Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) 2026: 6 points, €13,092

At a glance

Costs

€75–€100

Points (route 2)

Min. 6 points

Validity

Up to 1 year

Subsistence

€13,092 / year

Part-time work

20 hrs / week

Follow-up Opportunity Card

Up to 2 years

Two routes to the Opportunity Card and the complete points table

Route 1 – without the points system (§ 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 1 AufenthG): If you are a skilled worker within the meaning of the Residence Act – that is, you hold a foreign university degree recognised in Germany or a recognised qualified vocational training – you receive the Opportunity Card without any points assessment. For this group, the points table simply does not apply. Nevertheless, recognised skilled workers must also meet the requirement of secure subsistence and the general requirements for issuance under § 5 AufenthG.

Route 2 – with the points system (§ 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 2 in conjunction with § 20b AufenthG): If you do not have full recognition, the basic requirement is a foreign university degree, a professional qualification of at least two years that is recognised by the state in the country of training or a vocational qualification awarded by a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (Auslandshandelskammer). The ranking of the university plays no role – the law has no “top university” category. In addition, you must reach at least six points under the annex to § 20b Abs. 1 AufenthG.

Criterion under the annex to § 20b Abs. 1 AufenthG	Points
Partial recognition of the professional qualification or licence to practise a regulated profession	4
Knowledge of German at level B2	3
Knowledge of German at level B1	2
Knowledge of German at level A2	1
Knowledge of English at level C1	1
At least 5 years of professional experience in the last 7 years	3
At least 2 years of professional experience in the last 5 years	2
Professional qualification in a shortage occupation (Engpassberuf)	1
Age up to 35	2
Age over 35 up to 40	1
Six months of previous stay in Germany in the last 5 years	1
Spouse or civil partner also applies for the Opportunity Card	1

Language levels are alternatives, not cumulative. If you prove German at B2, you receive 3 points – not 3 + 2 + 1 = 6. The same applies to the two levels of professional experience and to the two age brackets: only the highest value met counts in each case. German and English, on the other hand, are different criteria and may be added together.
The four points are not awarded for “qualification” in general. They are awarded exclusively for the partial recognition of the foreign professional qualification or for a licence to practise a regulated profession, for example in health, nursing or skilled-trade professions. A recognition notice that identifies substantial differences is therefore worth real money.
Three criteria are regularly overlooked: English C1 (1 point), a professional qualification in a shortage occupation (1 point) and a co-applying spouse or civil partner who also applies for an Opportunity Card (1 point). If you do not count these three, you will often wrongly consider the six-point threshold unattainable.
Example calculation: 32 years old (2 points) + German A2 (1 point) + English C1 (1 point) + two years of professional experience in the last five years (2 points) gives exactly 6 points – the threshold is therefore reached without partial recognition.

Required documents

The German missions abroad require the following proof for the national visa (category D visa) for job seeking. Submit all documents in the original with a copy; certificates in a foreign language generally require a certified German or English translation. Which additional documents are required in the individual case depends on the competent German mission abroad.

