

• Year 2: 20000 Euro considering you would be doing internship and summer jobs for 90 days

• Year 3: 10000 Euro considering you will be working or switching to part-time job already

Benefit: Monthly withdrawal capacity increases, which helps students to support their living expenses from one month to another.

The German authorities increase the amount required for a blocked bank account time after time in order to adjust it to the needs of students and living costs in Germany.

New Yearly Budget	11,172 Euro
New Monthly Withdrawal	931 Euro

Old Yearly Budget	10,236 Euro
Old Monthly Withdrawal	861 Euro

---

Students who applied for visa before 01.09.2022 or those who are already in Germany

The change is only applicable to later applications, however, to be on a safe side, since German embassies across the globe have already started requesting the updated amount, be cautious.

Solution: either add extra sum on your blocked account and request a confirmation; or put more money on your account for visa extension once you have arrived in Germany (prior to visa extension).

Students who apply for visa after 01.09.2022

Attention! Do not disregard this news putting yourself at risk!

Students with the old blocked sum may have:

1. Visa delay due to a request to resubmit the account confirmation

2. Visa denial

All these visa applications must have an increased blocked account balance confirmation.

Solution: transfer the difference between the new and the old blocked account sum (11172 – 10236 = 936 Euro) to your account and request an additional confirmation from a selected bank. Make sure to take a confirmation email or document with you to the appointment.

---

This information is not relevant to you but you know someone who would find it helpful?

Make sure to share this article with them.

---

Blocked Account Basics

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a unique type of a bank account designed for international students, who are required to provide proof of financial stability when applying for the visa. The German government wants to see a certain amount of money on your account to make sure you have sufficient means to live in Germany in circumstances you cannot influence. As an example, your sponsor (unless you pay for studies yourself) is no longer able to pay for your studies, living expenses, and accommodation.

German embassy can accept other proof of financial support, however, there is no guarantee it will be accepted for the visa procedure. It is highly recommended that you go for the blocked account as well. The more documents proving financial solvency you can present, the higher your chances of risk-free visa attainment become.

Things to keep in mind:

• It is highly recommended starting the blocked account procedure at least 2 weeks (1 month) prior to your visa appointment date. The blocked account doesn’t require you to have an unconditional (final) offer letter and the opening/money transferring procedure can be done with a conditional (provisional) offer letter.

• The blocked account may only be opened with a ‘Zweck’ (a reason). In your case, the reason is ‘Study Purposes’. This account can only be opened once you have been accepted to one of the German educational establishments.

• You do not lose this sum and it is safely kept with the bank until your arrival. You will be granted access to withdraw a monthly allowance after the registration at the local residence authority in Germany.

• The blocked account may only be closed if the beneficiary can no longer fulfill the reason for the blocked account opening (studies), in this case, it means a denial after conditional offer or denial in the visa. The blocked account may only be closed with the written confirmation from the authorities (University or the German embassy respectively).

• Important: every time you apply for visa extension in Germany, the Immigration Office has a right to demand a confirmation you have a full amount securely saved on your account. It means, that you need to maintain this balance at any point of time and the funds must always be available. You do not have to withdraw monthly sums, but you have a right to do so.

• Should you wish to extend your monthly withdrawal limit, it is possible, under certain circumstances (up to 1300 Euro per month). You need to consult your bank and ask for the permission with the confirmation that you are obliged to withdraw more than the limit (i.e. rent). The bank will decide if you would be granted a permission.

---

Still unsure which blocked account option to choose? Choose Coracle! (The best option for international students in 2020-2024)

Still having a lot of questions or doubts about the topic? Click on the button below to learn more about:

• Blocked Account Exceptions

• Blocked Account Options

• Blocked Account Documents & Deadlines

• Blocked Account Procedure

Study Abroad - Contact Form

Interested to Study Abroad? Contact me today for a free consultation. Feel free to reach out at any time. I am happy to lend a hand.

