The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets you come to Germany to look for work for up to one year.[1] There are two ways in. If your qualification is fully recognised in Germany, you need no points. If it is not, you need at least 6 points from the table below.[1]
Before any points: three conditions
- A qualification. A university degree, or vocational training of at least two years, recognised by the state in the country where you gained it.[1]
- A language. German at A1, or English at B2.[1]
- Money. Proof that you can support yourself: €1,091 net a month in 2026, for example through a blocked account.[1]
The points
| What counts | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification found partly equivalent to a German one | 4 |
| Qualification in an occupation Germany is short of | 1 |
| Two years' work experience in the last five | 2 |
| Five years' work experience in the last seven | 3 |
| German A2 · B1 · B2 or better | 1 · 2 · 3 |
| English C1 or better, or a native speaker | 1 |
| Age up to 35 · 35 to 40 | 2 · 1 |
| Six months or more living in Germany legally, in the last five years | 1 |
| Your spouse or partner also qualifies and applies with you | 1 |
The table is the one on Make it in Germany, the Federal Government's portal.[1] The four points for a partly equivalent qualification mean you have already applied for recognition and been told it is partly equivalent — they still count if you must do further training before you may practise.[1]
Count your points
While you hold the card
- You may work part-time while you look, up to 20 hours a week in total.[1]
- You may do trial work of up to 2 weeks with each employer.[1]
- For "occupations Germany is short of", Make it in Germany keeps a page of professions in demand — a starting point, not the legal list.[2]
What this check does not do
- It is not a decision. The German embassy or the foreigners' office decides, on your documents.
- It is not legal advice. For a real case, ask the authority or an immigration lawyer.
- It cannot check your certificates. Whether a language level or a qualification counts depends on the proof you have.
Other routes — the Blue Card, the skilled-worker visa and more — are on visas and permits. Getting a qualification recognised is on the recognition guide. If you already have an offer, the Blue Card salary check may fit better. Every tool is on one page.
Sources
-
Make it in Germany: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte). Checked 28 September 2026.
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Make it in Germany: Professions in demand. Checked 28 September 2026.