Completed application for a national visa. The application is completed and signed by the applicant personally, usually via the VIDEX online form of the Federal Foreign Office, followed by a printout. It is the formal basis of the procedure: missing or contradictory information leads to queries and considerably extends processing. You can obtain the form free of charge from the website of the competent embassy or consulate general.
Valid passport. The passport obligation follows from § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 4 AufenthG; the Residence Act does not prescribe a fixed remaining validity. The required remaining validity therefore depends on the competent authority – as a rule, the German mission abroad requires a validity that extends beyond the requested duration of residence, as well as at least two blank pages. Apply for a new passport in good time from the passport authority of your home country.
Proof of qualification. You need a foreign university degree, a professional qualification of at least two years that is recognised by the state in the country of training or a vocational qualification awarded by a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad. Submit your degree certificate and your transcript of records. You can check free of charge in the anabin database of the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB) whether your university degree has been assessed in Germany.
Recognition or partial recognition notice (if available). If you have full recognition, you take the route as a skilled worker without the points system. If you submit an official notice (Bescheid) on partial recognition or a licence to practise a regulated profession, you receive the highest single score of four points for it. A Bescheid of this kind is issued by the competent recognition body of the respective federal state (Bundesland) or by the competent chamber.
Proof of language skills (only on the points-system route). If you apply for the Opportunity Card via the points system, you must prove, under § 20a Abs. 4 Satz 3 Nr. 2 AufenthG, at least basic German language skills at level A1 or English language skills at level B2 or higher; recognised skilled workers do not need proof of language skills for the Opportunity Card. Certificates from established examination providers are accepted, for example from the Goethe-Institut, telc or ÖSD for German and IELTS or TOEFL for English. Pay attention to the period of validity set by the respective provider, and plan your examination dates several months in advance.
Proof of secure subsistence. For 2026, the Federal Foreign Office requires €1,091 per month, i.e. €13,092 for twelve months. Proof is usually provided via a Sperrkonto at a German bank, into which the total amount is paid before submission of the application and from which only the monthly release amount can be withdrawn. The amount is updated annually – before making the deposit, check the current information from your German mission abroad.
Alternative: Verpflichtungserklärung under § 68 AufenthG. Instead of a Sperrkonto, a person living in Germany can declare in writing that they will cover your entire subsistence, including the costs of health and long-term care. The declaration is made at the Ausländerbehörde at the place of residence of the person giving the commitment, who must prove their financial capacity with proof of income. The liability is far-reaching: under § 68 Abs. 1 AufenthG, the person giving the commitment is liable for five years from entry, and the declaration does not lapse before the end of this period even if a residence title on humanitarian grounds is granted or international protection is recognised.
Proof of professional experience. Employment references, employment contracts or confirmations from former employers prove the criteria “five years in the last seven years” and “two years in the last five years” respectively, and earn three and two points respectively. The documents should clearly show the activity, the period of employment and the scope. Missing periods mean that the criterion is not counted.
Proof of adequate health insurance coverage. Under § 2 Abs. 3 AufenthG, subsistence is only secure if there is also adequate health insurance coverage. For the period of the job search, private travel or international health insurance covering the entire period of stay may be an option. The specific scope required depends on the competent German mission abroad.
Biometric photographs and additional proof. For the visa application, you need recent biometric passport photos in line with the requirements of the respective German mission abroad. In addition, proof of a previous stay in Germany – for example earlier residence titles or a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) – and, in the case of joint submission of the application, the marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate may be requested; each of these earns one point in the points system.

Step by step

1

Clarify your route: skilled worker or points system

First check whether you are a recognised skilled worker under § 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 1 AufenthG. If you already have a German recognition notice for a university degree or a qualified vocational training, the points system does not apply at all. Only if this requirement is not met does the route via § 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 2 in conjunction with § 20b AufenthG come into consideration. This decision determines which proof you have to obtain in the first place – and in the best case it saves months.

2

Check your qualification and have it recognised if necessary

Look up your degree in the anabin database of the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB). For university degrees, the ZAB issues a Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung) on application; for training occupations, the competent body of the federal state or the chamber carries out the recognition procedure under the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz). Expect a processing time of several months and submit complete, translated documents. Partial recognition is also worthwhile, because it earns four points in the points system.

3

Calculate your points under the annex to § 20b AufenthG

Go through the twelve criteria of the annex one by one and mark which ones you can prove. Remember that within a group of criteria – knowledge of German, professional experience, age – only the highest value achieved counts in each case, while German and English are assessed side by side. If you are one or two points short, a language certificate at the next higher level or joint submission of the application with your spouse are the quickest levers. You must reach at least six points.

4

Secure your subsistence for the entire period of validity

Open a Sperrkonto at a German bank and pay in the full amount: €1,091 per month, €13,092 for a full year. The Opportunity Card is only granted if subsistence is proven for the entire period applied for – if less is proven, the card may be issued for a shorter period or the application may be refused. Alternatively, submit a Verpflichtungserklärung under § 68 AufenthG. Account opening and account management fees for the Sperrkonto depend on the provider you choose.

