Questions and answers regarding the opportunity card

Are you a national of a country outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) and would like to apply for an opportunity card in order to search for a job in Germany? In the “Job search opportunity card” section, you will find the most important information on the requirements, procedures and prospects in Germany with the opportunity card.

If you have further questions on the opportunity card, you will find essential information here to facilitate your journey to Germany with the opportunity card.

Opportunity card: mandatory or optional?

• Do I always have to apply for the opportunity card, if I would like to come to Germany?

Having an opportunity card is not a condition to come to Germany. Whether you need it depends on the country you are coming from and why you would like to come to Germany. The opportunity card is the right choice if one of the following scenarios applies to you:

• you do not have a job offer for qualified employment in Germany yet;
• you have not found a suitable measure for the recognition of your professional qualifications yet;
• you are not searching for a place in vocational training or university in Germany. To search for a place in vocational training or university in, you must apply for a visa with the respective purpose. You can find more information in the overviews on the “Visa for the purpose of seeking a vocational training place” and the “Visa for seeking a place in higher education”.

With the Quick-Check, you can quickly find out which options you have for entering Germany.

• Can I also apply for the opportunity card if I already have a job offer?

If you have already received a job offer for an occupation of 20 hours per week maximum, it can serve as proof of financing for the opportunity card. If you would like to work more, you must apply for a different residence title, for example for the work visa for qualified professionals or the visa for professionally experienced workers.

Proof of qualifications

• Which foreign qualifications do I have to present to be granted an opportunity card?

If you have a foreign university degree or a foreign professional qualification, there are two ways to receive the opportunity card: if your degree or qualification is recognised as equivalent to a German degree or qualification, you can immediately apply for the opportunity as a skilled worker (Fachkraft), without having to score points. Otherwise, you must score at least six points in the points system – aside from meeting other requirements. Read more about both options in the “Job search opportunity card” section. 

• Which qualifications or degrees are accepted in the points system?

If you would like to apply for an opportunity card via the points system, you must have acquired a certain type of qualification or degree. You either have a university degree or a non-academic vocational qualification which is recognised by the state in the country you acquired it. Please note that a minimum vocational training period of two years in full-time preceded the acquisition of your non-academic vocational qualification. If you have a qualification of a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) of category A meeting the requirements of the Vocational Training Act, it may also be accepted. You can get more information on this matter from the AHK where you acquired your qualification. 

Verify whether you have the appropriate qualification for the opportunity card via the Self-Check “Opportunity Card”.

• How do I prove that my foreign qualification or degree is state-recognised in the country of acquisition?

Proof on the recognition by the state in the country of acquisition can be provided in various ways:

• You have a foreign university degree: first check the anabin database to see whether your degree and your university both have a positive rating. A manual on how to use the anabin database can be found here. If you do not have positive results in anabin, a Statement of Comparability is an alternative option. You can submit an application for it online at your own expense to the Foreign Office for Education (ZAB).
• You have a foreign non-academic vocational qualification: the document serving as proof – the Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification (DAB) – is issued by the ZAB at your own expense.
• If you have an AHK qualification corresponding to the category A, please contact the respective AHK to receive information on whether your qualification meets the requirements. A list of accepted AHK qualifications is available on the website of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).

Examples:

• A biologist with an academic degree from Lebanon requires proof of positive anabin results or a Statement of Comparability from the ZAB for the opportunity card.
• A draughtswoman with a non-academic vocational qualification from Georgia must present a Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification (DAB) from the ZAB for the opportunity card.
   
• Is the opportunity card only issued to persons with certain qualifications or professions?

In general, the opportunity card can be issued to persons of any profession and appropriate foreign qualification, regardless of the occupational field. However, persons with an academic degree in a shortage occupation score an additional point in the points system. This makes reaching the required minimum score for the opportunity card easier. 

Shortage occupations are professions in health care, information technology, engineering, as well as teachers, amongst others. The detailed list of shortage occupations pertinent for the opportunity card can be found here.

• What is accepted as proof for my professional experience?
  
  If you have already gained professional experience and would like to receive points for that in the points system, you must provide the respective proof when applying for your visa. Various documents are accepted:
  • Employment certificates: they must contain detailed information on your tasks and fields of responsibility in the previous places of employment.
  • CV: the CV must also describe your career path in a detailed manner. The duration and the type of employment, as well as the exact occupations, must be evident.
  • Reference letters from previous employers who can confirm your professional skills and experience. 

