Expatrio Services Complete Review: Simplifying Your Move to Germany

Last updated: May 2026

Expatrio is a Berlin-based fintech that packages the financial and insurance proof a German student visa demands into a single online flow. You open the blocked account, pick health insurance, and get a German current account, all from your home country, in minutes. This guide covers what Expatrio offers in 2026, how the pricing compares with alternatives, and when it is the right choice.

What is Expatrio?

Expatrio is a digital relocation platform approved by Germany's Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt). Its core product is the Sperrkonto (blocked account) every non-EU student needs for a study visa, but it now bundles that with health insurance, a German current account, and several free extras (ISIC card, study finder, eligibility checker). The platform partners with Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), DR-WALTER, and UniCredit.

How much does Expatrio cost in 2026?

Expatrio charges a EUR 89 one-time setup fee plus a EUR 5 monthly account-maintenance fee. The blocked deposit itself (EUR 11,904) is your money, just held with a monthly withdrawal cap of EUR 992; you get every euro back at the rate Germany requires.

Compared with the other major option, Fintiba (EUR 89 setup + EUR 5.20/month), pricing is essentially identical. See our blocked account providers comparison for a side-by-side breakdown including Deutsche Bank.

How the Expatrio blocked account works

1. Sign up online. Pick the Value Package (blocked account + health insurance + free Girokonto + ISIC). Account opening takes 15-20 minutes.
2. Verify identity. Upload passport scan + admission letter. Identity check via video call or AusweisIdent.
3. Transfer funds. Wire EUR 11,904 from your home bank or via Western Union / Wise. Funds reach the blocked account in 1-7 business days.
4. Get the confirmation letter. Expatrio issues a Blocked Account Confirmation accepted by every German embassy / consulate.
5. Travel and activate. After arrival, complete Anmeldung, then activate the linked UniCredit current account; EUR 992 lands automatically each month.

Health insurance through Expatrio

Health insurance is a hard visa requirement. Expatrio simplifies the choice into two paths:

Public insurance:

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)

TK is consistently rated among the strongest German public health insurers for international students, with multilingual support, an English app, and full coverage from doctor visits to hospital stays.

• Cost in 2026: approximately EUR 130/month for student tariff (covers public insurance contribution + long-term care insurance)
• Eligibility: students under 30 / before the 14th semester
• Bonus: Expatrio's TK plan includes a free DR-WALTER incoming policy that covers you between landing in Germany and your first day of enrolment

Private insurance: DR-WALTER

For students over 30 or those on language-course visas, public insurance is not always available. DR-WALTER provides Schengen-compliant private health insurance accepted at the visa stage.

• Cost in 2026: EUR 35-65/month depending on plan (Educare24, Educare30+ etc.)
• Eligibility: open to all visa categories, including language course students
• Trade-off: lower cost but narrower coverage; switching to public later in your degree is restricted

For the bigger picture on insurance choices, see our must-have insurance guide.

Current account (Girokonto) with UniCredit

Since Aion Bank rebranded to UniCredit in 2025, Expatrio's free German current account runs on UniCredit infrastructure. It is the account where your monthly EUR 992 lands and from which you pay rent, semester contributions, and groceries.

• Zero monthly fee, no minimum balance
• Free virtual Mastercard, Apple Pay / Google Pay ready
• Funds protected up to EUR 100,000 under the EU deposit guarantee
• Multilingual customer support
• Set up alongside the blocked account in the same flow

Optional extras

Expatrio bundles a few low-cost add-ons:

When Expatrio is the right pick

Choose Expatrio if you want:

• A single fully digital flow that bundles blocked account + insurance + bank account
• TK as your public health insurer (Expatrio is the simplest entry point)
• Multilingual customer support throughout the visa process

Look at alternatives if:

• You already have a Deutsche Bank or N26 account and want to consolidate (see our N26 guide)
• You need a different incoming-insurance partner that DR-WALTER does not cover
• You are applying for a Job Seeker Visa or Blue Card, where the financial-proof requirements are different

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to deposit in an Expatrio blocked account in 2026?

EUR 11,904/year (EUR 992/month withdrawal). This is set by the German government and applies to every blocked account provider. The figure is reviewed annually by the Federal Foreign Office. See our blocked account guide.

What does Expatrio cost on top of the blocked deposit?

EUR 89 one-time setup fee plus EUR 5/month for account maintenance. So the total Expatrio service fee for a 12-month visa is EUR 89 + (EUR 5 x 12) = EUR 149. The blocked deposit itself is your money and is paid back to you monthly.

How long does it take to open an Expatrio blocked account?

Sign-up and identity verification take 15-20 minutes online. Wire transfer of the EUR 11,904 deposit takes 1-7 business days, depending on your bank and method. Once funds clear, the Blocked Account Confirmation is issued the same day, ready to attach to your visa application.

Is Expatrio accepted by all German embassies?

Yes. Expatrio is approved by Germany's Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) and accepted by every German embassy, consulate, and Foreigner's Authority (Ausländerbehörde) for student-visa and residence-permit purposes.

Expatrio vs Fintiba, which is better?

The two products are nearly identical: same EUR 89 setup, EUR 5/month, same Federal Foreign Office approval, same German embassy acceptance. Expatrio bundles UniCredit current account + ISIC; Fintiba bundles N26 current account. Pick the bank you prefer. See Fintiba review for the comparison.

Can I use Expatrio for a Job Seeker Visa or Chancenkarte?

Expatrio's Sperrkonto is technically usable for any visa class that requires proof of financial means, including the Job Seeker Visa and Opportunity Card / Chancenkarte. However, the required deposit is different (EUR 11,904 for Job Seeker; varies for Chancenkarte). Confirm the exact figure with your consulate before opening.

What happens to my Expatrio account after my visa is approved?

You activate the linked UniCredit current account upon arrival in Germany, and from that point EUR 992 transfers from blocked to current automatically each month. You keep the blocked account open until the deposit is fully paid out (12 months), then close it free of charge.