18/10/2024
Germany Opportunity Card.
Chancenkarte.
The Germany Opportunity Card is a residence permit that allows anyone from a non-EU country to live in Germany for up to one year to find a job. While you are job seeking, the Opportunity Card allows you to take up a two-week trial job or part-time work (no more than 20 hours a week).
What Are the Requirements for a Germany Opportunity Card?
To qualify for the Opportunity Card in Germany, you have prove that you fulfill the following criteria:
• You must have language skills in German (A1) or English (B2), as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• You must have completed at least two years of vocational training or a university degree, which is recognized in the country in which you obtained it.
• You must be able to financially sustain yourself during this period. The required amount is at least €1,027 per month as of 2024.
• You score at least six points from the Point Distribution System*.
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If you have a recognised vocational qualification in Germany, you are exempted from achieving the minimum number of points and you can apply for the Opportunity Card as a recognised skilled worker. The rest of the criteria listed above still apply.
Points Distribution System for the Opportunity Card.
You have to score at least six points from the criteria listed below to qualify for an Opportunity Card:
Partial recognition of a foreign educational qualification If your foreign qualification is partially recognized. 4 points
Qualification in a shortage occupation
If you qualify for an occupation for which there is a shortage of skilled labor in Germany. 1 point
Professional experience 2 years of professional experience within the last 5 years 2 points
3 years of professional experience within the last 7 years 3 points
Language skills German Level A2 1 point
German Level B1 2 point
German Level B2 or higher 3 points
English Level C1 or higher 1 point (in addition to the other points for German language skills)
Age Up to 35 years old 2 points
35 – 40 years old 1 point
Previous stay in Germany If you stayed legally and continuously in Germany for at least 6 months in the last 5 years for study, language acquisition, or gainful employment – excluding stays for tourist purposes. 1 point
Joint applications with your partner If you and your spouse or registered partner both apply for the Opportunity Card at the same German mission, one point can be awarded to one of you.
1 point
How to Apply for an Opportunity Card in Germany?
You can apply for the German Opportunity Card online or in-person at a German embassy or consulate. Check whether you can apply online or in person on the website of the German Foreigner’s Office.
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States of America can apply after entering Germany.
Steps to Apply for the Opportunity Card Online
Steps to Apply for the Opportunity Card in Person
Steps to Apply for the Opportunity Card After Entering Germany.
What Are the Required Documents for the Germany Opportunity Card?
To prove you meet the requirements for an Opportunity Card, you have to submit the following documents:
• Valid passport. Your passport must have been issued within the past ten years, be valid for at least three months at the planned time of entry, and have two blank pages.
• Evidence of your residence:
• Official certificate of residence or registration,
• An official extract from the residence register, or
• An identity document
• Proof of completed vocational training:
• Vocational school certificate, or
• Technical college certificate
• A written notice of recognition from the competent German authority if you have completed your training outside Germany. Find the authority responsible for recognition here.
• Residence permit in the country of application, if you are not a national of the country in which you are staying.
• Proof of German language skills. You have to submit an official language certificate confirming that your command of German is at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• Proof of English language skills. You have to submit an official language certificate confirming that your command of English is at least C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• Proof of recent job/vocational training place search in Germany:
• Email correspondence
• Job offers
• Agency enquiries
• Proof of financial solvency. You have to provide proof that you can sustain yourself financially while looking for work in Germany. You can provide proof in one of the following ways:
• Confirmation Document for a Blocked Bank Account, or
• Declaration of Commitment “Verpflichtungserklärungen”, or
• Signed employment contract with a German employer for a part-time job (that you applied for before you applied for the Opportunity Card).
• Proof of valid health insurance. You need valid health insurance while living in Germany; you can also obtain this after entering. When you apply for the visa, however, you will likely need to submit a Schengen travel insurance
• Proof of your relationship with your partner (if they are applying as well):
• A marriage certificate
• Civil partnership certificate
• Extract from the marriage or civil status register
Your documents have to be in English or German; if they are not, you have to translate them and submit the notarized translations as well.
How Much Does the Opportunity Card Application Cost?
The fee for a German Opportunity Card is €75, which you have to pay in local currency, at the applicable conversion rate. The method of payment will depend on the German embassy or consulate.
What Is the Processing Time for an Opportunity Card?
Your application for an Opportunity Card may take several weeks (or at the most, six months) to process. The German embassy or consulate will notify you once your application is processed.
What to Do After I Obtain the Opportunity Card?
After you enter Germany with an Opportunity Card, you have to:
• Schedule an appointment at the Residents’ Registration Office (Bürgeramt) to register your residence.
• Start looking and applying for jobs. In the meantime, you can work a maximum of 20 hours per week or up to two weeks in trial work periods.
• If you find a job: Apply for a residence permit for the purpose of employment to continue working and living in Germany long-term.
