The Germany Opportunity Card — known in German as the Chancenkarte — lets qualified skilled workers from outside the European Union move to Germany and look for a job without already having a job offer. The card was launched on 1 June 2024 and replaced the old Job Seeker Visa. It is issued for up to 12 months, and during that time you can look for qualified work — or become self-employed — while living in Germany.
The card suits people who have a recognised qualification and want to search for work on the ground in Germany, attend interviews in person and build contacts with employers, instead of applying from abroad. While you search, you may also take part-time work of up to 20 hours a week and do job trials of up to two weeks with an employer, so you can earn while you look and test a role before you commit.
There are two ways in: a direct route for people whose qualification is fully recognised in Germany, and a points route for everyone else. This guide explains both routes, the points system, the money you must show, the visa fee and the application steps, using the official German government pages.
What Is the Germany Opportunity Card?
The Opportunity Card is a residence permit under Section 20a of the German Residence Act. It is for skilled workers from non-EU countries who want to enter Germany to find qualified employment. You do not need a job offer to apply, and you do not need to have found an employer before you travel.
The card is initially issued for a maximum of one year, and during that time you must be able to support yourself financially. If you find qualified work during the year, you can switch to a residence permit for employment. If you completed your studies or vocational training in Germany, a different jobseeker permit gives you 18 months instead — that route is separate from the Opportunity Card.
Germany is looking for qualified workers across many fields. The official Make it in Germany portal names medicine, education, transport, IT, crafts and trades, construction, green jobs and the hotel and gastronomy industry as areas with especially good chances on the German labour market — but skilled workers in all industries can apply.
Who Can Apply? The Two Routes
Route 1 — Fully recognised qualification. If your foreign vocational qualification or university degree is fully recognised in Germany — or you earned your qualification in Germany — you count as a skilled worker and can apply for the Opportunity Card directly. You do not have to go through the points system, and you do not have to prove your language skills, although German will improve your chances of finding a job.
Route 2 — The points system. If your qualification is not yet fully recognised in Germany, you must meet three conditions before points are counted. First, you must have completed a degree or vocational training of at least two years that is recognised in the country where you earned it: for a university degree, show this through the anabin information portal or a Statement of Comparability from ZAB; for a vocational qualification, through the Digital Statement on Professional Qualification. Second, you need German at level A1 or English at level B2. Third, you must score at least 6 points in the points system below.
All information you give in your application must be supported by evidence or certificates, so gather your documents before you apply.
The Points System — How to Score 6 Points
The points system applies only to Route 2. You need a total of at least 6 points from the following criteria:
- Partial recognition of your qualification — 4 points: you have already applied for recognition of your foreign qualification and it was found to be partially equivalent, including where compensatory measures are needed for a regulated profession.
- Qualification in a shortage occupation — 1 point: your formal qualification is in an occupation on Germany’s official shortage occupations list.
- Professional experience — 2 or 3 points: at least two years of professional experience in relation to your qualification within the last five years scores 2 points; at least five years within the last seven years scores 3 points.
- German language skills — 1 to 3 points: German at level A2 scores 1 point, B1 scores 2 points, and B2 or above scores 3 points.
- English at C1 or above — 1 point: one extra point is awarded if you have English at level C1 or above, or if you are a native speaker.
- Age — 1 or 2 points: applicants who are no older than 35 score 2 points; those aged between 35 and 40 score 1 point.
- Previous stay in Germany — 1 point: you can prove at least six months of continuous legal residence in Germany in the last five years, for example for study, language learning or work. Stays for tourism or visiting people do not count.
- Qualifying spouse or life partner — 1 point: your partner already meets the requirements for an Opportunity Card and applies with you.
For example, a 30-year-old with four years of relevant experience and B1 German scores 2 points for age, 2 points for experience and 2 points for German — 6 points in total. Add a shortage-occupation point and the case is stronger still.
Proof of Funds and the Visa Fee
You must show that you can support yourself for your whole stay in Germany without public funds, including adequate health insurance. The amount for 2026 is at least €1,091 net per month — which is €13,092 for a full 12 months. You can prove this with a blocked account (Sperrkonto) or with a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany. A part-time employment contract can also count towards the amount.
The Opportunity Card is applied for as a national visa, and the fee is €75. The fee for minors is half the regular rate, €37.50. Fee waivers apply in some cases, for example for foreign nationals receiving a scholarship from public funds.
How To Apply for the Opportunity Card
Applications are made through the German missions abroad. The steps are:
- Check your route and gather your evidence: your passport, proof of your qualification, your language certificate, proof of funds and health insurance, plus the evidence for every point you claim.
- Apply online through the Consular Services Portal: register on the portal, enter your details, upload your documents and send your application to the German mission responsible for the area where you live. The portal runs a preliminary check and tells you online if anything is missing.
- Attend your appointment in person: at the mission or visa application centre, present your original documents, provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) and pay the application fee.
- Track your application online: you can check the current status in the Consular Services Portal, and you will be told the next steps once a decision is made.
Applications for a national visa can take several months to process, so apply in good time. Never pay anyone for a job or a visa, and apply only through the official Consular Services Portal and your German mission.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need a job offer for the Germany Opportunity Card?
No. The Opportunity Card is made for skilled workers who do not have a job offer yet. You move to Germany first and look for qualified work once you are there.
How long can I stay in Germany with the Opportunity Card?
The card is initially issued for a maximum of one year. If you find qualified work during that year, you can switch to a residence permit for employment.
How many points do I need for the Opportunity Card?
At least 6 points — unless your qualification is fully recognised in Germany, in which case you apply directly as a skilled worker and no points are needed.
How much money do I need to show?
At least €1,091 net per month for 2026, which is €13,092 for a full 12 months. You can show this with a blocked account or a formal declaration of commitment from someone in Germany.
Can I work while I look for a job in Germany?
Yes. While you search, you may take one or more part-time jobs totalling 20 hours a week, and you can do job trials of up to two weeks per employer.
What is the visa fee for the Opportunity Card?
The national visa fee is €75. The fee for minors is half the regular rate, €37.50.
What happened to the old Germany Job Seeker Visa?
The old Job Seeker Visa, which gave six months to look for work and did not allow you to work, was replaced by the Opportunity Card on 1 June 2024. The Opportunity Card gives you up to 12 months and allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week.
