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Opportunity Card Germany (Chancenkarte)

Use Your Professional Skills to Immigrate to Germany

Your advantages

  • Search and apply for jobs directly in Germany
  • Integrate quickly into the German labor market
  • Find jobs that match your skills
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What is the German Opportunity Card?

The German Opportunity Card is also known as Chancenkarte. This is a new visa program designed to attract talented individuals from around the world. It allows you to enter Germany without a prearranged job offer, granting you up to one year to search for employment.

The card is awarded based on a point system that evaluates qualifications, work experience, language skills, age and other factors. The program provides flexibility, recognizes foreign qualifications, and offers the possibility of part-time work and a path to residency. Whether you're an engineer, an IT specialist, or a healthcare professional, the Opportunity Card is designed to empower your aspirations and enable you to craft a fulfilling career in one of the world's leading economies.

Benefits for you:

  • Enter Germany without a job offer and spend up to one year finding the perfect position that matches your skills.
  • Get your foreign qualifications acknowledged, simplifying your job search and integration.
  • Work part-time up to 20 hours per week while searching for full-time employment.
  • Potential to transition to permanent residency after finding a job.
  • Engage in trial jobs for two weeks, an unlimited number of times, to find the right fit.

Key requirements for your Chancenkarte application

To apply for the German Opportunity Card, you must meet certain key requirements:

  • Qualification: You need a recognized qualification, such as a university degree or vocational training (minimum 2 years).
  • Language: You should be able to demonstrate basic knowledge of German (A1 level or above) or English (B2 level or higher).
  • Financial support: You must be able to support yourself financially during your stay in Germany and need valid health insurance coverage.
  • Scoring: You must earn a minimum number of 6 points based on various criteria. The Chancenkarte points system of Germany evaluates your qualifications, work experience, language skills, age, previous stays in the country, and potential job offers.

Meeting these requirements ensures that you are well-prepared to find employment and successfully integrate into German society.

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Germany Opportunity Card: How to earn points

You are immediately eligible to apply for the Chancenkarte if you hold a foreign professional or academic degree that is fully recognized in Germany, or if you received your university degree or vocational training in Germany.

Otherwise, you need to accumulate at least 6 points to qualify for the Opportunity Card. Check the following criteria and add up the points awarded for them.

Earn 4 points if:
  • You have already applied for the recognition of your foreign qualification and partial equivalence has been confirmed by German authorities
Earn 3 points if:
  • You are proficient in German at level B2 or above
    or
  • You have five years of professional experience within the last seven years
Earn 2 points if:
  • You are under the age of 35
    or
  • You are proficient in German at level B1
    or
  • You have two years of professional experience in the last five years
Earn 1 point if:
  • You are between 36 and 40 years old
    or
  • You can prove that you have resided legally and for an uninterrupted period of at least six months in Germany over the last five years (excluding tourism-related stays)
    or
  • You are proficient in German at level A2
    or
  • English proficiency at the C1 level
    or
  • Your spouse meets the requirements for the Opportunity Card
    or
  • Your qualified skills belong to a profession in demand ("bottleneck profession")

Good to know: The key requirement is to reach at least 6 points. Once this number of points is met, all applicants are considered eligible.

As long as you have 6 or more points, you can apply for the Chancenkarte.

There is no competitive disadvantage based on the number of points beyond meeting the minimum requirement. 

Take a look at some German Opportunity Card point calculation examples

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Maria Fernandez

Maria Fernandez is a 29-year-old software developer from Brazil. She holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has accumulated 4 years of professional experience in her field. Maria speaks German at B2 level and English at C1 level. Although she has never lived in Germany, she is eager to pursue career opportunities there.

Score calculation

  • 3 points: Proficient in German at level B2 or above
  • 2 points: Under the age of 35
  • 1 point: English proficiency at C1 level

Total points: 6

Ravi Kumar

Ravi Kumar is an electrical engineer from India, age 37. He holds an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, which German authorities confirmed as partially equivalent. Within the last 7 years, Ravi gained 6 years of work experience.
He lived in Germany for one year on a work visa 3 years ago. Ravi speaks English at C1 level. In addition, he is highly sought after in Germany for the skills he possesses ("bottleneck profession") and his spouse also meets the requirements for the Opportunity Card.

