How To Open A Blocked Account For Your German Student Visa Application

For every Nigerian student processing a visa to study in Germany, you’ll get to the financial resource (“blocked account” or Finanzierungsnachweis in German) phase where you have to prove that you can support yourself financially throughout your academic duration in Germany.

It is the quickest way, as an applicant, to prove that you have about €11,208 in your bank account.

This is one of the most vital documents for self-sponsored international students wishing to study in Germany.

A Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) is an account required for personally financing your studies and living costs in Germany.

These finances may include costs like rent, university administration fees, enrollment fees, and your everyday living expenses like food, clothes, groceries, etc.

The blocked account for Germany can be opened via the Deutsche bank or various other German banks like Sparkasse or Volksbank which allow foreign students to operate accounts with their institutions. But my main focus for this article is the Deutsche bank.

How Do I Open A Blocked Account In Germany From Nigeria?

To begin the application process to open a blocked account with the Deutsche bank from Nigeria, you must have already gotten provisional admission into a German university or institute (Click here for an article on the best 12 schools in Germany), a PDF copy of this document will suffice.

Your next line of action is to complete the application forms (Note that different application forms are varying according to age (18 years older, or up to 18 Years) for the account using PDF Adobe reader on your PC and print out two copies.

Note that you must leave the date, place, and signature columns empty; these will be filled in front of the German diplomatic officer. To obtain an application form, you can visit the website of the Deutsche Bank or click here

After that, make an appointment with the German consulate in Abuja to verify your account opening details and signature.

The Documents Required for the Interview

You must include the following when attending your interview:

Completed account application form inclusive of your signature.
Nigerian International passport with six months validity for travel with 2 black and white copies of the bio-data page.
Two copies of your admission letter from your university or institute.
A prepaid envelope from a top courier company i.e. DHL, FedEx, or UPS.
Evidence of the source of your income like a Nigerian bank statement.
Verification fees of €150 and a monthly maintenance fee of €5.90.

After certifying your form, date, and signature by the German Embassy as it is instructed.

Attach your international passport photocopy, school admission letter, Nigerian bank statement, signature, and date included.

Send the application forms along with all supporting documents via courier to the Deutsche Bank Address in Germany.

Deutsche Bank,

Privat- und Geschäftskunden AG,

Spezialservice Ausländische Studenten,

Alter Wall 53,

20457 Hamburg,

Germany.

You will be informed directly by post (ensure that you include your registered postal address if any) and email about your account number, IBAN, and BLZ of your new account when it has been successfully opened. This process can take about 2-3 weeks.

Then, you should transfer at least €8040 + €50 (as per bank charges for account opening, also create an allowance for your Nigerian bank transfer fee). The Deutsche Bank will inform you and the Germany Embassy about your account details.

On Arrival

Once you have arrived in Germany, you should visit a Deutsche bank branch with your international passport to fill in a service order to lift the block on your account and activate. The banking officer will provide you with a Eurocheque-Karte or EC card for the ATM and Login details for internet banking.

In a case where you’re not granted a visa to Germany, you’ll be required to provide an original letter of authorization stating your visa status and a signed application to close the account sent to the above.

Block Account Application Time

You are advised to apply early enough for your block account, in fact as early as you receive your admission letter as the opening/verification process may take up to 8 weeks, which may take a chunk of time required for applying for your German student visa (you can read up on Germany student visa application here).

Germany High Commission in Lagos

15, Walter Carrington Crescent,

P.O.Box 72800,

Victoria Island,

Lagos, Nigeria

Telephone +234 1 280 99 66

Email info@abuja.diplo.de