It is important that all documents are in either German or English, or that they are translated accordingly. 

• I have a recognition notice stating partial recognition of my foreign qualification. Can I apply for the opportunity card with these results? 

With a recognition notice stating partial recognition of the qualification, you receive four out of the six points required for an opportunity card. This will help you to reach the score required to apply for an opportunity card more quickly. 

Partial recognition means that you can participate in qualification measures or refresher trainings to receive full recognition. The opportunity card entitles you to look for these measures. More information on qualification measures and advisory services can be found in the “Anerkennung in Deutschland ” portal.

Proof of language skills

• Which language certificates are accepted for the opportunity card?

For the opportunity card (points system), German and/or English language skills on a certain level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) are required. The institutions issuing the language certificates must either be certified by the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) or they have to be a recognised institution authorised for examination. For German, this applies to the Goethe-Institut, for example. For English, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are recognised examination types.

As a rule, language certificates are only accepted if the examination date was not longer than one year ago. If individual modules have been re-examined, the date of the first module passed applies. 

Further information on the proof of language skills can be found at the German mission abroad responsible for your visa application. Please find the contact information here.

• I successfully completed my academic studies in an English-speaking country. Do I still have to present a language certificate for English language skills? 

If you completed your academic studies in an English-speaking country, you most likely had had to present internationally recognised English language certificates for admission, such as TOEFL or IELTS. Please verify whether they are still valid. Otherwise, please ask the responsible German mission abroad whether your academic degree counts as proof of English language skills.

• English is my native language. How can I prove my English language skills when applying for the opportunity card?

To provide proof of your English language skills, you must present a language certificate at a minimum level of B2. This means that even if your native language is English, a language certificate from a certified institution is required to prove your English language skills.

Proof of adequate means of subsistence

• I already concluded an employment contract with a German employer for an auxiliary occupation of 20 hours per week. Do I still have to open a blocked account?

An employment contract for an auxiliary occupation (part-time) can be considered in the financing verification process. Whether you still require a blocked account depends on the agreed salary. If you earn at least €1,091 per month (net amount; valid for 2025), you meet the financial requirements for the opportunity card. If the net salary is below €1,091, you can compensate for the remaining difference via a blocked account.

• Which banks offer the option of opening a blocked account?

Due to legal reasons concerning the competition law, we are not able to provide recommendations for banks offering blocked accounts. You can find general information on blocked accounts on the website of the Federal Foreign Office . Country-specific regulations on banks and blocked accounts can be found at the competent German mission abroad.

• What can I do if I have neither a secondary job nor a sufficient amount of money in a blocked account? 

Even if you do not yet have a secondary job in Germany and cannot deposit enough money in a blocked account, you can still provide proof of sufficient funds to cover your cost of living with a Declaration of Commitment. With a Declaration of Commitment, relatives, friends or acquaintances in Germany commit to being financially responsible for you.

• Who can submit a Declaration of Commitment for the visa application?

Persons who are residing in Germany and can provide evidence of having sufficient financial means are allowed to submit a Declaration of Commitment.

The application for the Declaration of Commitment must be submitted in person to the competent foreigners authority in Germany. In general, an appointment must be made and the required documents (e.g. proof of income, tenancy agreement) must be presented. To find out which authority is responsible, please enter the place of residence of the applicant in the BAMF-NaVi .

Application procedure and issuance

• Can I apply for the opportunity card online?

In many countries, you can only apply for the opportunity card online. Everything you need to know about the digital application can be found in the Consular Services Portal of the Federal Foreign Office .

If the online application has not yet been activated in your country of residence, please contact the competent German mission abroad for more information. Information on the application procedure for the opportunity card can generally be found on their website. 

• Which documents are required to apply for the opportunity card?
  
  To apply for the opportunity card, you require the following documents:
  • Valid passport: a valid passport is required.
  • Proof of the academic degree or non-academic vocational qualification: please verify, whether a German translation is required.
  • Proof of the recognition in Germany or the recognition by the state in the country of acquisition: depending on whether you are considered a skilled worker or are applying for the opportunity card via the points system, a certain type of proof is required. Please learn more in the “Proof of qualifications” section.
  • Proof of language skills: please verify whether you must present a language certificate to prove your German and/or English language skills. More information can be found in the “Proof of language skills” section.
  • Proof of financing: you must be able to cover your own cost of living in Germany. The available options are listed in the “Proof of adequate means of subsistence” section.
  • Proof of health insurance: in general, this is an incoming health insurance covering the period for which the visa was issued.
  • Application form: in case of application forms which have to be submitted in person, you generally must fill in the digital Videx application form and submit it with the other required documents to the competent German mission abroad.

