Germany's Opportunity Card: Points, Money and Rules Explained

What Is the Opportunity Card?

The Opportunity Card, or "Chancenkarte," is a residence permit for skilled workers introduced under Section 20a and 20b of Germany's Residence Act and available since 2024. It lets qualified professionals enter Germany to search for a job without already having a job offer in hand. The card is granted on a points system: to qualify, you need at least 6 points, earned across criteria such as recognised qualifications, language skills, work experience, and age.

It's worth noting the Opportunity Card is not the same as the "Chancenaufenthalt" under Section 104c of the Residence Act, which is a separate route for asylum seekers, not for skilled workers looking for employment.

Third-country nationals who count as "skilled workers" under Section 18, Paragraph 3 of the Residence Act can receive the card without extra requirements, as long as their foreign qualifications or university degrees are recognised in Germany. If you don't meet that bar, you need either basic German (A1 level) or English at B2 level, plus 6 points, plus one of the following: a foreign university degree, a professional qualification from at least 2 years of training recognised in your training country, or a qualification issued by a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) must confirm that a professional qualification rests on at least 2 years of training and is state recognised, and applicants cover this ZAB procedure themselves.

How the Points Add Up

Points come from several categories: recognition of qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, age, prior links to Germany, and the professional potential of an accompanying partner or spouse.

The two highest-value categories are worth 4 points each: recognition or partial recognition of a foreign professional qualification, or permission to practice a regulated profession such as educator, nurse or engineer.

3 points are available for at least 5 years of professional experience within the last 7 years combined with 2 years of vocational training in your home country, or for good German at B2 level.

2 points come from sufficient German at B1 level, from 2 years of professional experience within the last 5 years following vocational training, or simply from being no older than 35.

1 point is available for several things: basic German at A2 level, having spent at least 6 months in Germany within the last 5 years (not as a tourist), being between 35 and 40 years old, very good English at C1 level, working in a profession classed as a shortage occupation, or applying together with a partner who also meets the Opportunity Card requirements.

Shortage Occupations Can Tip the Balance

If your qualification falls under a shortage occupation, it adds a point to your total. Only professions carrying the codes 132, 133, 134, 21, 221, 222, 225, 226, 23 or 25 count, as listed on page 34 of the relevant occupation list. It's worth checking this list closely, since matching one of these codes is a straightforward way to add to your score.

Keep in mind that reaching 6 points doesn't guarantee an entry visa. The final decision rests with the relevant consulate.

Proving You Can Support Yourself

Because the Opportunity Card is granted without a job offer, applicants must show they can cover their own living costs. The main route is a blocked account, or "Sperrkonto." For 2026, at least 1,091 euros must be available in the account for every month you plan to spend in Germany on the card. That money stays frozen until you arrive, and withdrawals are capped at 1,091 euros per month unless you've deposited more than the minimum. If you can't cover this yourself, someone else can submit a declaration of commitment on your behalf.

Working and Extending Your Stay

While holding the Opportunity Card, you can work part time for up to 20 hours a week to help cover living costs, and you can also try out a job through a 2-week qualified, training-oriented trial period.

The card is initially issued for up to 1 year. If you haven't secured an employment permit by then, an extension of up to 2 years is possible, but only with a qualified job offer approved by the Federal Employment Agency, and during the extension you may only work the job named on your permit.

One caveat worth knowing: you cannot move straight from an Opportunity Card to a permanent residence permit. You first need to switch to another residence permit, though time spent on the Opportunity Card does count toward the residence duration required for permanent status. Once a card expires, you must wait at least as long as its validity period before applying for a new one.

For family members, spouses need basic German at A1 level and children over 16 need C1 level. Applying for the Opportunity Card together with a partner who also qualifies can earn each of you an extra point.