Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) for Chinese Students

A Sperrkonto (blocked account) holds approximately €11,208 — the current annual living allowance set by the German government — as proof that you can support yourself financially in Germany. The German Embassy requires a Sperrkonto certificate before issuing a student visa. After you arrive, the account releases ~€934 per month. The required amount is reviewed annually — confirm the current figure with the German Embassy Beijing or your relevant consulate.

China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) restricts individual annual foreign currency purchases to approximately $50,000 USD equivalent. For most Chinese students, €11,208 falls comfortably within this limit. However, if you also need to transfer money for tuition (if studying at a private institution), living costs, or other purposes, the combined annual total could approach the cap. Common strategies: transfer directly from your bank account via SWIFT wire (Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank all support international transfers); use Wise for smaller additional transfers; coordinate with parents who can each use their own $50,000 annual limit.