How do I open a blocked account at Fintiba and how long does it take to get my Blocking Confirmation?

1. Enter your email address, choose a secure password and agree to the general terms.
   Click Open Account once everything is entered. You will receive a verification code via email for the next step.
   
    

   

   
    

2. Enter the code sent to your email address.
   Make sure to also check your spam folder. Click Verify afterwards.

   

   
   
    

   

    

3. Start our survey to enter your data.
   This is relevant to determine the purpose of your blocked account, which health insurance products are applicable for you and other considerations. 
   
    

   

    

4. Question: Are you applying for University Studies in Germany?
   Here you specify the primary reason for your visa application to Germany, be it university studies or another purpose. This helps ensure your application aligns with the correct visa category.

Are you opening the Blocked Account to study at a university?
Click Yes, I am. You can choose from:

• Full-time student
• Exchange Student
• Other

Why do we need to know this?
Your student status affects which Health Insurance options you can choose in Germany. We'll use this to guide you to the right next steps.

Are you opening the blocked account for a purpose other than studying?
Click No, I have another reason and choose one of the following purposes:

• Language Studies 👉 In case you attend a language course.
• Working 👉 You have a job, but need to prove additional funding? This is for you.
• Au Pair  👉 Are you living with a host family for childcare or similar purposes? This is for you.
• Apprenticeship 👉 For those in work-based training requiring proof of additional funding.
• Job Seeker 👉 Choose this if you are looking for a job opportunity in Germany.
• Chancenkarte 👉For the special Opportunity Card offer by the German government, choose this.
• Declaration Of Commitment 👉 Are you hosting a guest coming to Germany under a Verpflichtungserklärung? This is for you.
• Different Reasons 👉 None of the above applies? You can enter your purpose here.

Made the wrong selection or decided on a different purpose later on? Our support team gladly helps! Simply submit a request via contact form.
 

5. Calculate your total blocked amount.
   Here, enter the required amount requested by your authority for your visa application. The current default is €992 per month  - or €1,091 for job seekers.
   
   ☝️❓ What should you enter for a Declaration of Commitment Blocked Account?
   A Declaration of Commitment account has a different setup than our other Blocked Account solutions.
   See the section Additional steps: Declaration of Commitment below for details on the deviating steps!
   
    

   

   
   
   An additional basic sum is usually not required. 
   
   Click Continue after entering the required data.
    

6. Question: What is your nationality?
   If you have a second nationality, we will ask you about it in the next step.
   
   Click Continue afterwards.
    

   

   
   Optional: Second nationality.
   If you have a second nationality, click Yes, I do to make a selection. 
   
   A second nationality refers to a person holding multiple citizenships in addition to their primary nationality. A person can acquire a second nationality in a variety of ways, such as naturalization in another country, marriage to a foreign national, or having a parent or grandparent from another country. It's worth noting that some countries do not allow dual citizenship and may require an individual to renounce their previous citizenship in order to acquire a new one.
   
   Note: Based on banking regulations, we need to be aware of your nationalities and ask you to answer truthfully. If you do not disclose an existing second nationality, we reserve the right to cancel your contract immediately.
   
   If no second nationality applies to you, click No, I do not to proceed.
   
    

7. Provide your marital status.
   This is also required for banking regulation purposes. Choose from:
   • Single
   • Married
   • Living Common Law
   • Divorced
   • Separated
   • Widowed

Optional: If you are married, did you change your last name after marriage?

If yes, we ask you to enter your maiden name.

What is a maiden name?
A maiden name is the surname an individual has before they get married. It is the name an individual is given at birth or upon legal adoption and is used until they marry, at which point they may choose to take their partner's surname or hyphenate their maiden name with their partner's surname. In some cultures, an individual may choose to keep their maiden name after marriage, either officially or informally. 

If your name did not change after marriage, you can answer this question with No, I did not.

8. Question: Do you have access to your passport?
   To continue with the account opening process, you are required to provide your passport. However, due to circumstances you may not have it immediately available. In this case, you will be able to continue with the initial setup, though with a few more manual inputs required from your end. 
   
