Germany’s Opportunity Card 2026: requirements, points and job search

The Opportunity Card is a residence route for seeking employment or a qualification recognition measure in Germany without requiring an existing job offer. Its legal basis is §20a AufenthG, introduced in June 2024. The initial job-search Opportunity Card lasts up to one year. In 2026, applicants generally need to demonstrate €1,091 per month, or €13,092 for twelve months, to cover living costs. The standard adult national visa fee is €75. Processing times vary. 

The points route requires at least six points. Four points are available for a qualifying partial-recognition decision, with others for language, qualification-related experience, age, certain prior stays and an independently eligible spouse or registered partner. Fully recognised skilled workers do not need the points system. 

A common mistake is claiming points without suitable evidence. Check the entry requirements too; six points alone are insufficient. Incomplete evidence may lead to queries or refusal. Official information: Make it in Germany – Chancenkarte. We explain how FIRMDER supports preparation and which steps applicants need to complete.

Contents

• What is the Opportunity Card and how does it work?
• Opportunity Card: points system at a glance
• Opportunity Card without a university degree: requirements
• Checking qualifications: anabin, ZAB and recognition
• Proof of funding: amount and format
• Opportunity Card documents: checklist
• National visa: application, appointments and fees
• Arriving in Germany with an Opportunity Card: first steps
• Switching to an appropriate residence title after a job offer
• Opportunity Card or work visa: which route fits?
• FIRMDER: how we help
• FAQ

What is the Opportunity Card and how does it work?

Opportunity Card is accessed through a national visa where a visa is required. A job offer before entry is unnecessary; after arrival you can meet employers, attend interviews and seek suitable work while observing the eligibility conditions and work limits.

Permitted with the job-search Opportunity Card:

• attend interviews and meet employers;
• undertake employment averaging no more than 20 hours per week in total (part-time employment) within the statutory limits; suitable trial employment of up to two weeks per employer is also permitted;
• attend professional events, job fairs and networking meetings.

Not permitted without additional authorisation:

• start regular full-time work outside permitted trial employment without the required residence and work authorisation;
• assume automatic or unlimited renewal: assess other permits, an Opportunity Card extension and the waiting conditions for a new job-search Opportunity Card separately;
• carry out self-employment solely on the basis of the job-search Opportunity Card; the appropriate authorisation is required.

The initial job-search Opportunity Card lasts up to one year. Before expiry, assess whether another residence permit or an Opportunity Card extension for a qualified job offer is possible. You must leave if no lawful basis for continued residence exists. A new job-search Opportunity Card is also subject to the waiting conditions in section 20a(5).

Prepare your documents and job-search plan before arrival to make good use of the limited search period. More information is available on our page Opportunity Card.

Opportunity Card: points system at a glance

The points route requires at least six points plus the entry requirements. Applicants with a qualification recognised or comparable in Germany who therefore qualify as skilled workers can apply without points. Both routes require secure funding for living costs.

Each claimed point must be supported by suitable documents. Check each criterion against qualification, experience, language and other evidence rather than relying solely on self-assessment.

Criterion	Points	Required evidence	Common mistake
Partial recognition or required compensation measures under section 20b(1), point 1	4	Relevant recognition decision identifying differences or required compensation measures	Confusing H+ institution status with degree comparability or partial recognition
German: A2 one point, B1 two, B2 or above three; A1 alone earns none	1–3	Accepted language certificate; check the required level and recency with the mission	An unaccepted provider or insufficient evidence of the language level
English C1 or above: one additional point; B2 only meets the language entry requirement	1	Accepted proof of C1 or above; B2 may suffice for entry eligibility	A language course alone does not replace the required evidence
Qualification-related experience: two years in the last five or five in the last seven	2–3	Contracts and employer evidence showing duties, dates and relation to the qualification; do not add the two-year and five-year experience scores	Documents without verifiable duties, dates and relation to the qualification
Age at application: not older than 35 earns two points; older than 35 and not older than 40 earns one (section 20b)	1–2	Evidence age through a valid passport	Check the relevant threshold against your date of birth
Spouse or registered partner independently eligible for the Opportunity Card, with a joint application and entry planned	1	Evidence of marriage or registered partnership, independent eligibility and coordinated applications	Having any relative or acquaintance in Germany does not generate a point
Qualification in a statutory shortage occupation	1	Qualification evidence and matching statutory occupational group	Not every occupation is included in the statutory list
At least six months of continuous lawful residence in the last five years, excluding tourism or visits	1	Suitable residence evidence, such as earlier permits and proof of duration and purpose	Purely tourist and visitor stays do not count for this point