5

Apply for a visa at the German mission abroad

The application for the national visa for job seeking is submitted before entry at the German embassy or consulate general that is competent for your place of residence. Book your appointment early via the mission’s appointment system; the waiting times for an appointment and the subsequent processing time depend on the competent German mission abroad. Under the Ordinance Governing Residence (Aufenthaltsverordnung, AufenthV), the fee is €75.00, or €37.50 for applicants under 18 (§ 46 AufenthV). Attend in person and bring all your documents with you.

6

Entry, registration of residence (Anmeldung) and residence permit

After entering Germany, first register your address at the Bürgeramt (citizens’ office) – the two-week deadline of the Federal Act on Registration (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG) applies (§ 17 BMG). Then apply to your local Ausländerbehörde for the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) in the form of the Opportunity Card. The fee for issuing it is €100.00 under § 45 AufenthV. Bring your passport, visa, Meldebescheinigung, proof of your Sperrkonto and a biometric photograph; the accepted means of payment depend on the competent authority.

7

Look for a job – work within the permitted limits

While the Opportunity Card is valid, § 20a Abs. 2 AufenthG permits employment averaging no more than 20 hours per week to finance your subsistence. In addition, trial employment of up to two weeks each is permitted; each period of trial employment must either be qualified – that is, require knowledge acquired in a course of study or a qualified vocational training (§ 2 Abs. 12b AufenthG) – be aimed at training or be suitable for a recognition measure under § 16d AufenthG. Use the time for job applications, recognition procedures and language courses. Comply exactly with the ancillary provisions (Nebenbestimmungen) in your residence title.

8

Switch your residence title or apply for a follow-up Opportunity Card

Once you have found a suitable job, apply to switch to a residence title for employment – depending on salary and qualification, the EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) or a residence permit as a skilled worker. Submit the application before the expiry of the Opportunity Card so that there is no gap in your residence; while the procedure is pending, the authority issues a Fiktionsbescheinigung (provisional residence document). If you do not yet meet the requirements for another residence permit under Division 4 AufenthG, a follow-up Opportunity Card for up to two further years may be considered under § 20a Abs. 5 Satz 2 AufenthG if you have an employment contract or a binding job offer for qualified employment and the Federal Employment Agency approves. You submit the application while the first Opportunity Card is still valid.

Fees & costs

Service	Amount
National visa at the German mission abroad (§ 46 AufenthV)	€75.00
National visa for applicants under 18	€37.50
Issue of the residence permit in Germany (§ 45 AufenthV)	€100.00
Proof of subsistence (Sperrkonto, 12 months)	€13,092 (€1,091/month)
Recognition of the professional qualification	Depends on the competent recognition body
Language certificate (Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD, IELTS and others)	Depends on the examination provider
Opening and management of the Sperrkonto	Depends on the provider
Follow-up Opportunity Card / extension	Depends on the competent authority

Distinguish official fees from market prices. Only the visa and residence title fees are set nationwide by the Ordinance Governing Residence: €75.00 or €37.50 under § 46 AufenthV and €100.00 under § 45 AufenthV. There is no uniform national fee for the recognition of the professional qualification – the recognition bodies of the federal states and the chambers set their fees under their own fee ordinances. Ask the competent body about the amount before submission of the application.
Language certificates are not an administrative service. Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD, IELTS and TOEFL are private examination providers; the examination fees follow their price lists and vary considerably depending on the country and the level. There is no official fee ordinance for them.
The Sperrkonto is not a cost item but your own money. The €13,092 remains your balance and is paid out to you in monthly instalments of the release amount. Actual costs arise only from the account opening and account management fees of the respective provider and, where applicable, from exchange rate and transfer fees.
Means of payment and currency. The visa fee at the German mission abroad is usually charged in the local currency at the official exchange rate. Which means of payment the Ausländerbehörde accepts for the €100.00 – cash, EC card or bank transfer – depends on the competent authority and should be clarified before your appointment.