However, the competent embassy may ask for more documents. You can generally find a complete list of the required documents on their website.

• For what time period is the opportunity card issued?

The initial opportunity card is issued as a search opportunity card for 12 months. If proof of being able to cover the cost of living for the full 12 months cannot be provided, the opportunity card may be issued for a shorter period. In this case, the search opportunity card can be extended after entering Germany, if the circumstances of being able to cover the cost of living change in favour of the applicant or if the job-hunting process takes longer. However, the maximum limit is 12 months.

• I already work in Germany with a temporary residence title. Am I eligible for the opportunity card if I become unemployed?

In case of unemployment in Germany, it is possible to receive an opportunity card for up to one year if the requirements are met. This requires that the cost of living is covered during the job-hunting process. If you become unemployed, please contact the competent foreigners authority to apply for the opportunity card.

• I completed my academic studies / I completed vocational training or a qualification measure successfully in Germany and I am subsequently looking for a job. Can I apply for the opportunity card for this purpose? 

If you complete your academic studies, vocational training or a qualification measure for the recognition of your profession, you can generally apply for an opportunity card in Germany to search for a job. However, a specific residence title for the purpose of searching for a job exists for these cases and you are entitled to it. It allows you to stay in Germany for up to 18 months and work without any restrictions.
This regulation also applies to researchers who wish to stay in Germany after completing their research to find new career prospects. 

Family reunification

• Can my spouse join me in Germany with the opportunity card?

If you have a spouse who also meets the requirements for the opportunity card, you can apply for the opportunity card together and enter Germany at the same time. Otherwise, it is not possible for spouses to join their partner in Germany without their own residence title due to the time-limited nature of the opportunity card. As soon as you have taken up qualified employment and therefore secured your residence status in Germany, you can apply for your spouse to join you.

• What are the regulations regarding children joining holders of an opportunity card?

If you receive a search opportunity card, you can come to Germany with your children under certain conditions. In this context, it is of major importance that you can cover the cost of living for your children. For more information, please visit the “Family reunification for children” section.

After successfully finding a job

• I am in Germany with a search opportunity card, and I have found an employer who wants to hire me. However, he asks for a work permit in order to employ me. What can I do to get a work permit?

The search opportunity card is for the purpose of looking for a job, which is why it allows you to work for 20 hours per week only. For (subsequent) regular employment, you require a different residence title. This new residence title also permits you to work full-time.

As soon as you have a job offer, you can apply for this residence title in Germany. This may be an EU Blue Card, a work visa for qualified professionals, a visa for professionally experienced workers or a recognition partnership visa. You submit the application to the foreigners authority responsible for your matters.

Alternatively, the search opportunity card can be extended and converted into an extended opportunity card in individual cases. This is the case if the requirements for a different residence title for employment are not met and if it is a qualified employment position.

More information on the options for residence titles subsequent to the search opportunity card can be found in the brochure “The first steps in Germany with the job search opportunity card”:

• What kind of employment allows me to work in Germany subsequent to the search opportunity card?

To receive a residence title for employment or an extended opportunity card in Germany, you must have a concrete job offer. There is a plethora of residence titles that can be considered in this case – if you meet the respective requirements. Benefit from the advice the “Working and Living in Germany” hotline offers.

You must consider the following aspects for the employment:  

• A qualified employment position is mandatory: this means that it requires skills and knowledge which can generally be acquired during academic studies or qualified vocational training. Auxiliary occupations or semi-skilled jobs are not included.
• A full-time job position (depending on the sector, this means working for 36 to 40 hours per week) is not an absolute necessity. However, a full-time job position helps you to provide proof for being able to cover your cost of living; especially if you plan on family members joining you eventually.
• The employment position requires you to pay social security contributions in Germany: the contributions for health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance, and accident insurance are automatically deducted from your gross salary.
• In general, subcontracted employment is not permitted: this means that the company you will actually be working in must be the second party to the employment contract. It cannot be a subcontracted employment agency lending you to another company.