Study Abroad - About Me

I’ve been where you are. I moved from Russia to study abroad in Germany. 10 years later, with my consultancy, I am helping international students go abroad and study abroad

---

Related Articles:

1. 11 Steps To Successful German Study Visa Application

2. Obtained A German Student Visa? 23 Strategic Steps To Smooth Relocation (A Guide)

3. How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission

4. Why Study In Germany?

How To Find a Job as a Software Developer In Germany? (A Step-By-Step Guide)

Content of the guide

• How difficult is it to find a job as a Software Developer in Germany?

  • Work experience and technologies

  • For German / EU citizens

  • For people from other countries

  • Language skills

• Step-by-step process to finding a job as an EU citizen

  • Apply to companies while still living in your country

  • Job interviews

  • Moving to Germany

• Checklist of things to do after moving to Germany

  • Important formalities after arriving

  • Cost of living and taxes in Germany

---

1. How difficult is it to find a job as a Software Developer in Germany?

This is a very common question!

Germany is one of the best countries in Europe to work in as a Software Engineer.

The salaries might not be as high as in neighboring Switzerland, but still higher than in most other EU countries, and you get a high standard of living with quality public services: education, healthcare, and transportation.

The country has a vibrant tech job market with over 30.000 tech job openings and startup hubs like Berlin, Hamburg, or Munich.

At the same time, there are over 800.000 Software Engineers in Germany, so the competition is stiff. The following factors might work in your favor or against you:

---

Work experience and technologies 

- while getting a job in Germany is not easy, it is even harder as a Junior Software Engineer, especially if you are a foreigner. Most of the companies are looking for Developers with 2+ years of experience.

Having said that, it is possible to find a job even as a Junior, but you should be rather looking at internship or trainee offers (Praktikum in German).

Do you need a degree?

I wouldn't say you need it, but yes - without any work experience it will be your main bargaining chip. If you are experienced though (2+ years), then most companies will turn a blind eye to the lack of a degree.

The 2nd part is the technology that you specialize in. If you search through openings on GermanTechJobs you can see that there are many offers for Java, JavaScript, and Mobile Developers but not as many for Ruby, C# .NET, or C++.

Being a German or EU / EEA citizen

- if you are a citizen of one of the EU / EEA (European Economic Area) countries it will be pretty easy for you to migrate to Germany - it is a matter of filling the papers after you get the job.

When you find a job and move to Germany, after arrival you just have to visit the Residence Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) or Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) and get registered.

That's why most of the time German companies prefer EU / EEA citizens when searching for new employees.

For people from other countries

- there are 2 administrative categories:

a) If you are a citizen of the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, or Israel, you can move to Germany to find a job, and after that apply for a residence permit from the Ausländerbehörde.

b) If you come from any other country, for example, India, Brazil, Ukraine, etc. - then you have to either get a Job-Seeker Visa or find an employee that helps you with a work visa. For more details please refer to the official government website.

Language skills

- the only official language in Germany is, well… German :)

Speaking German fluently is definitely an advantage and many companies simply require it. However, you can still pretty easily find a job in English only, especially in startups or in big corporations.

Nevertheless, if you have the time and possibility - start learning German. Even if you speak it on a basic level (A2 / B1), it will vastly increase your chances on the job market.

---

2. Step-by-step process for finding a job as an EU citizen:

Step 1. Apply to companies while staying in your country:

It has 2 big advantages: first, you don’t have to bear the high costs of living in Germany and second, you can focus on the important things - interviews.

In this step, you need to find the job offers. For that, you can use GermanTechJobs.de or any other job board. Alternatively, you might want to get in touch with a headhunter to help you.

We recommend that you apply to as many job openings as possible (even 100+) because it is not easy to actually get an interview, especially with less than 5 years of experience.

If you want to get informed about new job postings in real-time and apply as one of the first candidates, check our Job Alert.

