Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): Points, Funds and How to Apply
The Opportunity Card, or Chancenkarte, lets you move to Germany for up to a year to look for a job without having an offer first. That makes it unusual in Europe. Most work routes start with a signed contract; this one starts with your qualifications, a points score and enough money to live on.
It has run since June 2024 and is widely oversold by agents. The card gets you into Germany; it does not get you a job. The people who succeed tend to have a recognised qualification in a field Germany needs, some German, savings beyond the minimum, and a plan.
This guide covers who qualifies, the points table, the money you must show, work while searching, converting to a long-term permit, and a realistic view of your chances.
In this guide
Who can get an Opportunity Card
There are two ways in.
Route 1: Skilled workers with full recognition. If your foreign degree or vocational qualification is fully recognised as equivalent in Germany, you qualify automatically. No points and no language test are needed. In practice this mainly covers graduates whose university and degree appear in the anabin database as "H+" and "equivalent", or who hold a full recognition decision from a German authority.
Route 2: The points system. Everyone else needs all of the following:
- A university degree, or vocational training of at least two years, that is state-recognised in the country where you obtained it.
- German at A1 level or higher, or English at B2 level or higher.
- At least 6 points from the table below.
- Enough money to support yourself.
Short private certificates and on-the-job training don't count, however long you have done the work.
The Opportunity Card points table
These are the criteria published by the Federal Employment Agency. You need 6 points.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Partial recognition of your qualification in Germany | 4 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation in Germany | 1 |
| At least 5 years' relevant work experience in the last 7 years | 3 |
| At least 2 years' relevant work experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| German at B2 or higher | 3 |
| German at B1 | 2 |
| German at A2 | 1 |
| English at C1 or native level | 1 |
| Aged under 35 | 2 |
| Aged 35 to 39 | 1 |
| Previous legal stay in Germany of at least 6 months in the last 5 years (not as a tourist) | 1 |
| Spouse or partner also qualifies and applies with you | 1 |
Points don't stack within a category. You get either 3 or 2 for experience, not 5; and only your highest German level counts.
Some hypothetical examples:
- Aisha, 29, software developer from Lagos, 4 years' experience, English C1, German A2. Age 2, experience 2, German 1, English 1 = 6 points. She qualifies, but only just.
- Rahul, 36, mechanical engineer from Pune, 8 years' experience, English B2, German A1. Age 1, experience 3, shortage occupation 1 = 5 points. He doesn't qualify yet. Reaching German A2 would take him to 6.
- Maria, 31, nurse from Manila with a partial recognition decision, German B1. Partial recognition 4, age 2, German 2 = 8 points, before counting experience.
Partial recognition is worth more than anything else. Applying for recognition in Germany first and receiving a decision listing the gaps (a "deficit notice") can make the card easy to get.
How much money you need
You must show you can cover your living costs for the whole stay. For 2026 the official figure is €1,091 per month, which is €13,092 for a full 12 months.
Accepted ways to prove it:
- A blocked account (Sperrkonto) with a German-approved provider, from which you can withdraw the monthly amount once in Germany.
- A formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) signed by someone living in Germany at their local foreigners' office.
- A part-time employment contract in Germany, which can reduce the amount you must show.
The amount usually rises each year, so check it when you apply. Treat €1,091 as the floor: a room in Munich or Frankfurt can take most of it, before insurance, translations, travel to interviews and a language course. Our guide to proof of funds for visa applications explains how embassies assess bank evidence.
Health insurance
You need health insurance for the whole stay before the visa is issued. Statutory health insurance is not normally open to you while you are only job-searching, so most applicants buy a private policy designed for incoming job seekers. Check that it meets German visa requirements, covers the full period, and doesn't exclude pre-existing conditions you have.
When you start a regular job, you will usually switch into statutory insurance through your employer.
Working while you search
The card allows more work than most job-search visas:
- Part-time work of up to an average of 20 hours a week, in any job. You don't need approval from the Federal Employment Agency.
- Trial work of up to two weeks with each employer, provided it is in qualified work linked to your qualification or a recognition measure. This lets employers try you out before hiring.
A warehouse or restaurant job helps with rent but won't help you convert the card unless it matches your qualification.
Converting to a Blue Card or skilled worker permit
The aim is to find a job that qualifies you for a long-term permit and switch in Germany, without leaving the country. The main options:
- EU Blue Card, if you have a recognised degree and an offer above the salary threshold (€50,700 a year in 2026, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and recent graduates). See our guide to the EU Blue Card in Germany for details and the expected 2027 figures.
- Skilled worker residence permit, for jobs that match your recognised degree or vocational training, without a fixed salary threshold in most cases.
- Permit for professionals with work experience, for people with at least two years' experience and a state-recognised qualification at home, earning above a set minimum salary.
- Recognition partnership, where you work while completing the steps for full recognition, with your employer's support.