A qualifying partial-recognition decision can provide four points, but it is not mandatory for every applicant: six points can also be obtained through other statutory criteria. Fully recognised skilled workers do not need points. First identify the appropriate route and qualification evidence.

Calculate your points against actual evidence before applying. An application may be refused if the minimum score or other requirements are missing. FIRMDER reviews the documents; the authority’s approval cannot be guaranteed. 

FIRMDER can research suitable vacancies before arrival and help with your CV and motivation letter. The services depend on the agreed scope. This supports targeted preparation and continuing applications after arrival; employers make their own hiring decisions.  

Opportunity Card without a university degree: when it is possible

A university degree is not mandatory. However, a suitable formal qualification is still required, such as a state-recognised vocational qualification involving at least two years of training, with the required evidence, or a qualifying German chamber of commerce qualification. Experience or a portfolio alone does not replace this entry requirement. A qualifying partial-recognition decision triggers the special rule in section 20b(1), second sentence: additional evidence under section 20a(4), third sentence, point 1 is then waived.

In addition to the suitable formal qualification, assess language, funding and the overall score. Experience is one possible points criterion, not mandatory for every application:

1. Documented qualification-related professional experience acquired after the suitable qualification and related to it: at least two years in the last five earns two points, or five years in the last seven earns three. Duties, duration and qualification relevance must be adequately evidenced.
2. Language entry requirement: for the points route, demonstrate at least German A1 or English B2. Check accepted providers, format and recency with the responsible mission; examinations are often required to be no more than one year old.
3. Secure funding for living costs: generally €1,091 per month in 2026, or €13,092 for twelve months. Check accepted evidence such as a blocked account, formal declaration of commitment or eligible part-time income.
4. Required score: at least six points; formal qualification, language, funding and the other requirements must also be met.

The route may be possible with suitable vocational training in a technical, craft or other occupation. The applicable language, points and funding requirements must also be met. Regulated professions require the relevant licence for full professional practice.

Without a suitable formal qualification, this route is generally unavailable. Undocumented work or oral assertions do not replace either the qualification or the required experience evidence.

Check your qualification for the Opportunity Card: anabin, ZAB and professional recognition

For academic qualifications, an initial step is checking the institution and degree in anabin. Check the institution and the degree separately; the institution’s status alone does not establish that the degree is comparable.

For institution status, distinguish in particular:

• H+ identifies a recognised institution, not automatic comparability of every degree. Both institution and degree must be evidenced appropriately; the status alone does not generate four points.
• H+/- indicates an institution status subject to specific conditions. The actual degree must also be assessed separately; consider appropriate ZAB evidence if unclear.
• H- means the institution is not recognised accordingly. Assess the implications for the degree and residence route individually. Professional recognition is not an automatic replacement for unsuitable academic evidence.

H- refers to the institution’s status, not simply a missing degree entry. Check the qualification and appropriate evidence before incurring costs. A recognition procedure does not automatically resolve H- status. Find the relevant authority for your occupation through: anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

If you already qualify as a skilled worker under section 18(3), you do not need points for the Opportunity Card. Living costs and other requirements must still be covered; this route has no statutory language-proof requirement.

Opportunity Card funding: amounts and evidence

Living costs must be secured for the planned stay. Check the required amount, insurance evidence and accepted form of funding with the responsible German mission.

Generally €13,092 for twelve months in 2026 based on generally €1,091 per month in 2026. Check the amount and accepted evidence against current official requirements before applying.

