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Identity Verification for Bank Accounts in Germany

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Revised procedures for ID checks for German banks:

Following the amendment of the German Money Laundering Act the German missions abroad can no longer notarize signatures or perform identity verification for the opening of a bank account, loan applications or other similar cases. This also applies to credit card applications.

Please contact the bank that sent you the documents on how to proceed.

Exempt from this new ruling are blocked accounts for foreign students who must apply for a student visa before entering Germany and who need to open an account in Germany in order to prove sufficient financial means for their stay in Germany. In these cases only, the German missions abroad are allowed to notarize signatures.

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Blocked account for foreign students

In order to show that they have sufficient financial means for their stay in Germany, foreign students may be asked to open a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto).

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Book an appointment with the Consular Section

You always need an appointment for any type of service at a German foreign mission. Depeding on the mission, appointments can be booked online or by phone.