Doctors need two money pots in Germany

Save your visa money separately. Then save a second fund for your first German month. Doctors who use one pile of money for both arrive stressed when the landlord asks for a deposit.

The first pot is for your visa. The second pot pays for the apartment keys, health insurance, translations, travel, food, and transport before your first hospital salary arrives.

Your first pot is visa money

If you use a blocked account for the recognition visa or job-seeker card, you need €1,091 per month. That is €13,092 for 12 months, as of October 2026.

The German embassy checks this money during your national visa application. The national visa fee is €75, as of October 2026.

This money is for the visa requirement. Do not treat it as your moving budget when you calculate your apartment and travel costs.

Your second pot pays for arrival

This is the money you need outside the blocked account. Write each cost on one page before you book your flight.

• Apartment deposit: the landlord asks for this before handing over the keys.
• First month rent: pay this separately from the apartment deposit.
• Health insurance: ask your insurer for the monthly price before travel.
• Translations and copies: include your degree, licence, good standing certificate, and criminal record extract.
• Flight and first weeks: add food, local transport, phone, and basic household items.

Rent is the largest unknown. A room in a shared flat costs less than a private apartment. Munich and Frankfurt cost more than many smaller hospital towns.

Papers can cost more than expected

Your licensing office needs papers such as your passport, CV, degree, transcripts, home licence, and language certificate. Several papers must be current when you apply.

Get quotes from sworn translators before you start. A cheap translation that the licensing office rejects costs you twice.

You can apply from abroad. This lets you collect the right papers before paying for a flight and temporary housing.

Choose the visa money carefully

The recognition visa runs up to 24 months. It can be extended by 12 months, up to 3 years in total, as of October 2026.

The job-seeker card lasts up to 1 year. It allows 20 hours of work each week, but it does not let you work as a doctor without a temporary work permit.

For many doctors, the recognition visa fits better. It is built for the language exam, licence papers, and knowledge exam that come before a hospital job.

What to do before booking

1. Ask the German embassy which proof of money it accepts for your visa application.
2. Write your €13,092 blocked-account amount on a separate line, if your visa needs it.
3. Ask 3 landlords or housing providers for the deposit and first rent in writing.
4. Get a written price from a sworn translator for your degree and licence papers.
5. Add your flight, insurance quote, phone, food, and local transport to one arrival list.

Stand: 2026-10-12. This is a guide, not legal advice. Every German state has its own rules, and rules change. Check with your state's [medical chamber (Landesärztekammer)](https://www.bundesaerztekammer.de/aerztekammern) before you act.