Suitable evidence may include:

• blocked-account confirmation showing the required monthly funds, or another explicitly accepted form of evidence;
• a suitable contract for permitted part-time work, whose eligible income may be taken into account; evidence funding for any remaining shortfall;
• an official declaration of commitment with verified financial capacity; a private support letter alone is not automatically sufficient.

Check the accepted evidence with the responsible German mission. An ordinary foreign bank statement is not automatically sufficient; a blocked account, formal declaration of commitment or suitable employment evidence is often required. Language, translation and recency depend on its checklist.

Budget actual costs in addition to the formal funding evidence: rent, deposit, insurance, food, transport, translations and reserves. For twelve months, the basic 2026 calculation is €13,092 at €1,091 per month. That does not ensure it will cover your individual living costs; location and household needs may require considerably more.

Opportunity Card documents: checklist

In addition to general visa documents, qualification, language, funding and insurance evidence may be required depending on the route. Use the responsible mission’s current checklist. Incomplete documents may cause queries, delays or refusal; additional requirements are possible.

Document	Where to obtain it	Timing	Possible issue
Valid passport meeting the procedure’s requirements	The issuing country’s passport authority	According to the issuing passport authority’s timescales	Address insufficient passport validity in good time
Qualification evidence and the required assessment or recognition	Training institution, university, ZAB or responsible recognition authority	Depends on the qualification, procedure and documents	Four points require the relevant partial recognition or compensation-measures decision
Required evidence of German or English proficiency	Goethe-Institut, IELTS, telc	Check the provider’s examination dates and result times	Check acceptance and recency in advance; often no more than one year since the examination
Proof of professional experience	Employment contracts and suitable employer evidence	Coordinate with previous employers in good time	Missing duties or dates may make the evidence insufficient
Proof of funding, such as a blocked-account confirmation	Bank, blocked-account provider or authority issuing the declaration of commitment	Ask the bank or provider about processing times	Evidence must be current and in the required form
A structured CV for the German labour market	Prepare a clear document yourself		An unclear CV without verifiable training and employment dates
Motivation letter with a specific job-search plan, where required	Prepare it yourself against the requirements		Generic wording instead of specific roles and search steps
Required translations of foreign-language documents	Suitable translator; price according to a specific quotation	According to the translator’s availability and quotation	Notarial certification does not automatically replace an accepted translation

Where requested, a motivation letter should explain a concrete search plan: suitable occupations, sectors, employers and initial steps after arrival. Generic statements add little. FIRMDER helps develop the letter and arrange required translations within the agreed scope and the authority’s requirements.

Opportunity Card visa: application, appointments and fees

If you need a visa, apply for a national visa through the German mission responsible for your usual place of residence. Check its procedure; applications often go through the Consular Services Portal, followed by an in-person appointment.

1. Check the requirements of the responsible German mission. Further documents may be required depending on the case.
2. Check the application route and appointment through the responsible German mission’s official application route. Coordinate the online process, appointment and documents; check current waiting times directly with the mission.
3. Attend the required in-person appointment. Provide the required biometric data; the standard adult national visa fee is €75.
4. Await the decision: depending on the responsible mission, completeness and required checks.
5. Receive and check the visa decision. The initial job-search Opportunity Card is valid for up to one year. Address registration is generally required within two weeks of moving into a home.

Coordinate documents and appointments with the specific procedure. Missing evidence may cause queries, delays or refusal. FIRMDER helps assemble the application against the current checklist; the authority may still request additional evidence.

Arriving in Germany with an Opportunity Card: first steps

After arrival, continue your targeted job search and complete essential administrative steps early.

1. Address registration generally within two weeks of moving in, through the registration authority. Have identification and normally a landlord’s confirmation ready; banks and insurers have their own evidence requirements.
2. Health insurance must adequately cover the required stay. Suitable incoming insurance is often used initially; statutory insurance eligibility must be assessed separately. Premiums and coverage depend on the policy and status. Further information: Health insurance in Germany.
3. Bank account arrange according to the chosen bank’s requirements. Identity, residence status and address evidence may be required; online opening and acceptance depend on the provider.
4. Active job search: use platforms such as LinkedIn, XING, Stepstone.de and Indeed.de, as well as employers’ career pages. Being in Germany can make in-person meetings easier, but does not ensure a fixed reduction in search time.
5. Foreigners authority check the procedure and timely application early. Regular full-time work requires the appropriate authorisation; an appointment request or job offer does not grant it.

