The account is opened online before the visa, from any country. Criteria: embassy recognition, confirmation speed, insurance bundle.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
Two recognised leaders: Expatrio↗ — a bundle of blocked account plus the mandatory health insurance, and Fintiba↗ — the classic named by the Foreign Office. Both open online within a day.
Setup + maintenance over your whole stay — see which provider is genuinely cheaper in the end.
Compare total cost: setup fee plus monthly fee over a year. Providers differ by up to 150 € — for the identical function.
Check the blocking confirmation before your appointment: name exactly as in the passport, amount, blocking wording. One typo means a new embassy slot.
Funds sit in segregated accounts at German banks with 100 000 € deposit protection. Check the partner bank in the terms, not just the brand.
Refund against the official rejection letter — free or for a fixed fee at all providers. Keep the letter, otherwise the process drags.
Registration takes minutes, the international transfer 1–5 days, confirmation 1–2 days after arrival. Plan a week before your visa appointment.
No, and that is exactly what the block is for: the account releases at most the monthly instalment it was set up for, the rest stays blocked. Payouts start after you arrive and register, once you give the provider your German address and a normal current account for the monthly transfers.