How do you fund a German blocked account from Nigeria or Ghana?
Short answer
For a student visa, the German Missions in Nigeria and the Embassy in Accra ask for EUR 11,904 for the first year, which is EUR 992 a month. You open the blocked account online with a provider, send the money from home by international transfer, and the provider issues a confirmation. The missions accept only that official confirmation showing the amount paid in and the monthly amount; a transfer receipt alone is not enough.
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What proof does the embassy accept?
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is an account in Germany you cannot empty at once. After you arrive, it releases a fixed amount each month.
Both the German Missions in Nigeria and the German Embassy in Accra accept only the official confirmation of the account opening, and it must show the amount paid in and the amount available per month. A confirmation without this information is not enough. Proof of lodgement or transfer of funds, without the bank's confirmation, is also not enough.
For students, both missions give EUR 11,904 for the first year, which is EUR 992 a month. Check the mission page before you pay, because the amount changes.
When should you open the blocked account?
- Lagos and Abuja: the German Missions in Nigeria say to open the blocked account in good time, before you apply for the visa.
- Accra: the Embassy says to open it at the latest when your application is ready for preview in the Consular Services Portal.
Which blocked account providers do applicants use?
The German Federal Foreign Office no longer keeps a list of blocked-account providers and says it accepts no liability for failed payments by providers. It does not recommend any company, and neither do we.
Applicants from Nigeria name Fintiba, Expatrio and Coracle most often. Each of the three offered blocked accounts on its own website when we checked on 23 October 2026. Fees and terms change, so read the current price on the provider's own page before you sign up.
How do you send the money from Nigeria or Ghana?
Each provider describes its own route for paying in from abroad. This is what their pages said on 23 October 2026:
- Fintiba: students can pay in their local currency through Flywire, by bank transfer, card or e-wallet. Fintiba says funds typically arrive in 2 to 4 business days with its own transfer option (Fintiba Transfer), and a plain international bank transfer can take up to two weeks. The blocking confirmation is issued automatically once the money arrives.
- Expatrio: you can pay in your local currency through Flywire. Expatrio says international transfers take around 3 to 5 business days and can take up to 14 days. It issues an opening confirmation within 24 hours and a blocking confirmation once the funds are received.
- Coracle: its page says you can send money in your home currency and use the bank or transfer method you prefer. It says you can open the account within 2 hours.
How much time should you allow?
One applicant in Accra waited on the old waiting list from January to May 2025, then was moved to the Consular Services Portal with one week to submit every document. Her blocked-account confirmation did not arrive before the deadline, and she lost her place in the priority group. The confirmation came right after the deadline had passed.
Applicants from Nigeria report that confirmation times differ by provider, from the same day to more than a week. These are reports, not promises. Fund the account early enough that a slow transfer does not cost you an appointment.
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Is my bank transfer receipt enough proof for the visa?
No. The German Missions in Nigeria and the Embassy in Accra both say proof of lodgement or transfer is not enough without the bank's official confirmation showing the amount paid in and the monthly amount. 12
How long does it take to fund a blocked account?
It depends on the provider and the transfer route. Fintiba says funds typically arrive in 2 to 4 business days with Fintiba Transfer and a plain international bank transfer can take up to two weeks; Expatrio says international transfers take around 3 to 5 business days and can take up to 14 days; Coracle says you can open the account within 2 hours. Applicants from Nigeria report confirmation times from the same day to more than a week. 4568
Do I get my money back if my visa is refused?
The Federal Foreign Office says the rejection notice is enough to lift the block. Refund terms differ by provider: Fintiba says it keeps the account opening fees and any transfer fees; Expatrio says it returns the whole amount and its service fees; Coracle's page does not state its refund terms. Check each provider's current terms before you pay. Applicants report that providers turned down letters without the mission's stamp or signature, so keep the official refusal letter. 3458
Which blocked account provider is best from Nigeria or Ghana?
We don't recommend one, and the Federal Foreign Office no longer lists providers. Compare current fees, payment routes and confirmation times on each provider's own page. 3
Sources
- 1Proof of financial meansOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 12 Oct 2026
- 2Visa for studentsOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 3Opening and closing a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto)OfficialGerman Federal Foreign Office · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 4Fintiba blocked accountSecondaryFintiba · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 5German blocked account for your visaSecondaryExpatrio · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 6German blocked account for international studentsSecondaryCoracle · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 7German student visa experience via the consular portal, Ghana (first-hand)Applicant reportsBits of Betty, YouTube · checked 12 Oct 2026
- 8Student visa applicant reports, Lagos consulate and VFS Lekki, June 2025 to September 2026Applicant reportsApplicant reports gathered by VisaRoom · checked 12 Oct 2026
Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.
General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.