Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): Germany's new job search visa

Germany's Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), introduced under the Skilled Immigration Act, has fully replaced the old Job Seeker Visa (Jobsuchenden-Visum) for applicants outside Germany. If you're applying from abroad in 2026, the Chancenkarte is your route.

The key difference: while the old Job Seeker Visa simply required a recognized degree and financial proof, the Chancenkarte uses a points-based system to assess candidates more holistically.

Important Distinction

• Applying from abroad (no current German residence permit): You apply for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte). This page covers the full process.
• Already in Germany after completing studies: The 18-month post-study job search permit (Section 20 AufenthG) still exists and is separate from the Chancenkarte. See the dedicated section below.

There are two ways to get the Opportunity Card under §20a AufenthG. If your foreign degree or vocational qualification is fully recognised in Germany, you count as a skilled worker (Fachkraft) and need no points. Otherwise you need a foreign qualification recognised by the state where you earned it (a university degree, or vocational training of at least two years), German at A1 or English at B2, and at least 6 points from the table in the Annex to the Residence Act:

Only the highest German level counts, and you get points for one of the two experience rows, not both. The India mission's Consular Services Portal runs a questionnaire ("your score counter") that tells you which route fits you and whether you reach 6 points.

The Opportunity Card is not just a "look around" visa. It comes with real working rights:

Part-Time Work: 20 Hours Per Week

You can work up to 20 hours per week in any job while searching for a qualifying position. This helps cover your living costs while you network and apply for full-time roles. The 20 hours are a weekly average, and the card covers employment, not self-employment.

Trial Employment: 2 Weeks Per Employer

A unique feature of the Chancenkarte: you can do trial employment (Probebeschaftigung) for up to 2 weeks at a time. Each trial must be for a qualified job, lead towards vocational training, or fit a recognition measure. This lets companies assess you on the job before committing to a formal offer. Think of it as a working interview. You can do multiple trial periods with different employers during your 12-month stay.

Converting to a Work Permit

Once you secure a qualifying job offer, you can convert your Opportunity Card to the appropriate work permit (EU Blue Card, Skilled Worker Visa, etc.) without leaving Germany. You apply for the conversion at your local foreigners' office (Auslanderbehorde).

Extension

The Opportunity Card is first issued for up to 12 months. It can be extended once, for up to 2 years, only if you have a contract or binding offer for a qualified job, the Federal Employment Agency approves, and you do not already qualify for another work permit. Otherwise you switch to a Blue Card or skilled worker permit, or leave. A new search card is only possible after you have spent at least as long outside Germany, or lawfully in Germany on another permit, as you spent here on the last one (§20a(5) AufenthG).

You must prove that you can support yourself during your stay in Germany.

Financial Proof: €1,091 Per Month

You need to demonstrate access to at least €1,091 per month (the figure on the German missions in India Opportunity Card page). For a full 12 months that is 12 x €1,091 = €13,092 (our calculation). Acceptable proof includes:

• Blocked account (Sperrkonto): The most common method. You deposit the required amount into a German blocked account that releases a fixed monthly amount. MS in Germany can help you open one.
• Formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklarung): A sponsor in Germany formally declares financial responsibility for you at the local foreigners' office.
• Scholarship or grant: Proof of a scholarship or stipend covering your living expenses.

Health Insurance

The India mission asks for a certificate of statutory or private health insurance valid from your date of entry. Prices depend on the insurer and your age, so get quotes before you apply.

In India the Opportunity Card is applied for online through the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de/visa), which the German missions make compulsory for every visa type it lists.

Step-by-Step

Required Documents

• Valid passport (issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 empty pages)
• Your highest university degree with the mark sheets for every semester (Indian degrees: a confirmation that you studied on-site or in regular mode, not by distance learning)
• Credential recognition (anabin or ZAB assessment)
• For the points route: language certificate (German A1+ or English B2+)
• Financial proof (blocked account or sponsor letter)
• Health insurance valid from your date of entry
• For the points route: a CV and employer letters proving your work experience

If you completed your studies at a German university, you have a separate and more generous path: the 18-month post-study job search extension under Section 20 of the Residence Act (AufenthG).

Key Differences From the Chancenkarte

Who Qualifies?

Anyone who successfully completed a degree (Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD) at a recognized German university. This includes graduates of Studienkolleg who went on to complete their degree. You apply at your local foreigners' office before your student visa expires.

Working During the 18 Months

Unlike the Chancenkarte's 20-hour limit, the post-study extension allows unlimited work. You can take any job, full-time or part-time, while searching for a position that matches your qualification. Many graduates work in their field on temporary contracts or as working students during this period.