It is good to mention in your CV and motivation letter that you are committed to moving to Germany (if you have a family there, bring it up too!). This makes the companies see you as a safe bet and not someone that might run away after a few months.

From our experiences, it is really worth working with headhunters if you are on the Junior level (0-2 years of experience) because German companies tend to be quite reluctant to hire graduate developers from abroad.

A headhunter might easily help you to get some interviews. You have to be cautious though - headhunters often work only with specific companies, and sometimes will not present you the whole picture (you will not have access to the entire job market). If you are working with a proven professional, you should be fine.

---

Step 2. Job interviews:

Normally the job interview process consists of 2 - 4 steps.

It starts with an introduction call or/and a coding task where you will be asked some basic technical questions.

As the 2nd step, if you are not located in Germany, there might be a video call with live coding.

The last round will be an onsite interview where you visit the company's office in Germany.

The practice of reimbursing travel and accommodation costs is not widely spread, though some companies may offer it, especially the big ones. Therefore, it’s best to try to schedule a couple of onsite interviews on subsequent days, so you won't have to fly back and forth.

After the last interview, you should get a "yes" or "no" answer in the following days, max. 2 weeks.

If you have multiple offers, you might want to negotiate with the companies. Be careful though! Do not give the impression that you only care about the money, because it's still a taboo topic in Germany.

Step 3. Moving to Germany:

Congratulations - you have found your dream job in Germany! After the hard part, there are only formalities left. :)

After signing the contract, you need to prepare to move. If the company doesn’t offer any relocation package/assistance, you have to save about 2.000-4.000 EUR for this purpose.

When you arrive in Germany and want to find a place to live, there are 2 options:

1) Rent a flat or house - this is probably your choice if you are relocating together with your family.

2) Rent only a single room - it might be a good option if you plan to arrive alone (in Germany it’s called a Wohngemeinschaft - living together with other random people or friends).

Finding an apartment in some parts of Germany (especially in Berlin) is quite challenging! You will often end up competing with 20-30 other people that also hunt for the same flat!

The landlords are quite picky, and you will need to make a good impression, show them your job contract and documents proving that you don’t have unpaid debts (from an organization called SCHUFA).

A good option might be to find a short-term rental (for example with Airbnb or Couchsurfing) and patiently search for a long-term place when you are already there.

Be aware that, more often than not, you will have to deposit the amount that equals about 3 monthly rents.
At 1.500 EUR / month it means a single payment of 4.500 EUR! Therefore, if you are on a tight budget it might be a bit tough till you receive your first salary. You will get the deposit back when you're done renting an apartment.

---

3. Checklist of things to do after moving to Germany

Important formalities after arriving:

After you arrive and get comfortable in your new place, you need to take care of the following:

• Register your stay - If you are a citizen of the EU (or Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland), you don’t need any work permit. You will only need to register your stay at a local Residence Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) or Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde).

• Open a bank account - There are a few types of banks in Germany:

  • Branch Banks (Filialbanks) are traditional banks with a country-wide network, but often higher fees, examples: Postbank, Commerzbank

  • Local banks in specific regions called Sparkasse, Volksbank, or Landesbank

  • Pure online/mobile / FinTech banks with almost free accounts, like Fidor, N26, or Kontist.

• Choose health insurance (Krankenkasse) - In Germany, you can choose between public and private health insurance, but only if you earn more than 64,350 EUR per year (as of 2021). If you earn less you are forced to use the public one, but you can still pick a provider. Health insurance in Germany amounts to around 14,6% of your salary and is deducted automatically (Source).

• Other important things - if you plan to use public transport then it might make sense to buy a long-term ticket. Otherwise, bikes or electric scooters are also good choices.

• Integrate and have fun - find local groups related to your hobbies and interests. In bigger cities, you may be able to connect with your own ethnic group, as there are some big diasporas living in Germany, like: Turkish, Romanian, Polish or Italian.

How much does life in Germany cost and how high are the taxes?