Score calculation

  • 4 points: Recognition of his foreign qualification by German authorities
  • 3 points: Five years of professional experience within the last seven years
  • 1 points: Spouse meets the requirements for the Opportunity Card
  • 1 point: Between 36 and 40 years old
  • 1 point: English proficiency at C1 level
  • 1 point: Resided legally in Germany for an uninterrupted period of at least six months for non-touristic reasons
  • 1 point: Qualified skills in a profession in demand

Total points: 12

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Both of them are using the Opportunity Card to make a move to Germany. Once they qualify, they must prove they have the financial means and insurance to meet visa requirements.

To simplify the whole process, they choose Expatrio's Value Package. The Value Package includes your Blocked Account, Health Insurance and many other free perks such as a free German Bank Account for your daily money-management in Germany.

They skip the paperwork and secure their necessary Bank and Blocked accounts, as well as Health Insurance - all via the Expatrio online platform.

Qualify for the German Opportunity Card?

Then get our all-in-one solution – fast, secure and affordable.

 

Opportunity Card Webinar 

Wednesday, August 7 at 6 PM (Berlin/CET)

Join our webinar to learn more about this new opportunity, the requirements, and how it can benefit you!

Check out our webinar
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FAQs

What you need to know about the German Opportunity Card

How can I apply for the German Opportunity Card/ Chancenkarte?

How much is the application fee?

How do I prove that I have the required financial means?

My Opportunity Card has been approved – what do I do next?

How long is the German Opportunity Card valid?

What happens once I have found a job?

What if the Opportunity Card expires?

Can I work in other EU countries as a holder of an Opportunity Card?

If my spouse and I both qualify for the Opportunity Card, do we need separate Blocked Accounts?

Is a Blocked Account necessary for the Opportunity Card appointment?

How Our Customers Feel About Our Service

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Value Package

Your all-inclusive package for an easy start in Germany

  • Blocked account for only €5 per month (€69 cashback on set up fees).1
  • Up to €90 cashback every year for three years with TK-Flex.2
  • Free Travel Health Insurance for your visa worth up to €953. Accepted worldwide.
  • Germany’s best Public Health Insurance with English-speaking service and bonus program.4
  • Award-winning Private Health Insurance with extensive coverage.5
  • Free German Bank Account for your life in Germany
  • Free ISIC with access to worldwide discounts (worth up to €15).*
  • Accommodation opportunities via the Expatrio mobile app
Get Value Package

"Expatrio was a game changer for my move to Germany for work. Their value package really provided everything I needed for my visa application, including a blocked account and health insurance that met all immigration requirements. The fully online process was straightforward and incredibly convenient. Thanks to Expatrio, I was well-prepared and stress free upon arrival, ready to start my new job without any bureaucratic hurdles."

Ahmed Khan

Anesthesiologist

XP CA Testimonial
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Step-by-Step Procedure

Your Pathway to Working in Germany

Download the official document outlining the application procedure for Germany's Opportunity Card. Get details on eligibility, required documents, and step-by-step instructions at a glance.

Download now
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🎉 Webinars!

We are here to make everything easier for you.

Find webinars on how to get your visa, and many more resources to help you with your life in Germany.

Go check Our Webinars

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Footnotes

[*] Up to €269 savings consists of: €69 cashback on Blocked Account set-up fees + up to €90 TK-Flex cashback + free travel health insurance worth up to €95 + free digital ISIC card worth up to €15. This offer is only valid for customers who apply for the Value Package. Expatrio reserves the right to cancel this promotion at any point in time. Special terms and conditions apply.

[1] Value Package customers can receive their €69 cashback after activating both their Blocked Account and Health Insurance.

[2] TK-Flex is an elective tariff and only available for eligible TK health insurance customers. Once the TK membership is activated, TK-Flex can commence. Expatrio will provide the customer with detailed guidelines on how to do this. Within TK-Flex, users have the option to deselect/opt out of services they do not need. In return, there is a cashback bonus of up to €90 per year. However, if the services are needed after all, TK customers can reactivate their health insurance coverage by paying a deductible of €24 per service (up to €120) per year. Please refer to our TK-Flex page for more information. 

[3]  Free Incoming/ Travel Health Insurance coverage for up to 92 days as part of the Value Package for eligible customers worth up to € 95.00.

[4] Focus Money has awarded TK the 'Best Student Health Insurance Fund,' Study Travel Magazine has awarded DR-Walter the 'Super Star Award'', and Kubus has awarded ottonova first place in the service and customer satisfaction categories three times in a row.

[5] Without a Residence Permit, you will have temporary access to your Bank Account. By uploading your Residence Permit within the specified time frame (approximately 6 months), you will get permanent access to your Bank Account and all of the amazing benefits that come with it.