If you’re an international student planning to extend your stay in Germany after your first year, knowing which cities require a second-year blocked account (Sperrkonto) is crucial. Here’s a comprehensive list based on real experiences to help you plan better:
Cities in Germany Where Second-Year Blocked Account Is NOT Required
These cities typically do not ask for a blocked account when extending your student visa for the second year:
Bonn (2 Years Extension)
Chemnitz (2 Years Extension)
Hamburg
Magdeburg (1.5–2 Years Extension)
Siegen (2 Years Extension)
Erlangen (2 Years Extension)
Bochum (2 Years Extension)
Kleve (2 Years Extension)
Paderborn
Berlin
Frankfurt
Bremen
Cottbus
Brandenburg
Freiberg
Pfarrkirchen
Note: “(2)” indicates the visa extension is typically granted for two years.
Cities Where Second-Year Blocked Account is Required
In the following cities, you will likely need a second-year blocked account for visa extension:
Bayreuth (Can be flexible with job contract)
Krefeld
Monchengladbach
Düsseldorf (Used to be flexible but now requires it)
Wernigerode
Lippstadt (½ Blocked + Job Contract)
Rosenheim
Dieburg
Münster
Ingolstadt (½ Blocked + Job Contract)
Cottbus
Würzburg
Weiden
Dortmund
Marburg
Mainz
Essen
Coburg
Mannheim
Nuremberg
Bamberg
Cities Where Blocked Account May Be Replaced with Job Contract or Partial Funds
In these cities, you might not need a full blocked account if you have a valid job contract or can show partial funds:
Worms
Duisburg
Hof
Soest
Mülheim
Halle (Saale)
Lübeck
Dessau (4–6k EUR in bank may suffice)
Munich
Kassel
Regensburg (7k EUR in bank may suffice)
Hannover
Eberswalde
Bayreuth
Cities with Mixed Responses from Visa Officers (VOs)
These cities have shown inconsistent outcomes regarding the second-year blocked account requirement:
Hamm: Some students got 2-year extensions without a blocked account, while others were only granted 6 months.
Giessen
Darmstadt: Reports say visa officers only approve as many months as the blocked account can cover. Some students faced issues here.
Conclusion:Visa extension requirements in Germany can vary significantly by city. While some places are more flexible and accept job contracts or partial bank funds, others strictly enforce the blocked account rule. Always double-check with your local Ausländerbehörde and prepare accordingly to avoid last-minute surprises.