Germany is quite expensive compared to other EU countries, but not CRAZY expensive like Switzerland. It is worth mentioning that there are big differences in rent prices between the various cities, for example, Munich is quite costly, whereas in Berlin you should be able to find a place with lower rents.

Your first month or two might be a bit tough, but after receiving the salary you will quickly realize that the things are actually quite affordable.

Below you can find a breakdown of income and costs for someone earning 60.000 EUR and living in Berlin:

60.000 EUR annually (according to this calculator) gets you 3.049,25 EUR net per month. This is assuming that you are single and not a church member because there is an extra tax (around 9% of your income tax) if you belong to one. It assumes that you are single and don't have children (Germany offers a generous tax reduction if you have kids).

Income tax in Germany is a complex topic. The taxation is progressive, which means you pay a bigger percentage the more you earn. There are also six tax classes in Germany - the rates are based on your civil status (being single or married, having children, etc.). We recommend checking the gov resources for more information.

---

To simplify, let’s assume 3.000 EUR to spend per month.

Now let’s move to the costs:

• Apartment: 800-1.500 EUR (with 1.5k you can get a pretty, but not the biggest flat in the center) or a single room in a flat: 500-900 EUR

• Food: 150-700 EUR (150 if you always cook for yourself, 700 if you are a foodie and eat out every 2nd day)

• Entertainment: 200–500 EUR (a beer in a pub costs ~5 EUR, monthly gym subscription 40 EUR. Again, it all depends on you, but you can have a lot of fun without spending much)

• Other: 150-300 EUR (phone, clothes, public transport, a car, etc.)

To sum up: if you are single and opt for the "live cool and don't care about expenses" style, then an average developer salary will be enough (it might be harder if you have a family to feed).

---

On the other hand, if you choose to go the student-like route (living in Wohngemeinschaft and not eating out too much), you can easily manage with just 1.200-1.500 EUR per month, and save the majority of your salary.

As you can see, both options are doable!

---

About the Author

Gregory Tomasik is the co-founder of GermanTechJobs.de & SwissDevJobs.ch. As a Software Engineer who worked in different European countries, he co-created a job portal dedicated to Developers & IT talents.

He puts transparency as the main value and that's why each offer on these sites includes: salary brackets, dev methodologies, and a detailed tech stack.

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Looking for a new job in Germany?

Check the current job openings here

Study Abroad - Application Form

Interested to Study Abroad? Apply with me today to a university of your choice. My consultations are free of charge. Contact me any time.

---

Related Articles:

1. How To Find Work In Germany Without Speaking German

2. Why Studying In Germany May Be Your Fastest Way To Finding Work?

3. Increasing Your Employability In Germany In The Times Of The COVID19

4. Why Study In Germany?

WARNING: New Regulation For The Blocked Account In Germany (And Here Is How It Influences You)

2022 UPDATE: The blocked account sum changed once again. See a more up-to-date information and article here: URGENT: This Is What Blocked Account In Germany Will Amount To From 2022!

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2020 UPDATE: A lot can change in a year! The German Blocked Account monthly limit will be increased from 853 Euros to 861 Euros. This is due to the increase in BAfög grant. This video is to give tips to deal with the situation especially for visa application.

• Read more about the Blocked Account here.

• Read more from the source here.

---

2019 UPDATE: WARNING! GERMAN VISA! As of 1st of September 2019, you need to apply for a visa with the extended sum.⁠ Make sure to check 💯if it impacts you.

---

New Blocked Account Regulation

As of 1st of September 2019, the German government has announced, that all foreign students considering moving to Germany for studies must have in mind an increased blocked account Balance. 10,236 Euro must be deposited to a blocked account in order to get the student visa.

Drawback: Initial financing required is extended (to keep in mind that 1st-year expenses are much higher than the next years, because of the university deposit, tuition fees as well as the accommodation deposit payments).

Benefit: Monthly withdrawal capacity increases, which helps students to support their living expenses from one month to another.