   In case you have your passport:
   Answer the question: How old is the person who’ll get the Blocking Confirmation?
    

☝️❓Are you opening the Blocked Account for a Minor?
If yes, click Less Than 18 Years Old to continue with the opening process for a blocked account for minors! Additional instructions are shown in the Additional steps: Blocked Account for Minors section below.

 

In case you do not have your passport available, please enter the following data in the flow:

• Date of Birth (☝️ Important: If you are opening a Blocked Account for Minors, enter your child's date of birth here to continue with the Blocked Account for Minors flow. You will enter your own details as the legal guardian afterwards, as described in the Additional steps: Blocked Account for Minors section below.)
• Your gender
• Your first and last name (Enter all middle names in the first name field. If you don't have a last name, enter "-" in the last name field)
• Country and city of birth
• Passport information (passport no., issue and expiry date, issuing country)
   

9. Question: Are you tax liable in more than one country?
   A Tax Identification Number (TIN) is a unique number (or combination of letters and numbers) in a specified format issued by a jurisdiction for the purposes of identifying individuals and entities for tax purposes.
   For example, in Germany, the TIN is called Steueridentifikationsnummer and consists of 11 digits.
   
   If you are liable in no or one country, click No, I am not.
   If you are liable in more than one country, click Yes, I am.
   
   Next, select the country/countries of your tax liability and enter your TIN.
   
   You can check I don't know my TIN if you don't have a TIN or are not tax liable in your country.
   
   
    
10. Question: Are you taxable in the USA?
    Answer the displayed questions and check them if they apply to you.
    
    If you are taxable in the USA, we unfortunately cannot open a blocked account for you!
    
    Note: If you do not disclose an existing tax liability to the USA, we reserve the right to cancel your contract immediately.
    
    
     

11. Question: What is your current address?
    Enter your current residential address.
    
    When opening an account in Germany, you must provide your exact, current, and complete home address. If, in exceptional cases, that isn’t possible, a mailing address (for post) may also be accepted. This information is required to verify the identity and address of the account holder, as well as of any authorised signatories or beneficial owners, in line with German regulatory requirements. 
    
    Please note that incomplete or unverifiable address details may lead to delays in the account opening process, and additional documents may be requested as proof of address.

     

12. For students: Select your university and when your main course starts.
    If you selected studies, language studies or different reasons as the purpose of the blocked account, we will ask you about your university course here. More details in the Additional steps: Fintiba Plus section below. 
    
    You may choose to answer these questions later.
     
13. Optional: Do you know which German embassy or consulate you'll apply to?
    If you already know which German authority you are applying with, you can enter it here. This will be the authority shown on your Blocking Confirmation later.
    
    If you have not yet decided, you can make this selection later.
     
14. Accept the terms and conditions.
    You can download all relevant documents for your review now or later through the document section of your Fintiba account.
     
15. You are done with the registration process!
    Up next: Check the Complete the verification of your person guide below. 

To determine which health insurance works for you, we require additional information on your plans. 

If you have selected the Fintiba Plus package or decided to add health insurance to your blocked account, you will find these additional steps in your registration:

1. Select your University.
   Enter the name of your university. In case you don't know yet, you can select the university later.
   Please note this information is vital to understand which health insurance is best suited for your needs.
    

2. When does your main course of studies start?
   This refers to your main plan of studies at the university and does not include preparatory courses like Studienkolleg. 
   If you don't know yet, you can select this later.
   Please note this information is vital for determining the starting date of your insurances. To be best prepared, let us know as soon as possible!
    
3. Continue with step 13 in the Step-by-step guide to complete the registration section above.
    
4. Once completed, you will be provided with an overview of the offer best suited for you.
   Based on your inputs, arrival dates and study plans, the best solution will be provided to you, including timeline, type of product and pricing.
   
   Your insurance covers you both before and after your studies begin. It switches automatically once you have arrived in Germany and your studies start.
   
