The Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a points-based residence permit that lets qualified non-EU nationals enter Germany for up to a year to look for a job, without needing a job offer first. Introduced in June 2024, it is the only mainstream German route where you can arrive, take a part-time job of up to 20 hours a week, do two-week trial placements with employers, and interview in person, then switch to an EU Blue Card or skilled worker permit once you have a contract.
To qualify you need either a qualification that Germany already fully recognises, or a state-recognised degree or two-year vocational qualification plus German A1 or English B2 and at least six points from a table covering partial recognition, experience, age, language, previous stays in Germany and your partner’s eligibility. You must also prove funds of roughly €1,100 a month for the period, typically through a blocked account. This guide sets out the points table, the funds rules, the step-by-step application, what you can do once you arrive and how to convert the card into a long-term work permit.
Who is eligible for the Opportunity Card?
There are two doors. Which one you qualify through matters, because only the second involves points.
Door 1: full recognition, no points needed
If you hold a German degree or vocational qualification, or a foreign qualification that a German authority has confirmed as fully equivalent, you count as a “skilled worker” under German law and get the card without scoring points. You still need funds and health insurance.
Door 2: the points system
You must meet two basic requirements before points are counted:
- A university degree or a vocational qualification of at least two years’ duration that is state-recognised in the country where you obtained it. Degrees are checked against the anabin database (look for “H+” status for your institution); a Statement of Comparability from the ZAB helps.
- Language ability of at least German A1 or English B2, proven with a recognised certificate such as Goethe, telc, ÖSD, IELTS or TOEFL.
Then you need at least 6 points.
| Criterion | Points | How it is proven |
|---|---|---|
| Partial recognition of your qualification (an official notice stating what is missing for full equivalence) | 4 | Recognition notice from the competent German authority |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation (nursing, engineering, IT, teaching, trades and others) | 1 | Occupation on Germany’s shortage list |
| At least 2 years’ relevant professional experience in the last 5 years | 2 | Employer references, contracts, payslips |
| At least 5 years’ relevant experience in the last 7 years | 3 (instead of 2) | As above |
| German B2 or higher | 3 | Certificate |
| German B1 | 2 | Certificate |
| German A2 | 1 | Certificate |
| English C1 or higher | 1 (in addition to German points) | Certificate |
| Age under 35 | 2 | Passport |
| Age 35 to 39 | 1 | Passport |
| Previous legal stay in Germany of at least 6 months in the last 5 years (not as a tourist) | 1 | Previous residence permits, enrolment records |
| Spouse or registered partner also meets the Opportunity Card requirements and applies at the same time | 1 | Partner’s own application |
Worked example: a 31-year-old civil engineer with a state-recognised degree, three years’ experience and German B1 scores 2 (age) + 2 (experience) + 2 (B1) + 1 (shortage occupation) = 7 points. A 42-year-old accountant with only English B2 and two years’ experience scores just 2. Use the official self-check on make-it-in-germany.com to confirm your score.
How much money do you need?
You must show you can support yourself without benefits. At the time of writing the benchmark is roughly €1,100 a month, meaning about €13,000 to €13,500 for a full year, and the figure is adjusted periodically. Accepted evidence includes:
- A blocked account (Sperrkonto) with a German provider such as a bank or a specialist service, which releases a fixed monthly amount.
- A declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany who guarantees your costs.
- A part-time employment contract in Germany for at least 20 hours a week that covers the required amount.
If you only have funds for six months, you can ask for a six-month card rather than claiming money you cannot document.
What can you do on the Opportunity Card?
- Look for a job in any field for up to 12 months, with no restriction to your original occupation.
- Work part-time up to 20 hours a week in any job, including unskilled work. At the 2026 minimum wage of €13.90 an hour, 20 hours brings in roughly €1,200 gross a month.
- Take trial jobs of up to two weeks with each prospective employer so both sides can test the fit.
- Attend interviews, language courses and recognition procedures in person, which noticeably improves response rates from German employers.
What you cannot do: bring family members on the card, work more than 20 hours a week, or count time on the card towards permanent settlement.
How to apply for the Opportunity Card: step by step
- Check your qualification. Look up your university on anabin. If your institution or degree is not listed as recognised, order a Statement of Comparability from the ZAB (around €200 and several weeks). Vocational qualifications can be checked through the Anerkennung in Deutschland portal.
- Get your language certificate. German A1 is the minimum; German B1 or B2 adds points and transforms your job prospects. Language schools abroad and Goethe-Institut centres run monthly exams.
- Collect evidence of experience. Reference letters on letterhead with dates, hours and duties, plus contracts and payslips.
- Arrange proof of funds. Open a blocked account or obtain a declaration of commitment.