New Yearly Budget	10,236 Euro
New Monthly Withdrawal	861 Euro

Old Yearly Budget	8,640 Euro
Old Monthly Withdrawal	720 Euro

---

Students who applied for visa before 01.09.2019 or those who are already in Germany

---

The change is only applicable to later applications, however, to be on a safe side, since German embassies across the globe have already started requesting the updated amount, be cautious.

Solution: either add extra sum on your blocked account and request a confirmation; or put more money on your account for visa extension once you have arrived in Germany (prior to visa extension).

---

Students who applied for visa after 01.09.2019

---

Attention! Do not disregard this news putting yourself at risk!

Students with the old blocked sum may have:

1. Visa delay due to a request to resubmit the account confirmation

2. Visa denial

All these visa applications must have an increased blocked account balance confirmation.

Solution: transfer the difference between the new and the old blocked account sum (10236 – 8640 = 1596 Euro) to your account and request an additional confirmation from a selected bank. Make sure to take a confirmation email or document with you to the appointment.

---

This information is not relevant to you but you know someone who would find it helpful?

Make sure to share this article with them.

---

Blocked Account Basics

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a unique type of a bank account designed for international students, who are required to provide proof of financial stability when applying for the visa. The German government wants to see a certain amount of money on your account to make sure you have sufficient means to live in Germany in circumstances you cannot influence. As an example, your sponsor (unless you pay for studies yourself) is no longer able to pay for your studies, living expenses, and accommodation.

German embassy can accept other proof of financial support, however, there is no guarantee it will be accepted for the visa procedure. It is highly recommended that you go for the blocked account as well. The more documents proving financial solvency you can present, the higher your chances of risk-free visa attainment become.

Things to keep in mind:

• It is highly recommended starting the blocked account procedure at least 2 weeks (1 month) prior to your visa appointment date. The blocked account doesn’t require you to have an unconditional (final) offer letter and the opening/money transferring procedure can be done with a conditional (provisional) offer letter.

• The blocked account may only be opened with a ‘Zweck’ (a reason). In your case, the reason is ‘Study Purposes’. This account can only be opened once you have been accepted to one of the German educational establishments.

• You do not lose this sum and it is safely kept with the bank until your arrival. You will be granted access to withdraw a monthly allowance after the registration at the local residence authority in Germany.

• The blocked account may only be closed if the beneficiary can no longer fulfill the reason for the blocked account opening (studies), in this case, it means a denial after conditional offer or denial in the visa. The blocked account may only be closed with the written confirmation from the authorities (University or the German embassy respectively).

• Important: every time you apply for visa extension in Germany, the Immigration Office has a right to demand a confirmation you have a full amount securely saved on your account. It means, that you need to maintain this balance at any point of time and the funds must always be available. You do not have to withdraw monthly sums, but you have a right to do so.

• Should you wish to extend your monthly withdrawal limit, it is possible, under certain circumstances (up to 1200 Euro per month). You need to consult your bank and ask for the permission with the confirmation that you are obliged to withdraw more than the limit (i.e. rent). The bank will decide if you would be granted a permission.

---

Still unsure which blocked account option to choose? Choose Coracle! (The best option for international students in 2020-2024)

Study Abroad - Contact Form

Interested to Study Abroad? Contact me today for a free consultation. Feel free to reach out at any time. I am happy to lend a hand.

Still having a lot of questions or doubts about the topic? Click on the button below to learn more about:

• Blocked Account Exceptions

• Blocked Account Options

• Blocked Account Documents & Deadlines

• Blocked Account Procedure

Study Abroad - Useful Tips

How to study abroad? International Students guide to finding Accommodation? Can I study without a Blocked Account? Answers to these and many other questions you will find here.

---

Related Articles:

1. Study In Germany Without Blocked Account

2. The Ultimate Guide To Finding Accommodation In Germany For International Students

3. How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission

4. Why Study In Germany?