Before expiry, assess eligibility for another permit or an Opportunity Card extension. You must leave if there is no further lawful basis for residence. A realistic search plan therefore matters. Within the agreed scope, FIRMDER also helps after arrival with registration, insurance and preparing an appropriate subsequent permit.

Switching to an appropriate residence title after a job offer

The job-search Opportunity Card permits employment averaging no more than 20 hours per week in total and, separately, suitable trial employment of up to two weeks per employer. Regular employment beyond those limits requires the appropriate residence and work authorisation.

• apply to the responsible foreigners authority in good time and retain evidence of submission;
• provide a suitable job offer or contract, passport, qualification evidence and any other required documents;
• depending on the role and eligibility, apply for a permit such as section 18a or 18b or an EU Blue Card;
• Duration and renewal depend on the employment title granted, the contract and the statutory requirements.

Check the responsible foreigners authority’s procedure early. Submit any required application on time with evidence of submission; requesting an appointment alone is not automatically sufficient. 

Opportunity Card or work visa: which route fits?

The Opportunity Card and employment visas serve different purposes. The choice depends on your qualification, job offer and the requirements of the relevant residence title.

Situation	Opportunity Card	Work visa
You already have a suitable employment contract	A direct employment permit is often more suitable if its requirements are met	Suitable option if the requirements are met
No offer, but a suitable qualification and experience	Suitable for searching in Germany if the requirements are met	An employment-based title generally requires a specific job offer
You want to compare employers and offers	Enables job searches and multiple interviews	A sufficiently specific and suitable job offer is required
IT professional without German, with B2 English	Possible with a suitable qualification, sufficient points and the other requirements	Possible with a suitable job offer and the permit’s other requirements met
Healthcare or teaching profession	Professional licensing restricts practice in regulated roles	Check the appropriate employment permit and required professional licence
Institution rated H- in anabin or unclear degree assessment	First clarify formal eligibility and suitable qualification evidence	Clarify the qualification status and appropriate recognition and residence route

If the right route is unclear, FIRMDER reviews your circumstances and required evidence during the initial consultation. Complex issues may need further documents or specialist assessment.

Legal basis of the Opportunity Card: §20a AufenthG. After a suitable job offer, a switch to an employment residence permit may be possible, for vocationally qualified skilled workers under §18a AufenthG, and for academically qualified skilled workers under §18b AufenthG, EU Blue Card under §18g AufenthG. Any subsequent family reunification must meet the general and specific requirements: §29 AufenthG.

Practical tip: research suitable employers and send targeted applications before arrival. State your availability and planned move where relevant. Arranging interviews in advance helps planning; a two- to three-month average saving cannot be promised without reliable evidence.

FIRMDER: support with the Opportunity Card

First assess whether you qualify as a recognised skilled worker or through the points system. Incorrect evidence or missing requirements may lead to queries or refusal. FIRMDER supports initial assessment through to preparing a subsequent employment permit, particularly with:

1. Assess points against documentary evidence: assess the qualification and each relevant point against the available evidence.
2. Vacancy research and preparation before arrival: so that targeted applications can continue after arrival.
3. Suitable translations meeting the procedure’s requirements: arrange suitable translators and the format accepted by the responsible authority within the agreed service scope.
4. Motivation letter: formulate a specific and credible job-search plan.
5. Prepare a complete application: coordinate documents and the application process using the authority’s current requirements.
6. After arrival: prepare address registration, insurance and any required switch of residence status.

The job-search Opportunity Card initially provides up to one year. Good preparation helps you use that time for applications and any necessary recognition steps. Send us an enquiry and we will start by assessing your eligibility.