- The Opportunity Card lets you live in Germany for up to a year to look for a job.
- You qualify with a fully recognised qualification, or with at least 6 points plus German A1 or English B2.
- In 2026 you must show €1,091 a month in funds, usually in a blocked account. The amount changes every year.
- You may work up to 20 hours a week and do trial work of up to two weeks per employer.
The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) started in June 2024. Between June 2024 and November 2025, German missions issued 17,489 of them (European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs). Many of the people who message me are on one, and many are stressed after months without an offer. The card is a real chance, but it works best with a plan from day one.
The two routes
- Recognised qualification. If your degree or vocational qualification is fully recognised in Germany, you qualify without points.
- Points route. Your qualification must be recognised in the country where you earned it (for degrees, usually shown with an anabin result or a Statement of Comparability). You need German A1 or English B2, and at least 6 points.
The official points table
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification partially recognised in Germany | 4 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation | 1 |
| At least 2 years of relevant work experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| At least 5 years of relevant work experience in the last 7 years | 3 |
| German A2 / B1 / B2 or higher | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| English C1 or higher, or native speaker | 1 |
| Age up to 35 / 35 to 40 | 2 / 1 |
| Legal stay in Germany of at least 6 months in the last 5 years (not as a tourist) | 1 |
| Partner who also qualifies and applies with you | 1 |
Source: Make it in Germany. Every point must be proven with documents.
Example: a 29 year old software engineer with 4 years of experience and English C1 gets 2 (age) + 2 (experience) + 1 (English C1) = 5 points. Adding German A2 brings it to 6.
Proof of funds
In 2026 you must show €1,091 a month, which is €13,092 for a full year (Make it in Germany, Ankommo). Most people use a blocked account (Sperrkonto). A formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany is also accepted. The amount is linked to student support rates and usually changes every year, so check it again before you apply.
What you can do in Germany
- Part-time work up to 20 hours a week in total.
- Trial work of up to two weeks per employer, when it can lead to a qualified job.
- When you find a qualified job, you switch to the right work permit, for example the EU Blue Card, at your local foreigners authority.
You apply online through the Federal Foreign Office consular services portal, and the visa is issued by the German mission in your country.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits people who have savings for a year, who have a profession that is in demand, and who will use the time to network in person and improve their German. It is risky for people who would spend their last savings on it, or who plan to apply the same way they did from home. You can also search from home and come later with a job offer and a work visa. The card is optional.
How to use the year well
- Before you fly: CV, LinkedIn and target list ready, German A1 or A2 started, first applications sent.
- Months 1 to 3: Anmeldung, bank account, a part-time job if you need income, and full time job search with direct outreach.
- Months 4 to 6: attend meetups and job fairs in your field, and review your tracker every two weeks.
- Months 7 to 12: widen your target cities and roles if needed, and keep improving German.
Dinesh, one of the reviews on this site, came to Germany on an Opportunity Card, searched for six months without luck, and got a contract from a startup in Stuttgart after joining my 3-month program. A card plus a strategy is a very different situation from a card alone.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so always check the official sources before you apply.
Free PDF: send OC to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram for "Opportunity Card: points, money and first steps". See all 33 free guides.
Sources
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.