Studying in Germany: Your Guide through Bureaucracy and Everyday Life
By: Simon Heinrich – Last updated: 04/2026
You’ve received your admission letter: Congratulations! Now the paperwork begins. This page shows you what’s specifically important for students and in which order to tackle it.
For the complete chronological overview of all steps, see our Roadmap.
Dein Fahrplan für die ersten Wochen
(Kurz-Zusammenfassung meiner Roadmap als grafische Infobox: Phase 1 Vorbereitung -> Phase 2 Ankunft -> Phase 3 Stabilisierung)
→ [LINK: Die vollständige Schritt-für-Schritt Roadmap für alle Fälle]
Who is this page for?
This overview is for everyone coming to Germany for education at a university or recognised institution:
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Diploma students
- PhD candidates
- Exchange and programme students (Erasmus, DAAD, etc.)
- Studienkolleg participants
- Language students at universities or accredited language schools
If you’re coming to Germany for vocational training, you’ll find the relevant information under Apprentices.
Your Priorities as a Student
As a student, you have specific requirements that other groups don’t have. Tackle these four topics in this order:
1. Open a blocked account (before your visa application)
The blocked account is your proof of finances for the visa. No blocked account means no visa, no visa means no studies.
2. Get incoming insurance (for the visa)
For your visa application, you need proof of health insurance. Incoming insurance covers your entry and the initial period.
3. Statutory health insurance (for enrolment)
Without proof of German health insurance, no enrolment. Student health insurance is cheaper than regular rates.
4. Open a current account (after arrival)
Your blocked account pays out monthly to your current account. You also need it for rent, semester fees, and daily life.
1. Open a Blocked Account
The blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special account that serves as proof of finances for your student visa. It proves to the German embassy that you have enough money to live in Germany for one year.
What is a blocked account?
- An account with a German bank or approved provider
- You deposit a fixed amount (currently 11,904 Euro per year, as of 2026)
- The money is blocked, you can’t withdraw it all at once
- After your arrival, a fixed amount is released monthly currently 992 Euro
Why do you need it?
The German embassy requires proof that you can finance your living expenses. The blocked account is the easiest and most commonly used way to provide this proof.
Alternatives (rarely accepted):
- Formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) by someone in Germany
- Scholarship confirmation
- Bank guarantee from parents
When to open it?
Open the blocked account before you submit your visa application. The process takes:
- Account opening: a few days
- Transfer from abroad: 3–7 business days
- Confirmation for the embassy: 1–3 days
Open the blocked account at least 2–3 weeks before your embassy appointment.
Providers
The most well-known blocked account providers are:
- Expatrio
- Fintiba
- Studely
→ Detailed comparison of blocked account providers
After arrival
Once you’re in Germany and have opened a regular current account:
- Activate the monthly payout with your blocked account provider
- Enter your German IBAN
- 992 Euro will be transferred to your current account each month
Important: The blocked account is not a replacement for a current account. You need both.
2. Get Incoming Insurance
For your visa application, you need proof of health insurance. But you can only take out full German health insurance after you arrive. The solution: incoming insurance.
What is incoming insurance?
- Travel health insurance specifically for entry into Germany
- Covers medical emergencies during the first weeks or months
- Accepted by German embassies as proof for the visa
- Significantly cheaper than full health insurance
Why isn’t my home country insurance enough?
German embassies generally only accept insurance that:
- Is explicitly valid for Germany
- Has a minimum coverage amount
- Covers repatriation and emergency treatment
Most home country insurance policies don’t meet these criteria or can’t prove it.
When to get it?
Before your visa application. You need the insurance certificate as part of your documents for the embassy.
How long is it valid?
Depending on the provider, 3–12 months. Choose a period that covers your entry and the first few weeks, until you switch to statutory health insurance.
What to look for?
- Acceptance by German embassies
- Minimum coverage amount
- Validity from your entry date
- Easy cancellation after switching to statutory health insurance
Important: Incoming insurance is a temporary solution. For enrolment, you need German statutory health insurance.
3. Statutory Health Insurance
Without proof of German health insurance, no enrolment at the university. As a student under 30, you’re entitled to the cheaper student health insurance.
Two phases of insurance
| Phase | Insurance | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application | Incoming insurance | Proof for the embassy |
| Enrolment | Statutory health insurance | Proof for the university |
Student health insurance
- Statutory health insurance at reduced rates
- Currently approx. €120 per month (as of 2026)
- Available for students under 30 (or up to the 14th semester)
- The health insurer reports your insurance status directly to the university
Which health insurer?
All statutory health insurers offer student insurance at the same price. Differences exist in:
- Additional benefits (dental cleaning, international coverage, etc.)
- English-language service
- App and online portal
→ Our four recommended statutory health insurance providers
When to register?
Immediately after your arrival in Germany – before enrolment. You’ll need:
- Passport
- Admission letter
- Registration certificate (if you already have it)
The health insurer will provide you with a certificate that you need for enrolment.
