Professionals across Asia, here is a route into Europe that starts before you have an employer. Germany’s Opportunity Card, called the Chancenkarte, lets skilled people from outside the EU and EFTA live in Germany for up to one year to look for qualified work.
Who it is for
The card is for nationals of countries outside the EU and EFTA with a completed academic degree or vocational training. While you search, you can work part time for up to 20 hours a week in total, and you can do job trials of up to two weeks per employer.
Two ways to qualify
The first route is a qualification that is fully recognised in Germany. If your foreign degree or vocational qualification is fully recognised, or you earned it in Germany, you qualify as a skilled worker and you do not need the points system.
The second route is the points system. You need a degree or at least two years of vocational training recognised in the country where you earned it, German at level A1 or English at level B2, and at least 6 points. Points come from partial recognition of your qualification (4 points), a shortage occupation (1 point), professional experience (2 points for two years in the last five, 3 points for five years in the last seven), German above A1 (up to 3 points), English at C1 (1 point), age (2 points at 35 or under, 1 point from 35 to 40), a previous legal stay in Germany of at least six months in the last five years (1 point), and a partner who also meets the requirements (1 point).
What you must show
Every applicant must prove they can fund the job search. For 2026, the official figure is a minimum of 1,091 euros net per month, which is 13,092 euros for a full year, shown through a blocked account or a declaration of commitment.
Apply through the official portal
Full official information: https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/opportunity-card/job-search
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