   Phase 1: Before the semester starts
   Your arrival insurance covers you from your arrival in Germany until your studies begin. 
   
   Phase 2: During your studies
   You are covered automatically once your official university enrolment begins.
   
   You only pay for one insurance at a time. Your cover switches automatically, so you are always insured with no overlap.

Who owns the account?
When establishing a Blocked Account for a minor (under 18 years old) through Fintiba, the account is opened by a parent in their own name, with the child designated as the visa applicant. This means that the parent is the official owner of the account. All processes, including account management and documentation, are handled by the parent. Fintiba issues all relevant documents in the child's name, and payouts are made to a current account opened in the child's name.

1. To enter the Blocked Account for Minors ordering flow, either:

   • Select Less Than 18 Years Old after answering "Yes, I have access to my passport"
      

     

     
      

   • Enter your minor child's date of birth after answering "No, I don't have access to my passport"
      

     

2. Enter the legal guardian's details.
   You can find detailed information about each data point requested in the Step-by-step guide to complete the registration section above.
    
   • Gender
   • First and last name (Enter all middle names in the first name field. If no last name is given, enter "-" in the last name field)
   • Marital status (Single, Married etc.)
   • If married: whether the last name changed and what the maiden name is
   • Date of Birth
   • Nationality and, if applicable, second nationality
   • Country and city of birth
   • Passport issue date
      
3. Now, enter the child's details:
   • Whether you are opening the account for your OWN child (Note: We unfortunately cannot open a blocked account for children who are not legally your own.)
   • Gender
   • First and last name (Enter all middle names in the first name field. If no last name is given, enter "-" in the last name field)
   • Date of Birth
   • Nationality and, if applicable, second nationality
   • Country and city of birth
   • Passport information (passport no., expiry date)
   • Will the minor be studying at a German university? (If no, select the purpose of the stay in Germany)
   • When will the minor arrive in Germany? (This can be an approximation.)
      
4. Question: Are you taxable in the USA?
   Answer the displayed questions and check them if they apply to you.
   
   If you are taxable in the USA, we unfortunately cannot open a blocked account for you!
   
   Note: If you do not disclose an existing tax liability to the USA, we reserve the right to cancel your contract immediately.
    
5. Accept the terms and conditions.
   You can download all relevant documents for your review now or later through the document section of your Fintiba account.

If you are a sponsor and want to order the Blocked Account for Declaration of Commitment, follow the steps below:

1. On the question "Are you applying for University Studies in Germany?", answer "No, I have another reason".
   Then select Declaration of Commitment from the purposes listed.
    
2. Calculate the total blocked amount for the Declaration of Commitment account.
   With a Declaration of Commitment account, you receive the blocked amount in one full payment when your guest's stay ends - no monthly payouts are made. The fixed monthly administrative fee of €9.90 cannot be changed.
   Instead of a monthly amount, enter the full required amount in the input field shown, along with how long the blocked account should be valid. 
   
   Note: The duration is shown to the authority and determines how many monthly fees you need to account for. Generally speaking, you should base the duration on the length of your guest's stay or the validity period of their visa. This does not mean you will automatically get the funds back once this period has passed: you will need an official release confirmation (Sperrfreigabe) from the authority once your guest has left Germany again.

3. Continue with step 6 of the Step-by-step guide to complete the registration section above, entering the details of the sponsor of the blocked account.
   The sponsor (host) is the owner of the blocked account.

Once your registration process is completed, we ask you to provide your passport. Depending on certain factors, this step may be a bit different for you.

See the alternative below if the onboarding steps don't match your case.

1. Start the process and select your country.
   Select the country that issued your passport.
   
   Can't find your country?
   Then the automated process unfortunately does not support your passport. In this case, reach out to our customer support by submitting a request and we will help you onboard via the alternative steps described below.

   

   
    

2. Submit the photo of your passport.
   Either take a photo directly with your phone (you can also connect it to a computer if you are using the web app) or upload a file from your device.
   Importantly, make sure the following applies to your file:
   • The full page of your passport showing your personal details is fully visible.
   • The image is clear and not blurred
   • Avoid direct light to prevent camera glare
   • Do not use any filters or scans

You can redo your submission if any of the above isn't met or you encounter an error.

