Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)

Job search in Germany without a job offer: points, funds, work allowed, 1-year permit.

The Opportunity Card (§ 20a AufenthG) lets qualified people come to Germany to look for work, for up to one year.

Basic conditions

• A recognised or comparable qualification (a vocational training of at least 2 years, or a degree), or a professional qualification meeting the points route.
• Language: German at A1 or English at B2.
• Livelihood secured: e.g. a blocked account of 992 € a month = 11.904 € a year for the stay. Allowed alternatives (such as a declaration of commitment) should be checked on the Embassy page.
• Points route (education, experience, German or English, link to Germany, age). Age wording in the statute: "nicht älter als 35" gives 2 points; "älter als 35 und nicht älter als 40" gives 1 point.

What you may do on the card

• Work on average at most 20 hours a week (§ 20a Abs. 2 Nr. 1).
• Trial employment of at most two weeks each (§ 20a Abs. 2 Nr. 2).
• Apply for a job; once you find one, switch to a skilled-worker permit (Skilled worker) in Germany.

Livelihood level used in practice: 1.091 €/month (reference in § 20a Abs. 4 Satz 1; the amount follows administrative practice).

Steps and appointment: Visa application. Qualification check: Recognition.