Opportunity Card Germany (Chancenkarte)

From June 1st 2024, you can submit your application at a German embassy or consulate in your home country, or at the local Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde).

Make sure  you have all necessary documents, including proof of:
- qualifications,
- language skills
- financial means
- health insurance.

You must also submit a completed and signed application form.

The application fee for the Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is €75, payable in your local currency at the current exchange rate. 

The processing time for the Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) typically ranges from several weeks up to six months, depending on the embassy or consulate’s workload and how complete your application is. 

You must show proof that you have enough funds to support yourself and, if applicable, your family members in Germany without relying on public funds from Germany.

For this, you need to demonstrate financial means of at least €1,091 for each month in a Blocked Account. Alternatively, you can show an employment contract for part-time work.  Due to the minimum wage in Germany, this employment contract should be sufficient to prove financial means.

Under certain circumstances, a formal obligation (Verpflichtungseerklärung) signed by a person living in Germany (sponsor) might be accepted as proof of financial means.

1. Travel to Germany: Use your Opportunity Card to enter Germany. Ensure you have all necessary documents with you, including your passport, proof of qualifications, proof of financial means, and health insurance.

2. Register your residence: Within two weeks of arrival, register your address at the Residents' Registration Office (Bürgeramt).

3. Seek employment: Actively search for jobs that match your qualifications. You can use job portals, attend job fairs, and network with potential employers.

4. Trial employment: Take advantage of the opportunity to engage in trial employment for up to two weeks, multiple times, to find a suitable job.

5. Part-time work: You are allowed to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while searching for full-time employment.

6. Apply for residence permit: Once you have secured a job, apply for a residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde to extend your stay in Germany and continue working.

The German Opportunity Card is initially valid for one year. During this period, you can search for a job and work part-time (up to 20 hours per week). The one-year validity period of the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) usually begins on the date of entry into Germany, not from the date the visa is issued or stamped.

While your new employer may be able to assist and support you in the process of obtaining a work permit, it is primarily your responsibility to ensure that you have the proper documentation and permits to work legally in Germany. Contact the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) to inform them that you have secured employment. You will need to apply for a residence permit. This will allow you to stay in Germany beyond the initial one-year period of the Opportunity Card and continue to work legally. The type of residence permit you need may vary depending on your job and qualifications. You might need to attend an appointment or interview at the Immigration Authorities. Your employer might help you prepare by making sure all job-related documents are accurate and complete. Once your residence permit is approved, you can continue working in Germany under your new status. This permit is usually issued for a longer period of time and may be renewable, depending on your employment situation. With a residence permit, you have access to various benefits and services in Germany, including social security, and health care. After a certain period of continuous residence and meeting certain criteria, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence or even German citizenship.

If your Opportunity Card is about to expire and you have not found a job, you have 3 options:

1. Leave Germany: If you have not secured employment, you will have to leave the country because you no longer meet the criteria to stay under the Opportunity Card.
2. Renew: If you have secured a job or are in the process of converting your visa, apply for an extension before the card expires. To do this, submit your employment contract and other necessary documents to the Immigration Office.
3. Return later: If you leave Germany without finding a job, you can reapply for the Opportunity Card or another visa in the future if your circumstances change and you meet the requirements. 

No, the Opportunity Card is limited to Germany and does not automatically entitle you to work in other EU countries. If you wish to work in other EU countries, you must apply for a separate work permit and residence permit there. However, there are various EU regulations that facilitate work in other EU countries, especially if you have already worked or lived in another EU country.

This will depend on a case-by-case basis. It may be possible to use one account, but you will need to check this with the German embassy or consulate in your country.

It depends, in cases where you do not have a sponsorship letter or a part-time job offer, then you will likely need a Blocked Account. However, please contact the German embassy or consulate in your country for confirmation.

You do not need to "switch" it to a residence permit at the Foreigners Office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. The Opportunity Card itself is both a visa and a temporary residence permit valid for one year from the date of entry into Germany. You will be allowed to work part-time on your Opportunity Card for the one year duration.

Please check with your local German embassy or consulate as they will have specific regulations stating if you can adjust the duration of your Opportunity Card. If they allow a 6-month visa, you would only need to show 6 months for proof of funds in your application (for example, €1,091 x 6 months). Expatrio can assist you with adjusting your Blocked Account to meet your application requirements.

The U.S. Green Card is a permanent residence permit that often requires a job offer, family sponsorship, or winning the lottery. It can lead to U.S. citizenship after a few years.

The German Opportunity Card is different. It allows you to stay in Germany for up to one year to look for work without needing a job offer or family ties. Instead, you qualify by earning at least six points based on factors like skills, work experience, and language ability.

No, a permanent employment contract is not required to apply for the Opportunity Card.

Instead, eligibility is based on a points system, where you need at least six points. Points are awarded for factors such as your education, professional experience, German or English language skills, age, and any previous time spent in Germany. The Opportunity Card allows you to stay in Germany for up to one year to look for work, so you can apply without having a job lined up in advance.

You can use documents like your old residence permit, registration certificate (Anmeldung), rental agreement, work contract, payslips, or university enrollment papers. Make sure the documents clearly show you were in Germany for at least six months. 

It means that your vocational training program is officially approved by the government of the country where you completed it. In Germany, this usually refers to training programs that meet national education standards and are listed in official registers. If your training was completed outside Germany, it must be recognised as equivalent by German authorities for it to count as “state-recognised.”

No. Short-term visits to Germany as a tourist do not count as a prior stay for the Opportunity Card. Only stays where you were officially registered (Anmeldung) or held a valid residence permit, such as for study, work, or vocational training, are considered.

German authorities can issue as many Opportunity Cards as needed. However, this may change if demand becomes very high. In that case, they have the right to set a fixed quota for the number of Opportunity Cards issued.

After finding a qualified job in Germany, you can apply to change your status from the Opportunity Card to a work-based residence permit. This requires submitting your job offer or employment contract to the local Foreigners’ Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde). Depending on your situation, you may qualify for a skilled worker residence permit or an EU Blue Card.

Once approved, you will have full work rights in Germany. Over time, this can lead to a permanent residence permit if you meet the legal requirements for long-term residency. If you are not yet ready to switch—such as when your qualifications are still being recognized, you’re gaining work experience, or improving your language skills, you may be able to extend the Opportunity Card for up to two additional years.

No. The Opportunity Card is a job-seeker visa that allows you to live in Germany and search for work;  it does not permit enrolling in academic studies. To study in Germany, you must apply separately and be accepted into a degree program. If you are looking to study in Germany, try this quiz to find your ideal degree programs in Germany.