GermanyIn person

Chancenkarte in Germany (the opportunity card)

Looking for work in Germany on the ground for up to 1 year, with the right to work 20 hrs/week on the side. Points-based system.

Price

On request

Best for

Qualified professionals

Timeline

2–4 months

Tax

—

Format

In person

The Chancenkarte is a visa for finding work, not a work permit

The Chancenkarte (§§20a-20b AufenthG) gives the right to stay in Germany for up to 1 year specifically to look for work or to go through recognition of qualifications. Working fully is not allowed — only side work of up to 20 hours a week and trial work (Probearbeit, up to 2 weeks with each employer) are permitted. To work full-time, once you have an offer you need to move to a work residence permit (Fachkräfte under §18a/18b or the Blue Card).

Points can be collected without full recognition of the diploma

To obtain the card you need at least 6 points on the table of criteria (education and its recognition, work experience, age, language skills, links with Germany, shortage occupation). Full official recognition of the qualification (Anerkennung) is not strictly required — points are also given for simply having at least 2 years of vocational or higher education recognised in the country where it was obtained, plus work experience. The language requirement is A1 German OR B2 English (not German only, as the wording on the site might suggest).

What the service includes

Scope: a tick means included in the price, a cross means billed separately
	Assessment against the points system
	Preparing the document pack
	Filing with the embassy
	Support until the visa is issued
	Finding an employer— billed separately
	Document translations— billed separately

What we need from you

1A passport
2Proof of qualifications
3Financial guarantees
4Language skills (A1)

Frequently asked questions

Does the Chancenkarte allow you to work fully in Germany?

No. It only gives the right to stay in the country to look for work, with side work of up to 20 hours a week and trial work (up to 2 weeks with each employer). Full-time employment can only begin after switching status to a work residence permit (Fachkräfte or Blue Card) once an employment contract is in place.

Is Anerkennung (recognition of the diploma) required in advance?

For the Chancenkarte itself — no: the points can be collected through recognised education of at least 2 years plus work experience, without going through the full Anerkennung procedure. But full recognition gives more points and makes the later move to a work visa easier.

What happens if no job is found within the year?

An extension is only possible with a binding employment contract or an offer of qualified work approved (where required) by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit. Without that, you have to leave Germany once the year is up.

What financial threshold is needed for the Chancenkarte in 2026?

From €1,091/month (about €13,092 for the whole year the card is valid) — evidenced by a blocked account, statements or a sponsorship declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung). The amount is tied to the maximum BAföG rate and is reviewed annually, so the current figure has to be checked at the time of filing.

Sources

Residence permit in Germany: comparison

The difference is not the price — it is who each option suits. The “Best for” column is the business profile the option is built around.

Option	Best for	Timeline	Price from
Chancenkarte in Germany (the opportunity card)you are here	Qualified professionals, looking for work in Germany	2–4 months	on request
EU Blue Card in Germany	IT specialists, engineers, doctors, researchers	2–3 months	on request
Fachkräfte — residence permit for qualified professionals in Germany	Mid-level technical staff, nurses, construction workers, electricians	3–5 months	on request
Freiberufler — freelancer residence permit in Germany	IT freelancers, designers, consultants, journalists	2–4 months	on request
Residence permit in Germany for remote workers (the equivalent of a Digital Nomad Visa)	Tech employees with a foreign contract, digital nomads	2–4 months	on request
Residence permit in Germany through family reunification	Families moving to join a sponsor, children under 18 joining their parents	3–6 months	on request
Relocation of IT teams to Germany	IT companies, startups, corporate HR	3–6 months	on request

Ready to start?

Send an enquiry — we will check your case and help you arrange “Chancenkarte in Germany (the opportunity card)” in Germany. No markup on top.