Traditionally, a Sperrfreigabe is a document from a German embassy or foreigners office that states that we can close your Blocked Account.
If your latest 06 Blocked Amount Confirmation has an expiration date and we are already past that date you can close your blocked account without a Sperrfreigabe. Please note that no 06 Blocked Amount Confirmation created before November 2023 has an expiration date, and not all of them have one since then either.
If your 06 Blocked Amount Confirmation does not have an expiration date we will not be able to close your Blocked Account without the confirmation of the German federal authority, as stated on the Federal Foreign Office website.
" The blocked account may only be closed with the consent of the blocked account beneficiary. The blocked account beneficiary is either the mission abroad or, after entering Germany, the competent foreigners authority. A blocking notice therefore only ensures that sufficient funds to cover living expenses are always available. It does not entitle the blocked account beneficiary to withdraw money from the blocked account. "
Apart from a confirmation that your blocked account can be closed, we can also accept a visa rejection as the Sperrfreigabe. Please note that not being able to get a Visa appointment or not applying for a Visa does not mean that you do not need a Sperrfreigabe document. The only exception from needing a Sperrfreigabe is if there is a expiration date on your latest 06 Blocked Amount Confirmation and it already passed as stated in the beginning of this article.
The Sperrfreigabe can come from a German embassy or consulate in any country, or an Ausländebehörde in Germany.
You can use this document to ask for the Sperrfreigabe from the embassy. Please note that this is not a legal document, it is only intended to be used as a guide when requesting this document from your German visa authority. We cannot guarantee that this document will ensure that you will receive a Sperrfreigabe document.
Documents accepted as a Sperrfreigabe
The following documents are accepted and sufficient for the Sperrfreigabe in the Closing Order:
- Sperrfreigabe: a document, letter or email stating that your German embassy, consulate or foreigners office has no objections against releasing your blocked amount. This may also be known as the Blocked Account Release confirmation.
- Visa Rejection Letter
- Visa Application Withdrawal signed and/or stamped by your embassy.
- If you receive this via email, it must show your full name and passport no.
- This does not include visa appointment cancellation. Your visa application must be withdrawn with the aforementioned points.
- Consular Certificate of a standard form: This indicates whether you have applied for a national visa and whether your passport has a valid national visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany.
- If you have not applied for a visa and the embassy say they cannot issue you the Sperrfreigabe because of this, you can request for the Consular Certificate of a standard form instead.
Documents not accepted as a Sperrfreigabe
The following documents are not accepted and will be deemed insufficient if uploaded as the Sperrfreigabe in the Closing Order:
- Visas or expired visas
- Exmatriculation
- Abmeldebesheingung
- Visa appointment cancellation documents
When requesting for this document from the authority, you may also ask them for this document via email or phone call, as well as asking for it during an appointment.