If you find qualified work but don't yet meet the conditions for any of these, you can apply for a follow-up Opportunity Card, valid for up to two years. It requires a job that normally needs a qualification (not helper or trainee roles) and is meant to bridge the gap until you meet a long-term permit's requirements.
After the 12 months, you can't simply renew a basic Opportunity Card. A new card is only possible after you have spent at least as long outside Germany (or in Germany on another permit) as you did on the previous card.
How to apply
- Check your qualification. Look up your university and degree in anabin. If you are relying on points, confirm your qualification is state-recognised at home. If the authorities need a ZAB Statement of Comparability, apply early; it costs €208 and takes several weeks.
- Work out your points honestly, using the table above, and gather evidence for each one: language certificates (Goethe, telc, ÖSD, TestDaF for German; IELTS, TOEFL or similar for English), reference letters showing your role and dates, and proof of earlier stays.
- Arrange your funds, usually by opening a blocked account and depositing the full amount.
- Buy health insurance that covers the whole period of your planned stay.
- Apply for the national visa at the German embassy or consulate in your country of residence, or through the Federal Foreign Office's online consular services portal where it is offered. The fee is €75.
- Attend your appointment with your passport, application form, qualification documents, language certificates, CV, proof of funds and insurance.
- On arrival, register your address within two weeks and contact the foreigners' office if your visa needs converting into a residence permit.
The official Make it in Germany Opportunity Card page includes a self-check and the current requirements. The Federal Employment Agency also publishes a detailed Opportunity Card summary.
Wait times
There is no fixed processing time. In practice, the bottleneck is getting a visa appointment, which at busy missions in India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Turkey can take several months. Once your application is lodged, decisions often follow within a few weeks, but files that need extra checks on qualifications can take longer.
Don't resign, give up your lease or book non-refundable flights until the visa is in your passport.
You don't need an agent. The government charges only the €75 visa fee, and nobody can guarantee a card or a job. Anyone selling a "guaranteed Chancenkarte with job placement" is a red flag; see our guide to overseas job scams.
An honest look at your job prospects
The card has been less popular than the government expected. According to the federal government's answer to a parliamentary question, about 11,500 Opportunity Cards were issued in the first year (June 2024 to mid-June 2025), against an expectation of up to 30,000 a year. India accounted for the largest share by far. The government has also said it does not systematically collect data on how many holders go on to find jobs, so anyone quoting a "success rate" is guessing.
What we can say from how the German job market works:
- German is the deciding factor for most roles. Outside IT, research and some international companies, employers expect at least B1 and often B2. With only English, you are competing for a small slice of the market.
- IT and engineering offer the most English-speaking jobs, but the tech market cooled in 2024 and 2025, and junior roles are competitive.
- Healthcare and skilled trades have strong demand, but often require recognition and German first.
- A year goes quickly. Many people spend the first two or three months on registration, insurance, finding a room and learning how German applications work (detailed CVs, cover letters and certificates are expected).
Treat it as a structured search, not a leap of faith. Arrive with a German-format CV, a list of employers, applications already sent and ideally B1 German. The Federal Employment Agency's free job portal is open to card holders too.
If you already have a job offer, skip the card and apply directly for a Blue Card or skilled worker visa. If you are a student or graduate, studying in Germany is another route in; see our guide to studying in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points do I need for the Germany Opportunity Card?
You need at least 6 points, unless your qualification is fully recognised in Germany, in which case no points are needed. Points come from partial recognition, work experience, German and English skills, age, previous stays in Germany and a partner applying with you.
How much money do I need for the Chancenkarte in 2026?
The official requirement in 2026 is €1,091 a month, or €13,092 for a full year, usually shown through a blocked account. A formal obligation letter from someone in Germany or a part-time job contract may also be accepted.
Can I work on an Opportunity Card?
Yes. You can work part time for up to an average of 20 hours a week in any job, and do trial work of up to two weeks with each employer in a role linked to your qualification. Full-time work requires switching to a different permit.
Can I bring my family on an Opportunity Card?
Family reunification isn't available on the basic card. Your spouse can apply for their own Opportunity Card if they qualify, which also gives you each an extra point. Once you switch to a Blue Card or skilled worker permit, your family can join you under those rules.
What happens if I don't find a job within a year?
You must leave Germany when the card expires, unless you have switched to another permit. You can't simply renew it. A new card is only possible after you have spent at least as long outside Germany as you did on the previous one.
Final Thoughts
The Opportunity Card is a genuine open door, and for the right person it is the fastest way to start a German career without an offer in hand. The right person usually has a recognised qualification, relevant experience, some German, and savings well beyond the official minimum.
If you are short of points, the best investments are German lessons and a recognition application, in that order. Both raise your score and both make you more employable once you arrive. And whatever any agent tells you, plan for a search of six months or more, not six weeks.
This guide is general information based on official sources at the time of writing, not legal or financial advice. Immigration rules, fees and processing times change often, so check the official government website or speak to a licensed immigration adviser before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