Important notes

In force since 1 June 2024. The Opportunity Card was introduced with the third stage of the Skilled Immigration Act and is governed by § 20a AufenthG. It does not replace any existing procedure, but stands alongside the classic residence titles for skilled workers and the EU Blue Card.
Recognised skilled workers do not need points. § 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 1 AufenthG grants the Opportunity Card without the points system if a qualification recognised in Germany exists. If you already hold a recognition notice, you should choose this route – it is independent of age, language level and professional experience.
Subsistence must cover the entire period of validity. The card is only granted if secure subsistence is proven for the full period applied for. If you only finance six months, in the best case you receive a correspondingly shorter card – and must provide proof again for the extension.
The required amount changes every year. For 2026, the rate is €1,091 per month; earlier information such as €1,027 is outdated. Check the current amount on the website of your competent German mission abroad immediately before making the deposit.
Trial employment is narrowly limited. Trial employment is permitted for up to two weeks in each case, and it must be qualified, be aimed at training or be suitable for a recognition measure under § 16d AufenthG. Trial work as a simple auxiliary activity that meets none of these requirements is not covered by § 20a Abs. 2 Nr. 2 AufenthG.
Part-time work: 20 hours per week. This limit applies regardless of the number of employers. Two contracts of 15 hours each exceed the limit and infringe the ancillary provisions of the residence title.
Language level in the points system: German A1 is the minimum. For the points-system route, § 20a Abs. 4 Satz 3 Nr. 2 AufenthG requires at least basic German language skills (A1) or English at level B2 or higher. A2 is not a requirement for the grant, but it earns an additional point in the points system. Recognised skilled workers do not have to prove language skills for the Opportunity Card.
Joint submission of the application with your spouse. If your spouse or registered civil partner also applies for an Opportunity Card, this earns one point in the points system. Both applications should be submitted at the same time, together with the marriage certificate or the civil partnership certificate.
Follow-up Opportunity Card instead of departure. Under § 20a Abs. 5 Satz 2 AufenthG, an extension of up to two years is possible if you have an employment contract or a binding job offer for qualified employment and the Federal Employment Agency approves. The follow-up Opportunity Card is only granted if no other residence permit under Division 4 AufenthG is an option; the 20-hour limit does not apply to it. Apply for the extension at the Ausländerbehörde in good time before the expiry of the initial card.
Switching to a residence title for employment is possible within Germany. With a suitable employment contract, you can switch to the EU Blue Card or a residence title for skilled workers without another departure from Germany. During the transitional period until the decision, the Fiktionsbescheinigung serves as proof of your lawful residence.

Common mistakes

Sperrkonto funded with an outdated amount

If you rely on older information of €1,027 per month or €12,324 per year, your Sperrkonto will be underfunded by €768. Consequence: Your subsistence is not considered secure, the visa is refused or the card is issued for a considerably shorter period – and the fee of €75.00 is not refunded. For 2026, pay in €1,091 per month, i.e. €13,092 for twelve months.

Language points added up instead of counted as alternatives

Many applicants add German B2 (3), B1 (2) and A2 (1) together to make six points. In fact, only the highest value achieved within the group of criteria counts, i.e. three points. Consequence: The six-point threshold is missed, the application is refused and the waiting time for a new appointment at the German mission abroad starts all over again.

English C1, shortage occupation and partner point not stated

These three criteria in the annex to § 20b Abs. 1 AufenthG are often overlooked because abridged overviews do not mention them. Consequence: Eligible applicants consider the threshold unattainable and do not submit an application at all – or they do not submit the evidence and lose up to three points that would have decided whether the card is granted.

Waiting for full recognition instead of using partial recognition

The four points are already awarded for partial recognition or a licence to practise a regulated profession. Consequence: If you wait months for full equivalence, you lose time and age-dependent points – on your 36th birthday, the age score drops from two points to one, and from the age of 41 it no longer applies at all.

Qualification does not meet the basic requirement

What is required is a foreign university degree, a professional qualification of at least two years that is recognised by the state in the country of training or a qualification from a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad. The ranking of the university plays no role. Consequence: Short courses or purely private certificates without state recognition lead to refusal, regardless of how many points would be achieved arithmetically.

Trial employment mistaken for a regular full-time job

Trial employment is permitted for a maximum of two weeks in each case and only if it is qualified, aimed at training or suitable for a recognition measure. Consequence: Permanent full-time work without a suitable residence title is unauthorised economic activity – it can lead to the revocation of the residence title and jeopardise the later switch to a residence title for employment.