3. Take a selfie.
   Please allow your browser or app to access your camera for a live photo of yourself.
   
   Make sure your full face is visible on the camera and meets the following criteria:

   • No use of filters
   • A full picture of your face
   • No obscuring accessories like caps, sunglasses etc.
   • Religious headwear is allowed.

   
   
   
   
   
    

4. Done! Our team will check your documents now.
   You will be informed about the result shortly.
   
   

In case you are asked to follow the alternative process, you will need to upload your passport and selfie directly in the Fintiba App.

1. Upload a photo of your Passport.
   • Ensure the entire passport page is visible
   • Use good lighting to avoid glare or shadows
   • Keep the image in focus and free from blur

   • Avoid covering any part of the passport with your fingers
     
     

      

2. Upload a photo of yourself holding your Passport
   Important: The selfie in this step requires you to provide a picture of yourself holding up your passport! See an example below.
   • Hold your passport open to the photo page.
   • Ensure good lighting and a clear background.
   • Keep your entire face and the passport in frame.
     
     
      
3. Done! Our team will check your documents now.
   You will be informed about the result shortly.
   
   

When you return to your Blocked Account after it has been opened successfully, you will be taken directly to the deposit guidance.

Kindly note the flow may look a bit different depending on your circumstances, the country you send the money from etc. In essence, the process described below applies, though you may be asked for some additional information.

1. Start the process.
   
   
    

2. Confirm the amount you wish to send.
   You can still make adjustments to the blocking agreement at this point. 
   Note that amounts higher than the current default may require a review for compliance reasons. In this case, we kindly ask you to reach out to our support team by submitting a request. If this adjustment is required by your authority, please include proof of the required amount in your inquiry.
   
    

   

   
    

3. Select the country you want to send money from.
   Enter the country the money will be sent from. The money can be sent by you or by someone else. Information on the sender is requested in the next step.
   
   
    
4. Select who is going to send the payment.
   To understand the relationship between you and the sender and give you proper instructions, choose who will send the money. 
   
   
    
5. Provide additional information on the sender, your relationship to them, or country-specific IDs and details.
   If the sender is someone other than yourself, you will be asked a few more questions about that person. In addition, the sending country may require further details to process the payment based on local regulations.
    
6. Provide your phone number.
   Our payment partners may reach out to you in case clarification is required.
   
   
    
7. Optional: Choose to send additional funds on top of your blocked amount.
   You can declare an additional amount on top of your blocked amount, up to a limit. 
   If the direct bank transfer option is available to you, make sure to send this exact amount.
   
   The extra amount is completely optional. It is not required for your visa and can be added solely at your discretion. If you want to have some extra money when you arrive in Germany, e.g. to buy furniture, clothes, or anything else you might need to kickstart your life here, you can define the extra amount here. The extra amount will be paid out to your regular bank account in full, together with the first monthly payout from your blocked account.
   
   
    
8. Choose a payment option.
   Based on your selections, you are given payment methods to choose from. You can send money in your local currency. 
   
   Check our FAQs below for details on how the exchange rate applies.
    
9. Agree to the payment provider's terms of service.
   To continue, you need to agree to the terms of service of the payment provider you will send your funds with.
    
10. Finalize the payment process.
    Depending on the payment method you chose, you either complete the final steps or initiate the payment to the bank details provided.
    
    Why am I asked to send money to a different account than my blocked account?
    Our payment partners offer transfers directly to a local partner bank in the country you send the money from. Once your deposit reaches that account, Fintiba receives your funds in Euro within a few business days to complete your funding process.
     

Reach out to us via contact form

• Email: support@flywire.com

• Live chat: Flywire

• Phone: Flywire

• Email: edu@transfermate.com
• Find contact options on TransferMate's website at https://transfermateeducation.com/en/contactus.aspx