Student Visa from Saudi Arabia: Sperrkonto and Documents

By the GoGermany Editorial Team · 2026-07-27

A 2026 guide to the German student visa from Saudi Arabia: Sperrkonto amount, scholarship alternatives, documents and the Riyadh embassy process.

Saudi students head to Germany for tuition-free public universities and strong engineering, medicine and business programmes — and many arrive funded either by a government scholarship or comfortably self-financed by their family. Either way, you must win the student visa Germany Saudi Arabia file at the German Embassy in Riyadh, and that means proving your money one of two ways. This guide covers the Sperrkonto, the scholarship alternative, the documents and the Riyadh process.

The big picture: which visa you need

Applicants in Saudi Arabia — Saudi nationals and long-term residents alike — need a national D visa to study in Germany, not a short Schengen visa. Two versions exist:

• Studentenvisum if you already hold a Zulassungsbescheid (admission letter).
• Studienbewerbervisum if you are still applying or joining a Studienkolleg.

Both come from the German Embassy in Riyadh (residents of the Eastern Province and elsewhere still apply through the mission serving their area) and both require financial proof. For the country-neutral flow, read alongside our German Student Visa Step by Step: Documents, Fees & Timeline; here we focus on the Saudi specifics.

Proving your finances: Sperrkonto or scholarship

Route A — a scholarship letter

If you hold a full scholarship — for example through a government body or the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission — an official award letter stating that it covers your living costs (at least €992 per month) can replace the Sperrkonto entirely. The letter must be recent, on official letterhead, and clearly state the monthly or annual amount and duration. Bring the original plus a translation. This is the single biggest advantage scholarship students have, so confirm your sponsor issues a compliant letter before you do anything else. If your scholarship covers only tuition or a partial stipend below €992 per month, treat it as insufficient on its own and top it up with a Sperrkonto that closes the gap — the embassy adds the two sources together, but each must be clearly documented. A sponsor letter that merely says you are "a scholarship student" without figures will not satisfy the officer.

Route B — a Sperrkonto

Self-funded students use a Sperrkonto (blocked account) that holds your money and releases it monthly after you arrive.

For visas from 2026 you must block €11,904 for twelve months, released at €992 per month. This figure is set by the Auswärtiges Amt and applies regardless of nationality. Model it with the Sperrkonto Calculator before transferring.

Three providers accept applicants from Saudi Arabia:

• Fintiba — fully digital, quick to open.
• Expatrio — bundles blocked account and health insurance.
• Coracle — student-focused, English support.

Opening fees run about €49–€89 plus a small monthly charge. The Saudi riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US dollar, so your euro cost is stable, but banks such as Al Rajhi, SNB or Riyad Bank still add a spread and SWIFT fees — send a buffer so the account is not short of €11,904 after deductions.

Documents for your student-visa file

Bring two identical sets to Riyadh:

• A passport valid well beyond your stay, plus copies (residents also bring their Iqama).
• Two completed national visa forms (via the VIDEX portal) and a truthfulness declaration.
• Biometric photos (35x45 mm).
• Your Zulassungsbescheid or proof of application.
• Financial proof: the €11,904 Sperrkonto confirmation OR your scholarship award letter.
• Health insurance — travel cover plus proof you can join German statutory insurance after enrolment; the Health Insurance Chooser explains the split.
• Academic records: secondary certificate (Shahadat al-Thanawiyya), university transcripts and degrees.
• Language proof: TestDaF, DSH or Goethe for German programmes; IELTS or TOEFL for English ones.
• A short motivation letter and CV.

Arabic documents must be translated into German or English by a sworn (certified) translator, and originals often need attestation through the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs first. Build the full list with the Document Checklist so nothing is missed.

Booking your appointment in Riyadh

Appointments at the German Embassy in Riyadh are booked online and student slots fill before the September and April intakes. The visa fee is €75, paid in Saudi riyal at the day's rate; scholarship holders are often exempt from the fee, so check whether your sponsorship covers it.

Timelines and the interview

Decisions from Riyadh typically take four to twelve weeks. The interview is short and factual: why this university and city, how the whole degree is funded, and your plans afterwards. If you are scholarship-funded, say so clearly — it strengthens your file. If you plan to return or work in the Gulf after graduating, our From Student Visa to Work Permit in Germany: How to Switch explains the options if your plans change.

Budgeting beyond the minimum

The €992 per month a Sperrkonto releases — or the minimum a scholarship must cover — is a legal floor, not a comfortable budget everywhere. Rent in Munich, Frankfurt or Hamburg can swallow most of it, while Leipzig, Dresden, Halle and smaller university towns stretch it much further. Compare typical rents, groceries and transport with the Living Cost Calculator, then weigh two or three cities side by side with the City Comparator before you settle on where to study.

Saudi students used to Gulf living costs are sometimes surprised in both directions: rent can feel cheaper than Riyadh or Jeddah, but you will now pay for things employers or family often cover at home, from health insurance to public transport. If you are scholarship-funded, check whether your sponsor pays a housing allowance on top of the living stipend, and budget accordingly. Self-funded students should plan a buffer for one-off arrival costs — a deposit (Kaution) of two to three months' rent, initial furniture, and the semester fee (Semesterbeitrag) most universities charge even though tuition itself is free. Knowing these numbers keeps your first months calm and your interview answers concrete.

Common mistakes

• A scholarship letter that is vague — missing the monthly amount, duration or letterhead — so the embassy still demands a Sperrkonto.
• Blocking the wrong amount instead of €11,904.
• Skipping attestation before sworn translation, so documents are rejected.
• Underfunding the wire so fees drop the Sperrkonto below €11,904.
• Booking the interview late and missing the intake deadline.

Your next step

A Saudi student file is straightforward when your money is documented the right way — a compliant scholarship letter or a fully funded Sperrkonto of €11,904. Confirm your funding route first, get your certificates attested and translated, and book Riyadh early. Use GoGermany's free tools to prepare each piece and walk into the embassy with a file that leaves no question unanswered.