Newsletter July 2025: 1 year of the opportunity card

Dear readers,

Welcome to our new issue of the “Make it in Germany” newsletter.

In June 2024, the opportunity card was introduced as part of the amendment to the Skilled Immigration Act. This residence title replaces and extends the previous job search visa. For employers, holders of the opportunity card bring great potential for securing skilled labour, as they are already in Germany.

A year after, what practical experience has been gained with the new residence title? In this newsletter, we take stock and summarise frequently asked questions and answers. In a short interview, we introduce a foreign skilled worker who already came to Germany with the opportunity card and is now looking for a job.

In line with this, we have integrated our new information material on the opportunity card, which can now be found on the website.

The „Make it in Germany” team wishes you an enjoyable read!

 

In the spotlight

1 year of the opportunity card

Just over a year after the opportunity card was introduced, more than 11,000 visas have been issued and initial experience has been gained regarding the application, issuing and transition from the job search with the opportunity card to a regular employment. This article summarises the most important aspects of the opportunity card according to the current state of knowledge and answers practical questions: Who is eligible for it? What is legally permitted with the opportunity card? And what does an employer who wants to hire a person with an opportunity card need to know? You can read the answers here.

 

Practical example

5 questions: Living in Germany with the opportunity card

Steve Siewe Laurel Nchuemeni is from Cameroon and completed a technical degree there. He has been living in Germany for several months as an opportunity card holder. In this article, he talks about his personal experiences.

 

Did you know that...?

11.497

opportunity card visas were issued until 15 June 2025.

(Source: Deutscher Bundestag)

 

Did you know that...?

67%

of users of the "Make it in Germany" self-check for the opportunity card met the criteria for eligibility between 1 January and 30 June 2025.

(Source: Make it in Germany / Google Analytics)

 

Updates from "Make it in Germany" and partners

 

 

 

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE)

Issued by

German Economic Institute
Make it in Germany
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21
50668 Cologne
Germany

Editors: Vanessa Pohlmann and Marlene Schimpf
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