Germany Opportunity Card: 2026 Points, Fees and How to Apply

Evening view of the historic Römerberg square in Frankfurt, Germany, the kind of city where a Germany Opportunity Card job search could begin

Most work visas need a job offer first. The Germany Opportunity Card (in German, Chancenkarte) flips that: it lets qualified people from outside the EU move to Germany for up to one year to look for work, take part-time jobs and do trial shifts with employers. For a chef, hotel graduate or front office professional in India or the Gulf, that is a rare chance to meet German employers face to face.

This guide explains who qualifies, how the 6-point system works, how much money you need, what it costs to apply from India and what you can do once you arrive. All facts come from the official Make it in Germany portal and German missions in India and the UK, checked on 12 November 2026.

Table of contents

What is the Germany Opportunity Card?
Two ways to qualify
How the Germany Opportunity Card points work
Money, insurance and documents
How to apply from India (and the Gulf)
5 mistakes that delay a Germany Opportunity Card
After you arrive: finding work
Sources
FAQ

What is the Germany Opportunity Card?

The Germany Opportunity Card is a residence title under Section 20a of Germany's Residence Act. According to Make it in Germany, it is issued first as a job search card for a maximum of one year. With it you can:

look for qualified work in Germany or become self-employed;
work one or more part-time jobs totalling up to 20 hours a week;
do trial work of up to two weeks per employer, aimed at qualified employment, an apprenticeship or a qualification programme.

It is not compulsory. Make it in Germany points out that you can also search from home and apply for a work visa once you have an offer. The card simply gives you time on the ground.

Two ways to qualify

There are two routes to a Germany Opportunity Card, and both need proof of money (below).

1. Skilled worker route. If your foreign vocational or academic qualification is fully recognised in Germany, or you earned it in Germany, you count as a skilled worker. You skip the points system, and Make it in Germany says you do not need to prove language skills for this route, although German helps.

2. Points route. If your qualification is not (yet) fully recognised in Germany, you need all of the following:

a vocational qualification of at least two years, or a university degree, recognised by the country that issued it;
a positive check: for degrees, an anabin result or a Statement of Comparability; for vocational training, a "Digital Statement on Professional Qualification" from Germany's Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB);
German at level A1 or English at level B2 (CEFR);
at least 6 points.

German missions in India also ask Indian degree holders to confirm they studied on-site ("regular mode"). If you studied by distance learning, you need confirmation from the relevant Indian authority that the programme was approved when you graduated, or a ZAB recognition certificate.

How the Germany Opportunity Card points work

Here is the points table from Make it in Germany:

Criterion	Points
Qualification found partially equivalent in a recognition procedure	4
Qualification in a shortage occupation	1
At least 2 years' experience in your field in the last 5 years	2
At least 5 years' experience in your field in the last 7 years	3
German A2 / B1 / B2 or above	1 / 2 / 3
English C1 or above, or native speaker	1
Age up to 35 / between 35 and 40	2 / 1
Legal stay in Germany of 6+ months in the last 5 years (not tourism)	1
Spouse or partner who also qualifies for the card	1

Example: a 29-year-old chef with a three-year hotel management diploma, six years of kitchen experience and German at B1 could score 2 (age) + 3 (experience) + 2 (German) = 7 points, before any recognition points. Every point must be backed by certificates, so plan your language test early. Make it in Germany has an official self-check to test your Germany Opportunity Card eligibility before you apply.

Infographic of the Germany Opportunity Card points system: 4 points for partial recognition, 2 or 3 for work experience, 1 to 3 for German A2 to B2, 2 or 1 for age, and 1 each for a shortage occupation, C1 English, a prior stay and a qualifying partner; 6 points needed

Money, insurance and documents

The basic Germany Opportunity Card requirement is enough money for your job search. Make it in Germany sets the 2026 figure at €1,091 net per month, shown through a blocked account or a declaration of commitment. The German Embassy in London lists a total of €13,092 for a blocked account (12 months) or, as an alternative, a part-time job contract of up to 20 hours a week paying at least €1,091 net a month. German missions in India say the funds can be shown, for example, through a blocked account or a formal declaration of support from someone living in Germany.

