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The short answer
A declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor, usually someone living in Germany, can replace the blocked account as proof that a student's living costs are covered; Make it in Germany lists it alongside the blocked account and scholarships. The blocked account needs €11,904 deposited upfront for 2026, while the declaration needs no deposit from you but commits the sponsor legally, and their local authority judges whether they can afford it.
Two ways to prove the same thing
A German student visa needs evidence that your living costs are covered. Make it in Germany lists the options as a blocked bank account, a scholarship, or a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung). For a blocked account, it states that you must have at least €11,904 in 2026, which is €992 a month. The declaration of commitment, often called a formal obligation letter, is the route where someone else promises the German state to cover those costs instead.
| Blocked account | Declaration of commitment | |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it | You, by depositing the money | A sponsor, usually living in Germany |
| Money needed upfront | The full year's amount (€11,904 in 2026) | None from you; the sponsor must be able to pay |
| What the embassy sees | Provider's confirmation of the deposit | The formal declaration |
| Your monthly income in Germany | Released to you by the provider | Paid to you by the sponsor as they arrange |
| Main risk | Cost of tying up the money | Depends on the sponsor's reliability; they take on a legal commitment |
How the declaration works
MyGermanUniversity's guide (undated, a secondary source) describes the declaration as "a formal obligation by a resident of Germany to cover all the costs of the student for the duration of her/his studies", including food, clothing, medical treatment and accommodation. According to that guide, the sponsor books an appointment at the foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) where they live and brings:
- a completed application form
- proof of income, original and copy (for employees, the guide mentions an employment contract and at least three months of salary slips)
- their identity card or passport
- their certificate of registration and rental agreement
- your details, a copy of your passport and proof of the purpose and length of your stay
The guide gives a fee of €29, paid by the sponsor, and says the declaration can be valid for a maximum of five years, usually matching the length of studies. On income, it says the sponsor's net income should be at least about €2,500 a month, with variation by city and family situation (it cites at least €2,450 for Berlin). Treat these as indications from a secondary source: the local authority applies its own assessment, and its figure is the one that counts. The Make it in Germany page lists the declaration as an option but does not set out the procedure.
When each route makes sense
Choose the blocked account if
- your family can raise the full year's amount before the visa appointment
- you have no close relative or friend in Germany with a steady income
- you want independence from a sponsor's circumstances during your studies
Consider a declaration if
- a relative or friend in Germany has a secure income and is willing to take on the commitment
- raising €11,904 at once would mean selling assets or borrowing
- you still have a plan for monthly money, because the declaration is a promise, not a transfer
A worked example
Example only: Damilola's aunt lives in Hamburg and offers to sponsor her. Damilola's parents in Ibadan could raise the blocked amount, but only by selling land. The aunt makes a declaration with her local authority and posts the signed original. Damilola submits it with her visa application in place of a blocked-account confirmation. Once in Germany, her aunt transfers €1,000 a month to her German account, above the €992 monthly equivalent of the blocked-account figure. Her parents keep the land and set aside a smaller emergency fund in euros instead.
Had the aunt been unable to show sufficient income, the authority could have declined the declaration, and Damilola would have needed the blocked account after all. That is why families often start both conversations at once and decide when the authority responds.
What to check first
- Confirm the current blocked-account figure on Make it in Germany.
- Ask the German mission whether it accepts a declaration for your visa type and what form it must take.
- Have your sponsor contact their local foreigners' authority about documents, fees and timing.
- Agree in writing, privately, how and when the sponsor will send monthly support.
- Keep a fallback plan: blocked account or scholarship.
Further reading: Germany blocked account amount, opening a blocked account from Nigeria and sponsor bank statements.
Where Pryme fits
Whichever route you use, you will be living on euros. A Pryme account holds EUR alongside NGN, USD and GBP with local details for each, so family support can arrive in euros and stay in euros until you choose to swap.
Questions people ask
Can a Verpflichtungserklärung replace a blocked account for a German student visa?
Yes. Make it in Germany lists a declaration of commitment as one of the ways to prove you can finance your studies, alongside a blocked account and a scholarship.
Who can give a declaration of commitment for Germany?
A resident of Germany who can show their local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) that they can cover your costs. One secondary guide cites a €29 fee and a net income of around €2,500 a month as a guide; the authority decides.
How much must a sponsor cover for a German student visa?
The benchmark is the blocked-account level, €11,904 a year in 2026 (€992 a month). The authority decides whether the sponsor's income is sufficient.
Is a blocked account or obligation letter better?
A blocked account needs the full year's money upfront but makes you independent; a declaration needs no upfront deposit but depends on a sponsor taking on a legal commitment.
Sources
- Make it in Germany: Visa for studying (page dated 19 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- MyGermanUniversity: Declaration of Commitment for German Visa (secondary guide, undated, 2026 in title) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.