Working more than 20 hours per week

The limit in § 20a Abs. 2 Nr. 1 AufenthG – an average of no more than 20 hours per week – applies to all employment combined. Consequence: An infringement of the ancillary provision of the residence title is put on record at the time of the extension and can block the grant of the follow-up Opportunity Card or of a residence title for employment.

Switch or extension applied for too late

The application for a subsequent residence title must be submitted before the expiry of the Opportunity Card. Consequence: If the card expires without a timely application, an enforceable obligation to leave the federal territory arises; the legal fiction that your residence status continues (Fiktionswirkung) under § 81 AufenthG only applies if the submission of the application is made on time. Therefore, book your appointment at the Ausländerbehörde several weeks in advance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Opportunity Card and when was it introduced?

The Opportunity Card is a residence title for job seeking under § 20a AufenthG, which has applied since 1 June 2024 as the third stage of the Skilled Immigration Act. It allows qualified third-country nationals to stay in Germany for up to one year to look for a job, and if certain requirements are met, it can be extended as a follow-up Opportunity Card for up to two further years.

Do I always need six points for the Opportunity Card?

No. If you are a recognised skilled worker under § 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 1 AufenthG – that is, you hold a university degree recognised in Germany or a recognised qualified vocational training – you receive the Opportunity Card without the points system. Only if you do not meet this requirement must you reach at least six points under § 20b AufenthG.

How much money do I have to prove for the Opportunity Card?

For 2026, the Federal Foreign Office requires proof of €1,091 per month, i.e. €13,092 for twelve months. A Sperrkonto at a German bank is usual; alternatively, a Verpflichtungserklärung under § 68 AufenthG may be considered. The amount is updated annually; older information such as €1,027 is outdated.

Which criteria earn points in the points system?

The annex to § 20b Abs. 1 AufenthG lists twelve criteria: partial recognition of the professional qualification or a licence to practise a regulated profession (4), German B2 (3), German B1 (2), German A2 (1), English C1 (1), five years of professional experience in the last seven years (3), two years of professional experience in the last five years (2), professional qualification in a shortage occupation (1), age up to 35 (2), age over 35 up to 40 (1), six months of previous stay in Germany in the last five years (1) and a spouse or civil partner who also applies for the Opportunity Card (1).

Am I allowed to work with the Opportunity Card?

Yes, but only to a limited extent: § 20a Abs. 2 AufenthG permits employment averaging no more than 20 hours per week and trial employment of up to two weeks each. Trial employment must be qualified, be aimed at training or be suitable for a recognition measure under § 16d AufenthG; a permanent full-time job is not permitted with the Opportunity Card.

What language skills are required?

That depends on the route of access. For the Opportunity Card via the points system, § 20a Abs. 4 Satz 3 Nr. 2 AufenthG requires at least basic German language skills at level A1 or English language skills at level B2 or higher. A1 is the minimum for the grant there; beyond that, German A2, B1 and B2 and English C1 earn additional points in the points system under § 20b AufenthG. Recognised skilled workers under § 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 1 AufenthG do not have to prove language skills for the Opportunity Card.

How much does the Opportunity Card cost?

The national visa at the German mission abroad costs €75.00, or €37.50 for applicants under 18 (§ 46 AufenthV). Issuing the residence permit in Germany through the Ausländerbehörde costs €100.00 (§ 45 AufenthV). In addition, there are costs for recognition procedures, language certificates and maintaining a Sperrkonto.

Can the Opportunity Card be extended?

Yes. Under § 20a Abs. 5 Satz 2 AufenthG, a follow-up Opportunity Card for up to two further years can be granted if you have an employment contract or a binding job offer for qualified employment and the Federal Employment Agency approves. The application must be submitted while the first Opportunity Card is still valid, and the follow-up Opportunity Card is only granted if no other residence permit under Division 4 AufenthG is an option. It remains a requirement that subsistence is secured for the entire period of validity.

Apply for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) – § 20a AufenthG