For a Germany Opportunity Card applied for in India, the portal gives you a personalised upload list. German missions in India say it typically includes:

a passport issued within the last 10 years with at least 2 empty pages;
proof of funds and health insurance valid from the date of entry;
your highest degree with mark sheets for every semester, plus anabin or ZAB recognition documents;
a CV in English or German, and employer letters or contracts showing the exact duration and description of each job;
German certificates from a recognised provider such as Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖSD or telc;
English certificates meeting ALTE standards, or TOEFL. Pearson PTE, Duolingo and TOEFL online results are not accepted as proof in India.

How to apply from India (and the Gulf)

Self-check your points on Make it in Germany.
Get your documents ready: anabin or ZAB result, language certificates, blocked account and insurance.
Apply online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal. German missions in India say that where a national visa can be applied for in the portal, using it is obligatory, and you receive a link to book an appointment at the end.
Book an appointment with VFS, the service provider in India, at the location for your place of residence.
Pay the fee: INR 8,300 (€75) for applicants over 18, or INR 4,200 (€37.50) for under-18s, paid in rupees at the day's rate at your appointment. The mission notes the fee is not refunded if a visa is refused.

Applying from the UK? Since 1 October 2026 the German Embassy in London accepts Chancenkarte applications only through the Consular Services Portal, with appointments booked via TLScontact. Gulf residents should check the website of the German mission in their country of residence, as procedures vary.

For other European visas, see our Schengen visa guide for Indians.

5 mistakes that delay a Germany Opportunity Card

Old or wrong language certificates. The German Embassy in London says language tests must not be more than a year old. In India, PTE, Duolingo and TOEFL online results are not accepted.
Untranslated documents. Papers in a language other than German, English or French need a certified or sworn translation.
Incomplete uploads. In the portal, corrections are requested only once, and missing documents can mean longer processing or even refusal.
Unbacked points. Every point must be proven with certificates or records; a claim without evidence scores nothing.
Forgetting registration. German missions in India remind new arrivals to register with the residents' registration office right after entering Germany and to book an appointment with the foreigners' office for the residence permit.

After you arrive: finding work

Once you find a job, you apply to your local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) for the right residence permit, such as one for qualified employment. If your job meets the rules for qualified employment but you are not eligible for any other residence title, Make it in Germany says your Germany Opportunity Card can be extended for up to two years (the "Folge-Chancenkarte").

For hotel staff, the 20-hour part-time allowance and two-week trial shifts fit how hotels hire: a short trial in the kitchen or at reception is often how managers judge candidates. Browse current hotel jobs in Germany on Hospitality Vacancy before you travel, so you arrive with a list of employers. Choosing an English test? Remember that German missions in India do not accept PTE for this card; our sister blog's PTE vs IELTS comparison explains how the main tests differ.

Comparing countries? Read our guides to the UK Skilled Worker visa and the Australia working holiday visa for Indians.

Sources

This guide was checked against these official and reputable sources on 12 November 2026:

Photo: East of Römerberg in the evening 2020-08-19 01 by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).

FAQ: the Germany Opportunity Card

What is the Germany Opportunity Card?

It is a German residence title (Chancenkarte) that lets qualified non-EU nationals stay for up to one year to look for work, with part-time work of up to 20 hours a week and trial work of up to two weeks per employer.

How many points do I need for the Germany Opportunity Card?

At least 6 points, unless your qualification is fully recognised in Germany. Points come from partial recognition, experience, German skills, age, English C1, a past stay in Germany, a qualifying partner and shortage occupations.

How much money do I need?

Make it in Germany sets the 2026 figure at €1,091 net per month, usually shown through a blocked account or a declaration of commitment. The German Embassy in London lists €13,092 for 12 months.

What is the Germany Opportunity Card fee for Indians?

German missions in India list a national visa fee of INR 8,300 (€75) for applicants over 18 and INR 4,200 (€37.50) for under-18s, paid in rupees at the appointment and not refunded if refused.

Do I need to speak German?

On the points route you need German at A1 or English at B2. Higher German levels earn 1 to 3 extra points. The fully recognised skilled worker route has no language requirement, but German helps.

Can I work on the Germany Opportunity Card?

Yes, part-time up to 20 hours a week in total, plus trial work of up to two weeks per employer. Once you find qualified work, you apply for a work residence permit.

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