Germany Opportunity Card: Points, Funds and Rules

You don't have a job offer in Germany yet, but you know you'd have a better chance if you could interview in person. That's what the Germany Opportunity Card is for. It lets you live in Germany for up to a year while you look for work.

It isn't open to everyone, though. You need a real qualification, enough money, and in most cases enough points. Here's how it works as of September 2026. Figures can change, often in January, so check the official pages before you apply.

What is the Germany Opportunity Card?

The Opportunity Card, or Chancenkarte in German, is a residence permit for job-seekers from outside the EU. It's issued for up to one year.

While you have it, you can look for a job, go to interviews, work part-time and try out jobs with employers. Once you find suitable work, you switch to a work permit.

There are two ways to qualify:

• Fully recognised qualification. If Germany has fully recognised your degree or vocational qualification, you qualify without points. You still need to show enough money.
• Points route. Everyone else needs a qualification, a basic language level and at least 6 points.

Who can apply on points?

For the points route, you first need three basics:

1. A university degree, or a vocational qualification with at least two years of training, recognised by the state in the country where you got it.
2. German at A1 or English at B2, with a certificate from an accredited test provider.
3. At least 6 points from the table below.

If you have no formal qualification at all, the Opportunity Card isn't for you. Our guide to jobs in Germany without a degree covers the options that remain.

The Opportunity Card points table

These are the points listed by German embassies and the Federal Employment Agency as of September 2026.

Partial recognition is worth the most. It means Germany compared your qualification and found it similar, but with some gaps. You apply for this through the official recognition procedure, which usually takes three to four months and costs several hundred euros plus translations.

A worked example

Say you're a 32-year-old accountant in Lagos. You have a bachelor's degree recognised in Nigeria, six years' experience and a C1 English certificate.

That gives you 3 points for experience, 2 for your age and 1 for English, which makes 6. Your English also meets the B2 minimum, so you qualify on points. You'd still need to show the required funds and health insurance.

If you also passed a German A2 exam, you'd score 7, which gives you a little room if the embassy doesn't count one criterion.

Proof of funds and the blocked account

You must show you can support yourself for your whole stay. As of September 2026, embassies ask for €1,091 a month. For a full year, that's €13,092.

The most common proof is a blocked account (Sperrkonto). This is a German bank account you pay into before you travel. After arrival, you can only withdraw a fixed monthly amount. You choose your own provider, and providers charge their own fees.

Other accepted proof includes:

• A formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany who agrees to cover your costs
• A contract for part-time work in Germany that pays enough

You'll also need health insurance for your whole stay. Compare policies carefully and check that your embassy accepts the one you choose.

Costs to budget for

Also plan for flights, a rent deposit and the cost of moving. Our guide to relocation costs can help you build a budget.

Working while you look for a job

You don't have to live only on savings. With the Opportunity Card, you can:

• Work part-time up to 20 hours a week on average
• Do trial work (Probebeschäftigung) for up to two weeks per employer, in a qualified role

Neither needs approval from the Federal Employment Agency. That makes it easier for an employer to try you out before offering a contract.

How to apply for the Opportunity Card

1. Check your qualification is state-recognised in the country where you got it, and consider applying for recognition in Germany.
2. Take a language test for German A1 or English B2, or higher for extra points. Certificates should usually be less than 12 months old.
3. Count your points honestly, using the table above.
4. Open a blocked account or arrange other proof of funds, and buy health insurance.
5. Apply online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal. Include your CV and a motivation letter in German or English.
6. Attend your appointment to give biometrics, pay the €75 fee and show original documents. The embassy in Nairobi says processing usually takes about two months.

What happens when you find a job?

Once you get an offer, you apply to your local foreigners authority for a work permit. That could be the EU Blue Card if your salary is at least €50,700 a year (2026 figure, or €45,934.20 in shortage fields), or the skilled worker permit.

If you find qualified work but don't yet meet the rules for a work permit, you may get a follow-up Opportunity Card for up to two years. For tips on finding employers, see our guide to Germany visa sponsorship jobs.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Counting points you can't prove. Every point needs documents.
• Using an old language certificate. Most embassies want one under a year old.
• Assuming any job counts for trial work. Trial work must be in a qualified role.
• Letting your funds run short. Your money must cover the whole stay.
• Waiting too long to learn German. Most job offers still depend on it.

What to do next

Count your points today and book a language test if you need one. Then check your qualification on the Recognition Finder and get quotes for a blocked account and insurance. When you're ready, confirm the current figures on your embassy's Opportunity Card page before you apply.