Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): Requirements and How to Apply

The Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a job-search permit that lets non-EU citizens come to Germany for up to a year to look for work. You qualify with a recognised degree or vocational qualification, or with at least 6 points from language skills, work experience, age and ties to Germany. The financial requirement is proof of funds of about €1,091 a month (€13,092 for 12 months), and you may work up to 20 hours a week while searching. The visa fee is €75. This page draws on German embassy information sheets we read on 2026-10-07; the Make it in Germany portal page returned an error, so check the official portal and your embassy before you apply. Rules change, and we are researchers, not lawyers.

Who qualifies

Per the German embassy information sheets, you must be able to secure your livelihood, including health insurance, and meet one of two routes:

• Qualification route: a university degree recognised in Germany (checked via the ANABIN database or an individual recognition) or a recognised vocational qualification.
• Points route: at least 6 points from language skills, work experience, age and ties to Germany.

For the points route, you need proof of German at A1 or English at B2. The embassy sheets list accepted German certificates such as Goethe-Institut, telc and TestDaF, and accepted English proofs such as TOEFL or IELTS.

Financial requirement

You must prove about €1,091 a month. That is €13,092 for the standard 12-month validity. Accepted proof includes a blocked account (Sperrkonto), a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a German immigration office, or three months of bank statements showing the full amount.

Documents you'll need

From the embassy pages, you need:

• a valid passport with at least three blank pages;
• proof of qualification or points evidence;
• proof of funds (blocked account, declaration or statements);
• health insurance valid for the visa period;
• proof of accommodation for at least one month;
• language certificates where the points route applies.

Check your embassy's checklist because each mission can add requirements.

Step-by-step application

1. Check your route (qualification or points) and gather evidence.
2. Prove your funds, for example by opening a blocked account.
3. Arrange health insurance for the visa period.
4. Book an embassy appointment. US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens may be able to enter visa-free and apply locally; confirm with the immigration office.
5. Pay the €75 fee (some embassies add small postage charges).
6. Travel and register your address after arrival.
7. Search for work and apply for a work permit once you find a job.

Costs and timeline

The visa fee is €75, payable in cash or by Visa or Mastercard at the embassy we read. Embassy pages say processing takes about two weeks after a complete application, but this varies. The card is first issued for up to one year, with the option to extend in Germany.

What you can do on the card

You may take one or more part-time jobs totalling up to 20 hours a week while you search, and do job trials limited to two weeks per employer. The card is not meant to replace a work permit: once you find a qualifying job, you apply for a permit such as the EU Blue Card.

Taxes once you're resident

If you work part time, you are taxable in Germany like any resident, and there is no special regime. Income tax is progressive up to 45%, and social contributions apply to employment. The US has a tax treaty and totalization agreement with Germany, and US citizens still file US returns. We are not tax advisors. See our Germany country guide.

Family members

The sources we read do not describe accompanying family, so we have marked family as unconfirmed. Ask your embassy whether a spouse or children can come with you, or whether they must apply separately.

Alternatives

• EU Blue Card if you already have a job offer.
• Freelance visa if you will be self-employed.
• Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant permit for a different employer-sponsored route.
• Cities: Berlin and Munich; or take our quiz.