How Can Foreign Students Open an Account with a Bank in Hamburg?

Hamburg is a port city in Germany, which attracts a wide range of international students. This city has numerous educational institutes, which host both international and local students. The University of Hamburg (Universität Hamburg) is a major educational institution here, which has been ranked #191 among 1500 ranked universities in the QS World University Rankings 2025. 

For international students, one of the major requirements is to manage their finances. Opening a bank account is a major thing they need to do to manage their finances. How to open a bank account as a foreign student is a major question that many students ask and here, you will get the answer to this question. 

Decide the Bank Where You Want to Open a Bank Account 

Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse, Volksbank, and more are some of the banks where bank accounts can be opened by students. You can know about the schemes offered by different banks and decide on the basis of that, which is best suitable for you. 

Gather Your Documents 

You need to present documents to open a bank account. The documents you need to submit as an international student in a Hamburg’s bank are the passport, visa/residence permit, proof of address, and proof of enrollment. Besides, you also have to provide the Tax Identification Number (TIN) if you have one, otherwise, it can be provided later. 

You Can Visit the Bank in Hamburg or Online Sources in Your Home Country 

You can visit the bank in person if you are in Hamburg. You can also visit some online sources while you are in your home country. You can visit the website of a bank. Besides, some online student accommodation service platforms, which help you in finding student accommodation Hamburg, also assist you in opening a bank account. 

Fill Out the Application Form on Paper or Online 

If you are in the bank, you need to fill out an application form on paper. If you are on the website of the bank, you get an online form there to fill out. 

Get Your Account Details 

After filling out the application form and submitting the documents, you can get account details. Sometimes, even if you have filled out the online form, you may have to visit the bank in person after reaching Hamburg. 

Benefits of Opening a Bank Account as a Foreign Student in Hamburg 

There are numerous benefits of opening a bank account as a foreign student in Hamburg, some of which can be read as under. 

1. You Can Manage Your Finances Easily 

Managing the finances is a major requirement of every international student in a city abroad. Managing the finances seems to be almost impossible if you don’t have a bank account in Hamburg. You would like to save some money for your future expenses, which is not possible without a bank account as you cannot keep all your money in cash. 

So, the major benefit of opening a bank account in Hamburg is you can manage your finances easily. 

2. You Can Save Your Money 

If you don’t have a bank account in Hamburg, it will be difficult for you to control over your expenses. But, with a bank account, you can save some of your money for your future and spend some for your monthly expenses. 

3. You Keep Your Salary Safe If You Do a Part-Time Job 

If you do a part-time job in Hamburg apart from studying, the bank account becomes a must for you to keep your salary safe. Besides, some employers prefer to send salary directly to accounts, and in that case, also, it is necessary for you to have a bank account. 

4. You Can Make UPI Payments 

Today, many payments are made through UPI, which is a digital mode of sending payments to someone’s account. It is not necessary that you give cash every time to shopkeepers, service providers, or anyone else whom you have to pay. The digital method is convenient and you are not required to keep a lot of cash with you every time. So, digital payment through UPI also avoids the risk of the cash getting stolen. 

But, to make UPI payments, you must have a bank account. Therefore, we can count making UPI payments as a benefit of opening a bank account. 

Conclusion 

You can open a bank account as a foreign student in Hamburg, Germany, through some easy steps. You need to choose a bank, visit the bank or the website of the bank, fill out an application form, submit the necessary documents, and receive the account details. You can open a bank account with the help of your online student accommodation service platform also. There are numerous benefits of opening a bank account such as saving money, making UPI payments, and more.