Special case: Over 30
If you’re older than 30 or have studied more than 14 semesters, your entitlement to student insurance ends. You’ll then need to insure yourself voluntarily through statutory or private insurance – at significantly higher rates (approx. €200–250 per month).
Important: Foreign health insurance is generally not accepted for enrolment.
4. Open a Current Account
Your blocked account pays out monthly to your current account. Without a German current account, you can’t access your own money. You also need it for rent, semester fees, health insurance, and everyday life.
Why a German current account?
- Receive the monthly blocked account payout
- Pay rent and deposit by transfer or direct debit
- Pay semester fees to the university
- Pay health insurance contributions
- Mobile phone, electricity, internet
- Everyday purchases by card
In Germany, almost everything runs through bank transfers and direct debits. Without a German account, you’re stuck.
When to open it?
In the first days after your arrival – as soon as you have a German SIM card and ideally a registration certificate. Some banks allow account opening without a registration certificate.
What to look for?
As a student, these points are particularly important:
- No account fees (many banks offer free accounts for students)
- Fast availability – ideally IBAN and virtual card within minutes
- Good app for easy mobile banking
- SCHUFA reporting – important for building your long-term credit score
→ Our recommendation for a first bank account in Germany
Connection to the blocked account
Once your current account is active:
- Log in to your blocked account provider
- Enter your German IBAN
- Activate the monthly payout
- From now on, you’ll receive approx. €992 to your current account each month
Important: Choose a bank that reports to SCHUFA. This way, you’ll build a good credit score from the start, which will help you later with flat hunting and contracts.
Student-specific timeline
Before the visa
☐ Open a blocked account and deposit the required amount
☐ Take out incoming insurance
After arrival
☐ Register with a statutory health insurer (required for enrolment)
☐ Activate blocked account payout to your current account
☐ Complete your enrolment (Immatrikulation)
☐ Pay your semester fee (Semesterbeitrag)
For all other steps see the full Roadmap.
Perspective: Staying in Germany After Your Studies
If you successfully complete your studies in Germany, you can extend your stay. After graduation, you have 18 months to find a job that matches your qualification. During this search period, you’re already allowed to work without restrictions.
Tip: Use your study time for working student jobs (Werkstudent) or internships. This way, you’ll gain work experience, build contacts, and increase your chances of being hired after graduation.
Important Terms for Foreign Students
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Immatrikulation | Enrolment at the university – this makes you officially a student |
| Semesterbeitrag | Semester fee for student services, student union, and usually the semester ticket |
| Sperrkonto | Blocked account as proof of finances for the visa |
| Meldebescheinigung | Registration certificate from the Citizens’ Office proving your address |
| eAT | Electronic residence permit – your residence authorisation in card format |
| Rundfunkbeitrag | Mandatory fee of €18.36 per month for public broadcasting |
| SCHUFA | Credit reporting agency – affects rental contracts and account openings |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need per month?
This depends heavily on the city. In affordable university cities like Magdeburg, Chemnitz or Halle, you can manage life with 800–1,000 Euro. In expensive cities like Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg, expect 1,200–1,500 Euro. The blocked account amount of 992 Euro isn’t enough to cover your living expenses everywhere in Germany.
Can I avoid the blocked account?
Theoretically yes: With a formal obligation, a scholarship, or a bank guarantee. In practice, the blocked account is the easiest and safest option.
Can I open my current account before entering Germany?
With some providers, yes, but it’s more complicated. We recommend: blocked account before entry, current account after arrival (once you have your SIM card and registration certificate).
What happens when my incoming insurance expires?
You must switch seamlessly to statutory health insurance. Plan the switch in time – ideally register with a health insurer right after arrival.
Do I have to pay the broadcasting fee?
Yes, if you have your own household. In a shared flat (WG), the household members split the total amount among themselves. This means that each resident doesn’t have to pay the full fee individually. Student dormitories often have special arrangements.
Can I work during my studies?
Yes, but with certain conditions. As a non-EU student, you are generally allowed to work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. However, this only applies to regular employment as an employee. Self-employed or freelance work is generally not included and requires separate permission from the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).
Zusammenarbeit mit Hochschulen
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Unsere Inhalte sind als unabhängige Hilfestellung für internationale Studierende konzipiert. Wir bieten kostenlose Checklisten zum Download an, um den bürokratischen Start so reibungslos wie möglich zu gestalten.
[BUTTON: Download Checkliste Studienstart Deutschland (PDF)]
Roadmap per E-Mail
Wenn du deinen Start in Deutschland Schritt für Schritt begleiten lassen möchtest, kannst du unsere Roadmap auch per E-Mail erhalten. Du bekommst in regelmäßigen Abständen Hinweise zu den nächsten typischen To-dos, ergänzende Checklisten und Hinweise zu wichtigen Fristen – abgestimmt auf die Phasen deines Aufenthalts in Deutschland