Stop A: Before you fly
Blocked account Germany 2026: amount, fees and how much buffer to send
How much to block, which provider to choose, and how to stop your transfer from arriving short, from whichever country you send it.
- Written from experience. We moved to Germany in 2019 and have filled in these forms ourselves.
- Sources you can check. Every figure links to the authority or provider that sets it.
- Dated and kept current. Each guide shows when it was last updated.
The route
Four stops between your visa appointment and family life in Germany. Scroll and the train takes you through them.
Plan it, check it, work it out
All tools- Move plannerEvery step of your move with a date, from APS to your first payslip. Tick steps off and add them to your calendar.Open the tool
- Visa route checkerEnter your salary, age and qualification to see which work routes fit: Blue Card, skilled worker, experience route or Chancenkarte.Open the tool
How much to send for your blocked account
The visa needs €11,904 blocked for a year. Fees and bank charges come on top. Work out the full amount in euros and your own currency.
From one family’s move to yours
We moved from India in 2019 with a few suitcases and a mountain of paperwork. The rest of the family joined in 2023, and our children are growing up here.
Along the way we dealt with the Ausländerbehörde, permanent residence, Kindergeld and Elterngeld. These guides are what we wish someone had handed us at the start, whichever country you are leaving.
Read our storyGuides people read first
All 22 guidesStop D: Family life
Family reunification in Germany 2026: bringing your spouse, children and parents
Who can join you in Germany, when your spouse needs German, what changed for skilled workers' families, and how to apply.
Stop A: Before you fly
German student visa 2026: requirements, money and how to apply
Everything you need for a German student visa in 2026, from admission and the €11,904 proof of funds to working while you study and staying after graduation.
Stop B: Settling in
Permanent residence and citizenship in Germany 2026: when and how
When you can get a settlement permit, how the Blue Card shortens the wait, and the 2026 rules for German citizenship, including dual citizenship.
Stop A: Before you fly
APS certificate for Germany 2026: who needs it, fees and timing
Students from India, China, Vietnam and Mongolia need an APS certificate for German universities. What it checks, what it costs in each country, and when to start.