Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) Germany
Requirements, points system and application

What is the Opportunity Card?

The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a residence title for looking for a job or for a measure to get a foreign professional qualification recognised (Anerkennung). Its legal basis is § 20a and § 20b of the German Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG). The points system has applied since 1 June 2024.

It is aimed at people who do not yet have a specific job offer. If you already have an employment contract or a binding offer, you usually apply directly for a visa for employment. The competent authority decides which route fits your case.

Two routes to the Opportunity Card

For the points system, your qualification must be state-recognised in the country where you obtained it. You can prove this, for example, with a certificate from the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education), a printout from the anabin database or a partial recognition decision.

Opportunity Card points table

Points for German count only once, as do the points for professional experience and for age. Professional experience must have been gained after your qualification. According to the Federal Foreign Office, tourist or visitor stays do not count as a previous stay.

Proof of funds, health insurance and language certificates

Your living costs must be covered for the entire stay. In its information sheet as of April 2026, the Federal Foreign Office names at least 1,091 euros per month, that is 13,092 euros for twelve months. Accepted proof is a German blocked account (Sperrkonto) or a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) under §§ 66 to 68 AufenthG. Some German missions abroad also accept a contract for a part-time job.

You also need health insurance for the entire stay. You prove language skills with a certificate from an ALTE-certified provider; for English, TOEFL is accepted as well.

The monthly amount is adjusted regularly. Check the current information sheet of your German mission abroad before you pay in.

What can you do with the Opportunity Card?

• Stay in Germany for up to one year and look for work or a recognition measure.
• Work an average of no more than 20 hours per week.
• Do trial employment of up to two weeks each, if it relates to a qualified job, vocational training or a recognition measure.

A full-time job requires a suitable follow-up residence permit. Before you start work, check whether the planned job falls within the permitted scope.

How to apply for the Opportunity Card

1. 1

   Check your route

   Find out whether your qualification is fully recognised or whether you will use the points system. The Self-Check on Make it in Germany helps with a first assessment.

2. 2

   Gather your documents

   Passport, application form, biometric photos, certificates with a ZAB certificate, anabin printout or recognition decision, language certificate, proof of professional experience and translations into German or English.

3. 3

   Secure your funding

   Open the blocked account before you apply or arrange a declaration of commitment. Only a confirmation that states the total amount and the amount available each month is accepted.

4. 4

   Prepare your CV and letter of motivation

   Describe your target occupations, possible employers, where you plan to stay and how you will proceed. If you have no German skills, explain why they are not needed for the jobs you are looking for.

5. 5

   Apply at the German mission abroad

   Depending on the country, you apply via the Federal Foreign Office's online portal (Auslandsportal) or via the VIDEX form with an appointment at a service provider. At the appointment, your identity is checked, your fingerprints are taken and you pay the fee.

If you are already in Germany, you can only get the Opportunity Card if you hold a residence permit for training or employment. In that case the local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) is responsible.

Cost of the Opportunity Card

The fee for a national visa is 75 euros under § 46 of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV). Depending on your case, there are additional costs for language exams, translations, certifications, a ZAB certificate, health insurance and possibly fees charged by the blocked account provider. The money in the blocked account is not a fee but your own money for living costs.

After the job search: follow-up Opportunity Card, skilled worker permit or EU Blue Card

If you find a qualified job and meet the requirements for a residence permit for skilled workers, such as the EU Blue Card under § 18g AufenthG, you switch to that permit. The foreigners authority is responsible for this.

If you do not yet meet these requirements, the Opportunity Card can be extended as a follow-up Opportunity Card (Folge-Chancenkarte) for up to two years. This requires an employment contract or a binding offer for qualified employment and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). A further extension is not possible. You can only get a new Opportunity Card for job seeking after a stay abroad that was at least as long as your previous job search period.

Frequently asked questions