Can you get a Job Seeker Visa?
Recognised degree, funds, and experience set whether you qualify and how long the visa runs.
Related tools
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Blue Card Eligibility
Your salary, degree, job offer, and field determine whether you qualify on the standard or shortage-occupation track. 2026 thresholds.
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Chancenkarte Points
Germany's new opportunity card runs on a points system. You need at least 6. Find your score and the easiest gap to close.
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Blocked Account Calculator
Visa duration, dependants, and your specific scholarship status set your exact Sperrkonto minimum. 2026 figures from the Auswärtiges Amt.
Frequently asked questions
Does Germany still have a 6-month Job Seeker Visa?
No. The legacy 6-month external Job Seeker Visa for foreign-degree holders no longer exists in 2026. The 2024 Skilled Immigration Act reform (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz) split the routes into §20 (post-graduation in Germany, up to 18 months) and §20a Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card, external entry, up to 12 months). Many embassy pages and travel agencies still describe the old 6-month visa; ignore that guidance and use either §20 or §20a depending on your location.
What's the difference between §20 and §20a?
§20 AufenthG is for applicants already in Germany completing a German degree, vocational training, research stay, or healthcare assistant training. It runs up to 18 months and allows unrestricted part-time work during the search. §20a AufenthG (Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card) is the external-entry route for applicants applying from abroad. It runs up to 12 months and allows 20 hours per week part-time work plus 2-week trial employments with qualifying employers. Both replaced the old 6-month visa.
What counts as a 'recognized degree' for §20a?
Two routes pass: (a) your foreign university degree appears at H+ in the Anabin database, or (b) you obtained a positive ZAB Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung). Either is sufficient. ZAB takes 4 to 6 weeks and costs about 200 EUR; Anabin is free but only some institutions are listed. For vocational qualifications, the Digital Statement on Professional Qualification is the equivalent.
What if my degree is not recognised?
You can still qualify for §20a via the points path. You need at least 6 Chancenkarte points plus A1 German OR B2 English. Points come from recognition status (partial), shortage occupation, experience, language, age, prior stay in Germany, and a partner who also qualifies. Use the Chancenkarte Points calculator to score yourself and identify the easiest single boost.
How much money do I need to show?
1,091 EUR per month for 2026 (the BAföG anchor used across all German residence-permit routes). For §20a, the typical proof is 1,091 × 12 = 13,092 EUR in a blocked account. For §20, it's 1,091 × 18 = 19,638 EUR. Alternatively, a Verpflichtungserklärung (formal sponsor declaration) from a person resident in Germany covers the funds requirement entirely. Some embassy pages still cite older figures (e.g. 1,028 EUR / mo from 2024); 1,091 is the current 2026 number.
Can I work during the search?
Yes, but with limits. §20 (in-Germany graduates) allows unrestricted part-time work, since you're already settled. §20a Chancenkarte allows 20 hours per week part-time plus 2-week trial employments with qualifying employers (typically those who could later sponsor a §18b skilled-worker visa or §18g Blue Card). The 2024 reform killed the legacy 'no work allowed during search' rule. The trial employments are a key feature; they let you test fit before a full sign-on.