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Opening a bank account in Germany

German bank account

If you are staying in Germany for a longer period, you should open a German bank account. This simplifies everyday life as well as monthly payments such as shopping, insurance, rent, semester fees, etc. Certain student dormitories, for example, may only accept money transfers through German banks (please inquire with them directly regarding this).

To open a German bank account, you will normally need these documents:

  • City Registration Certificate (Meldebescheinigung)
  • Valid passport or an EU-ID
  • …

Depending on the bank and type of account, banks may require additional documents, so please inform yourself in advance.

There are many banks in Germany, including private banks, savings banks, international banks, and online/mobile banks. It is up to you to decide which bank you would like to open an account with that best suits your needs.

A blocked account is one of the possible options to use as proof of financial means to apply for your visa, for a residence permit once you are in Germany or to extend your residence permit.

Please be aware that all providers require different documentation, so you will need to check with your bank directly. To open a blocked account, you might need the following documents:

  • Admission letter
  • Valid passport
  • …

The German government sets the specific amount of money to be allocated in your German blocked account. Currently ( from 1 September 2024) this amount is at least 11,904 Euros annually or 992 Euros monthly. Please note that this is subject to potential changes.

Once in Germany, you will need to open a regular German bank account in order to withdraw money from your blocked account.

For more information learn more here:

A blocked account is not the only form of showing your proof of financial means when you are applying for your visa/residence permit in Germany, please see section 1.5 “Required Documents” on our residence permit website for further options.

Disclaimer

The information on this website is not legally binding.

For further information on this topic, we recommend visiting external sources such as official government websites or reputable financial institutions.