Answers to your difficult questions about Expatrio

To open an Expatrio blocked account, you need to pay a fee of 69 Euros as of the 2024 rate. Additionally, a service fee of 5 Euros will be charged monthly throughout the duration of the blocked account. The money you deposit into the blocked account will be paid to you in equal monthly installments.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

Your Expatrio blocked account can be opened within 2 to 5 days. The account approval usually takes 1 day, and it is completed after the money transfer is made. One of the main factors affecting the duration of this process is how you make the money transfer.

If you use SWIFT (international money transfer), depending on the option you select, your money will be delivered either on the same day, the next day, or within 3-4 days.

Since Expatrio checks money transfers once a day, if you choose the same-day delivery option, your account will be opened by the next day at the latest. However, keep in mind that you will need to pay a higher transfer fee to your bank for this option.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

After opening a blocked account and obtaining your German visa, you will need to open a local bank account in Germany upon arrival. Once you open the account and activate it on Expatrio’s website, the monthly payments will be automatically deposited into your account.

Opening a bank account in Germany can sometimes be a complicated process. Therefore, I recommend purchasing the “Value Package.” This way, you can have a valid bank account in Germany and obtain a bank card.

If you plan to do this, you can get an additional 15 EUR discount by entering the reference “recepdayi” in the INVITATION CODE section during registration.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

Yes, you will need health insurance for the duration of your stay in Germany. Expatrio offers the option to purchase private health insurance.

If you want to join the public health insurance system (and if you plan to work in Germany later), it’s advisable to opt for the public system. If you start with private insurance, you won’t be able to switch to the public system later and will have to continue with private insurance.

For detailed information on the public health insurance system, you can refer to my article “Germany Health Insurance for Students” If you prefer private insurance, the insurance offered by Expatrio is quite reasonable.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

If your visa application is rejected, you have the option to withdraw the funds from your blocked account or leave them as is if you plan to reapply for the visa. The “06” document issued by Expatrio has an expiration date; you can use this document for visa applications until that date.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

After creating your account as described in the guide I prepared for you, you can directly add the health insurance package from the homepage. By adding health insurance on the Expatrio portal, you will also upgrade to the Value Package and receive a refund of the account opening fee. If you plan to do this, you can get an additional 15 EUR discount by entering the reference “recepdayi” in the INVITATION CODE section during registration.

In order for the person using the coupon code to receive a discount, they must purchase the Value Package. Since the campaign may vary, even if you don’t purchase the Value Package, it’s worth entering the code just in case.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

There are many options for both national and local banks in Germany. However, applications to banks can only be made individually. Research the banks in the city you are going to, as some may offer options such as online account opening.

However, opening a bank account in Germany can become quite a complicated process. Therefore, I recommend purchasing the “Value Package.” This way, you can have a valid bank account in Germany and obtain a bank card. If you plan to do this, you can get an additional 15 EUR discount by entering the reference “recepdayi” in the INVITATION CODE section during registration.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

When you leave Germany, if there is still cash in your blocked account or if you haven’t activated it yet, you can get the money back from the blocked account using a document called Sperrfreigabe. To obtain this document, you will need to contact the Foreigners’ Office.

There is also a document called Abmeldebestätigung, which should be obtained about a week before you leave Germany. This document is required to cancel your address registration in Germany. Health insurance and communication tax cancellation also occur with this Abmeldebestätigung.

Since Germany is a federal state, procedures can vary from city to city, but generally, the document can be obtained from the Foreigners’ Office with your return flight ticket.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

This issue can occur with some banks. You can complete the transfer by adding enough ‘X’ characters at the end of the reference text.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

If you have received Bedingter Zulass from the university, you should select the “Language Course” option.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

You can create your account again using the same account. After transferring your money and getting approval from the Foreigners’ Office, you can activate it. Unfortunately, you will need to pay the account opening fee again.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

Yes, you can change it. There is no fee for this. You can make the change through the Expatrio portal.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

You cannot activate your account before entering Germany. The logic behind the blocked account is to ensure that you can cover your living expenses while in Germany. During activation, your location is verified, confirming your presence in Germany. In short, you cannot complete this process from outside Germany, and attempting to do so could cause issues later. I do not recommend it.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

The activation of the blocked account is based on the date you enter Germany. The blocked account is activated starting from that date.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

I do not recommend depositing more than the required amount. Any excess amount you deposit will be added to your final monthly installment and transferred to your account. However, ensure that no bank fees are deducted from the amount during the transfer. To avoid this, you should select the “OUR” option when making the SWIFT transfer.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

The start date of your insurance should match the date you request for your visa on the visa application form. If they do not match, you can update the dates from the page containing your personal information on your Expatrio profile. Afterward, download your insurance policies again, and the dates will be updated.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

This depends on the state you are in and your financial situation. Some states may not require it, while others may ask you to open a blocked account again. Therefore, it would be helpful to consult the relevant authority for clarification.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.

While opening a bank account in Germany typically requires an “Anmeldung” (address registration), accounts opened through Expatrio can be activated with a sublease agreement. You can search for example agreements by typing “Untermietvertrag” on Google.

You can access the guide for opening the blocked account here.