- Buy health insurance. You need cover from the day you arrive. Job seekers cannot join public insurance until employed, so take an incoming or expatriate policy that meets German visa requirements for the whole period.
- Apply online. Submit the national visa application through the Federal Foreign Office’s Consular Services Portal at digital.diplo.de, then book an appointment at the German mission for biometrics. The visa fee is €75. If you are already in Germany on another permit, apply at your local foreigners’ authority instead.
- Wait for the decision. Processing commonly takes four to twelve weeks depending on the mission, longer in high-demand countries.
- Arrive, register and start searching. Register your address at the Bürgeramt within two weeks, apply for your residence card (fee around €100), open a bank account, and load your CV onto the Federal Employment Agency’s Jobbörse, Make it in Germany’s job board, StepStone, Indeed, LinkedIn and Xing.
Costs to budget for
| Item | Approximate cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Visa fee plus residence card | 75 + about 100 |
| ZAB Statement of Comparability (if needed) | About 200 |
| Language exam | 100 – 250 per level |
| Blocked account set-up fee | 50 – 150 |
| Health insurance for job seekers | 60 – 150 per month |
| Translations and certified copies | 100 – 400 |
| Rent for a room in a shared flat | 450 – 800 per month (Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg cheaper than Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart) |
| Deposit | Up to three months’ rent |
Most people spend €8,000 to €15,000 across a year including the blocked account they draw down, so the part-time job is not optional for most cardholders. If you need to borrow for the move, do so cautiously; our guide to travel loans for immigrants in Germany explains what lenders look at and why short residence permits limit your options.
How do you switch from the Opportunity Card to a work permit?
Once you have a qualified job offer, apply at the foreigners’ authority to change your residence title without leaving Germany. The main destinations are:
- EU Blue Card for graduates with a job paying at least €50,700 gross in 2026, or €45,934.20 in shortage occupations and for recent graduates. IT specialists without a degree can qualify with three years’ relevant experience. Settlement can follow after as little as 21 months with German B1.
- Skilled worker permit (§18a or §18b) for jobs matching a recognised vocational or academic qualification, with no fixed salary threshold beyond comparable local pay (and a threshold for applicants over 45 without adequate pension provision).
- Experience-based permit (§19c(2)) for non-regulated professions if you have a state-recognised qualification, at least two years’ experience and a salary above a threshold of roughly €44,000 to €45,000, or a job under a collective agreement.
- Vocational training (Ausbildung) if you decide to retrain in Germany’s dual system.
- A follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years may be possible if you have a qualified job offer but are still completing a step such as recognition; check the current rules with the foreigners’ authority.
The Federal Employment Agency usually has to approve the employment, and the employer completes the declaration of employment form. Our work visa sponsorship Germany guide explains that process, and our post on getting work visa sponsorship for tech jobs in Germany shows how cardholders use in-country job hunting to their advantage.
Scam warning
The Opportunity Card has attracted “agents” selling fake points assessments, “guaranteed cards” and non-existent blocked accounts. The self-check on Make it in Germany is free, the application goes only through the Federal Foreign Office portal or a German mission, and blocked accounts should be opened only with providers recognised by the Foreign Office. No one can promise you a job in Germany before you arrive. For paid legal advice use a German lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) specialising in migration law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the Opportunity Card without any German?
Yes, if you have English at B2 and enough points from other criteria such as age, experience and partial recognition. In practice, though, most German employers outside IT and research expect at least B1 German, so a card without German is a gamble; use the year to reach B1 or B2 quickly.
Does a degree that is not on anabin disqualify me?
Not automatically. If your university is missing or marked with an “H-” status you cannot use it, but if it is unlisted you can request a ZAB Statement of Comparability, which is accepted by the missions. Vocational qualifications must be state-recognised in your home country and at least two years long.
Can I extend the Opportunity Card if I have not found a job?
The standard card is limited to twelve months and cannot simply be renewed for further job searching. An extension of up to two years is aimed at people who already have a qualified job offer and are finalising the requirements for a work permit. Otherwise you need to leave and could reapply later.
Can I bring my spouse and children?
Not as dependants. Your spouse may obtain their own card if they meet the criteria, which also gives you an extra point. Family reunification becomes possible once you hold a Blue Card or skilled worker permit; our guide to the Germany spouse visa for family reunification covers the rules.
Bottom line
The Opportunity Card is Germany’s honest answer to the question “how do I get a job offer if I cannot get into the country?” It gives you a year on the ground, part-time income and trial placements, in exchange for a recognised qualification, a language certificate, six points and proof of funds. Score yourself on the official checker, fix the cheapest gaps first (a German B1 certificate is worth two points and transforms your interview rate), budget realistically, and plan from day one for the switch to a Blue Card or skilled worker permit. For the full menu of German routes, start with our Germany visa guide for immigrants.