Guide by
Abdullah
Creator of Ankommo · Based in Germany
I moved to Germany and built Ankommo to help others navigate the same process I went through. I offer 1-on-1 video consultations on visas, Ausbildung applications, citizenship requirements, and German language — in English, Urdu, or German.
Book a 1-on-1 consultationSide by side (2026)
| Fintiba | Expatrio | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | €159 | €119 |
| Monthly fee | €9.90 | €9 |
| Total fees, year 1 | €277.80 | €227 |
| Deposit required (2026) | €11,904 | €11,904 |
| Monthly release after arrival | €992 | €992 |
| Application | Fully online, passport + admission | Fully online, passport + admission |
| Insurance bundle | Optional add-on | Value Package (account + health insurance) |
| Embassy acceptance | German missions worldwide | German missions worldwide |
| Refund on visa refusal | Full deposit (fees not refunded) | Full deposit (fees not refunded) |
| Open with Fintiba | Open with Expatrio |
Fees read from fintiba.com and expatrio.com, July 2026. The deposit and monthly release are set by the Federal Foreign Office — no provider can change them.
What's identical — so nobody upsells you on it
The €11,904 deposit and €992/month release — set by the Federal Foreign Office, not the provider.
Embassy acceptance: both blocking confirmations work at every German mission.
Fully online opening with passport + admission letter, no German address needed.
Deposit refund if your visa is refused (setup fees stay paid at both).
Activation after arrival needs the same two things everywhere: a German current account and your Anmeldung.
Both are intermediaries with deposits held at regulated German banks.
Anyone telling you one provider gets visas approved faster is selling something. The embassy checks that a valid blocking confirmation exists — it does not care whose logo is on it.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Fintiba or Expatrio cheaper?
- Expatrio. In 2026, Expatrio charges €119 setup + €9/month (€227 in year one) against Fintiba’s €159 setup + €9.90/month (€277.80 in year one) — a €50.80 difference. The €11,904 deposit itself is identical, set by the Federal Foreign Office, not the provider.
- Are both Fintiba and Expatrio accepted by German embassies?
- Yes. Both issue the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung) that German missions worldwide accept as proof of financing. Neither has an acceptance advantage — the choice comes down to fees, bundles, and preference.
- Can I switch from one provider to the other later?
- Before you submit your visa application, switching is just cancelling one account and opening the other — annoying but cheap. After submission it means a new blocking confirmation and updating your visa file, so pick once. After arrival in Germany, switching mid-year is rarely worth the fees.
- Should I take the health insurance bundle?
- Bundles (Expatrio’s Value Package, Fintiba’s insurance add-on) put the blocked account, incoming travel insurance, and health insurance into one application — genuinely convenient for the visa file. They are not automatically the cheapest insurance path though: once enrolled at a German university and under 30, most students belong in public student insurance (~€130–160/month). Compare the insurance leg separately before bundling.
- What happens to the deposit if my visa is refused?
- Both providers refund the full deposit to the source account once you send the embassy’s refusal confirmation — typically within a few weeks. Setup fees already paid are not refunded by either provider.
Account picked? Start on the German
You'll open the account in one afternoon — the language takes the year. Ankommo's A1 course is free to start.
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