Germany guide · Blocked account · 3 min read
The German blocked account from Nepal: how much, how to open it, and how to fund it.
A German blocked account (Sperrkonto) holds the living money Germany asks students to show: €11,904 for a year in 2026, paid back to you at €992 a month after you arrive. You open it online with a provider the German authorities accept, transfer the money from Nepal through your bank, and receive a confirmation letter for your visa file. The German Embassy in Kathmandu notes it may not be mandatory at the application stage, but can be requested.
The short version
- Amount for 2026: €11,904 for 12 months, released at €992 a month after you arrive. About Rs 20.4 lakh at Rs 171.38 per EUR.
- Open it online with an accepted provider; most bundle health insurance.
- Send the money from Nepal by bank transfer, which needs your offer and, for study fees, the NOC. Add a small buffer for bank charges.
- Alternatives: a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany, or a scholarship that covers living costs.
- Don't withdraw it early or move it: the monthly release is how the authorities know you can live.
The amount, in rupees
| Item | EUR | Rupees (18 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked account, 12 months | 11,904 | about Rs 20.4 lakh |
| Monthly release after arrival | 992 | about Rs 1.7 lakh |
| Buffer for transfer fees (providers suggest a little extra) | about 50 to 100 | about Rs 8,500 to 17,000 |
The figure has been €11,904 since 2025 and stays at that for 2026. It’s what Germany considers enough to live on as a student; in Munich or Hamburg it’s tight, in Chemnitz or Leipzig it’s comfortable.
How it works
- You open the account online with a provider accepted by the German authorities. Most also sell student health insurance as a package.
- You transfer €11,904 (plus the buffer) from Nepal.
- The provider sends a confirmation letter showing the money is blocked. It goes into your visa file.
- After you arrive, you register your address, open a German current account, and the provider releases €992 a month into it.
Sending the money from Nepal
| Step | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Collect the papers | You | Passport, admission letter, the provider’s account details and invoice |
| Get the NOC if your bank asks | Ministry of Education | Banks need it for study fees abroad; some ask for it for the blocked account too |
| Visit your bank | You and your parent | Ask for a SWIFT transfer in EUR; the bank checks documents against NRB rules |
| Keep the SWIFT slip | You | Proof of payment for the provider and the embassy |
| Wait for confirmation | Provider | Usually a few working days after the money arrives |
Nepal Rastra Bank’s rules on foreign exchange for students change from time to time, and banks apply them differently. Ask your bank which documents it needs before the week you plan to send. Sending money abroad from Nepal explains the process.
The alternatives
| Alternative | Who it suits | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) | Students with a relative or sponsor living in Germany | The sponsor signs at their local foreigners’ office, proving enough income |
| Scholarship covering living costs | DAAD and other scholarship holders | The award letter |
| Parents’ income proof | Rarely accepted for Nepali applicants | Check with the embassy first |
Where the money comes from
The embassy can ask where the €11,904 came from. A loan, savings that built up over time, or a land sale with its deed all explain it; a sudden deposit from a relative doesn’t. Keep the paper trail.
From our files. Sagar Rai from Ilam had Rs 9 lakh saved and had been told only Australia would work. At a public university in Chemnitz his biggest cost wasn’t tuition but the €11,904 blocked account. He funded it with an education loan, planned month by month, and started German classes the week he applied.
Mistakes we see
- Transferring before the provider’s details are final. Money sent to the wrong reference sits in limbo for weeks.
- Sending exactly €11,904. Bank charges leave you short; send the buffer.
- No paper trail for the money. Keep the loan or savings documents with the confirmation.
- Opening it too late. The confirmation can take a week; your embassy appointment won’t wait.
Your checklist
- Admission letter or application confirmation
- Provider account opened, details checked twice
- €11,904 plus a buffer transferred, SWIFT slip kept
- Confirmation letter downloaded for the visa file
- Source of the money documented
- Health insurance arranged (often with the same provider)
