Edubao Blocked Account: Process, Requirements and when it’s worth it (2026)

By: Simon Heinrich – Stand: 07/2026 

If you need proof of financial resources for your visa, a blocked account for Germany is often the key step. Edubao offers a digital blocked account that is opened via the payment service provider Lemonway; the blocked amount is safeguarded via a separate account with the French bank BNP Paribas.                    In this article, you’ll learn when Edubao is relevant, what the process typically looks like, which documents you should plan for and what to check before opening an account.

Recommendation: Choose Edubao if you want a digital blocked account you can manage via website/app and you value an “all-in-one” flow (application → identification → confirmation → activation of payouts).                                                                                                                                                                              Not a good fit if… you expect to open the account at a traditional branch bank, or if you prefer processes that work only via paper mail (Edubao explicitly relies on digital communication and digital document submission).

Go to Edubao

Costs and fees

Edubao’s fees are displayed differently in different places. In the application process, an initial set-up fee of 99.00 Euro and a monthly fee of 6.00 Euro are shown.

In EDUBAO’s price and service directory, however, the set-up fee is 95.00 Euro and the monthly service fee for account administration during the blocking period is 5.90 Euro. Extending the account for another twelve months costs 59.00 Euro.

For this article, we follow the price and service directory, because it defines the legally binding terms, while also transparently noting the different figures shown in the website calculator.

Important for your planning: In the example calculation on the website, an additional buffer amount of 70.00 Euro is also listed, which must be transferred on top of the required blocked amount.

Edubao blocked account – key facts at a glance

  • Digital application: The blocked account can be opened and managed via the website or the app
  • Partner/structure: Opened via the payment service provider Lemonway; funds are safeguarded by the French partner bank BNP Paribas
  • Identification: Completed by Lemonway within 48 hours if all documents are complete
  • Confirmation: Once the full blocked amount has been received, you automatically receive a blocked account confirmation 
  • Payout after arrival: Payouts start only after activation.

Documents and requirements

What you should prepare in practice:

  • ID documents: Since Lemonway verifies your identity based on the documents you submit, clear and readable scans/photos are crucial.
  • Edubao recommends starting the blocked-account application as soon as you already have a (possibly conditional) admission for studies or study preparation in Germany – so keep your admission letter ready.
  • For payouts: The IBAN of a suitable current account in your name, plus proof of arrival (entry stamp in your passport) and a bank statement for your (German) current account.

Refund / closing the account

If you want to close the blocked account, you must provide proof of release/unblocking (e.g., a document from the immigration office requesting unblocking, or a visa rejection letter from the embassy with stamp and closure instructions).
The transfer back of the blocked funds can take up to four weeks, and closing the account involves a 10.00 Euro fee.

You may also want to check our blocked account provider comparison by costs.