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Job search opportunity card
Would you be willing to travel to Germany in order to find employment? See here for information on what’s needed to obtain a job search opportunity card.
Reaching out to German businesses and securing a suitable job in Germany is made easier with the opportunity card (Section 20a of the Residence Act [AufenthG])
See the Do I need a visa? section to see if you must apply for an opportunity card visa in order to enter Germany.
What is the Opportunity Card?
Germany introduced the Chancenkarte Visa in 2024 in an effort to draw in highly qualified individuals to work and reside there. This is a direct and expedited route for skilled workers from non-EU countries to enter the German labor market. Competent individuals have an excellent opportunity to acquire direct access to a large number of job prospects in Germany’s diverse industries.
The German government launched this program to provide a streamlined job search process in response to labor needs. Candidates can get a work permit promptly after submitting a successful application under the points-based system. This opens up the possibility of obtaining permanent residence in Germany.
difference between Germany's Opportunity Card & Job Seeker Visa
Factors |
Germany Opportunity Card |
Germany Job Seeker Visa |
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Qualifications |
Professional qualification and 2+ years’ work experience
|
Degree or vocational training recognized by Germany
|
|
Required language level |
IELTS/Minimum A1 level in German Or B2 level in English
|
Not Mandatory
|
|
Visa duration |
1 year
|
6 months
|
|
Visa extension |
+ 24 months
|
+ 3 months
|
|
Required funds |
€ 12,324
|
€ 5,604
|
|
Cap |
Not applicable
|
Applicable
|
|
Paid work permitted |
Yes, up to 20 hours a week
|
No |
Because the Germany Opportunity card offers several benefits over the Germany Job Seeker Visa, the majority of competent professionals are now interested in applying for one. You can stay in the nation for a year to look for work, and you can work up to 20 hours per week at a part-time job during that period.
What are the requirements for an opportunity card?
Would you wish to apply for an opportunity card under Section 20a of the Residence Act [AufenthG] because you are not a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland? You have the following choices available to you:
To apply, candidates need to:
- Educational Qualification:- Having more education increases your chances
- Professional job experience: 5 years of experience earns you additional points.
- Age: 35 and under get 3 points; 36 to 39 receive 1 point.
- Language proficiency: You receive extra points if you are at an A2 level in German or a C1 level in English, while you receive 1-3 points if you are at a B1 to C2 level in German.
- Proof of funds: In the form of a blocked account or a contract for part-time work in Germany, you must provide proof of funds totaling EUR 12,324.
Ability to pay living expenses:
You need to have enough money to support your job hunt in Germany for both Option 1 and Option 2. A declaration of commitment or a blocked bank account with a minimum monthly balance of €1,027 net (amount applicable in 2024) might serve as proof of this capacity throughout the visa application procedure.
Eligibility For the Germany Opportunity Card
If you cannot provide proof that you hold a German qualification or that your foreign qualification has been fully recognized, then Option 2 does not apply to you, and the points system is not applicable. Evidence of your official qualifications and the required language proficiency are additional requirements for applying for an opportunity card visa. The following criteria are points that can be awarded:
- Equivalence of qualification: If you have already applied for recognition of your foreign qualification and it has been found to be partially equivalent, you will receive four points. You will still receive the four points if, in the case of a regulated profession, you are required to participate in compensatory measures before obtaining a licence to practise your profession.
- Qualification in a shortage occupation: If your formal qualification is in a shortage occupation, you will get one point. To find out which occupations are considered to be in short supply, consult the List of shortage occupations.
- Professional experience: You will also be awarded points for your previous professional experience in relation to your formal qualification that you gained after graduating. Two points will be awarded if you can demonstrate that you have at least two years’professional experience within the last five years. If you have at least five years’ professional experience within the last seven years, you will get three points.
- Language skills: You will also earn points if your German language skills are above level A1 (CEFR). One point is awarded at level A2, two points at level B1 and three points at level B2 or above. An additional point will be awarded if you have English at level C1 or above, or if you are a native speaker.
- Age: You also receive points if you are a certain age. People who are no older than 35 get two points until the day they turn 35. All those aged between 35 and 40 are awarded one point.
- Previous stays in Germany: Have you already lived in Germany? If you can prove that you have resided legally in Germany for a continuous period of at least six months in the last five years, you will receive one point. Examples of such stays include study, language and work stays. Stays for the purpose of tourism or visiting people do not count. Copies of old passports and the visas and entry stamps they contain can be submitted as evidence.
- Skilled worker potential of spouses or life partners: Are you married or in a partnership and would like to come to Germany with your partner on an opportunity card? If your partner already meets the requirements for an opportunity card, you will be awarded one point in the points system. With this in mind, he or she can also do the self-check: opportunity card.
What opportunities does the opportunity card offer?
Opportunity cards are issued initially as job search opportunity cards for a maximum of one year. The card allows you to look for gainful employment in Germany, i.e. you can seek employment or become self-employed.
While you are looking for gainful employment, you are allowed to have one or more part-time jobs (secondary employment) totalling 20 hours a week. You can also do job trials for a maximum of two weeks per employer as part of your job search. The aim of the job trial must be either to obtain qualified employment, an apprenticeship or a qualification programme.
Tip
It's best to begin job search preparation as soon as feasible in order to maximize your time on the job market: In order to persuade a German company, how should your application be structured? What resources are available to assist you? Kindly see the "Finding a job" section for further details.
You can apply to your local foreigners authority for one of the residence permits that are currently available for qualified employment, vocational training, professional qualification recognition, or self-employment if you have found a specific job or apprenticeship or if you wish to work for yourself. Your opportunity card will be extended for a maximum of two years if your work satisfies the standards for qualifying employment and you are not eligible for any other resident title (opportunity card extension).
Most High in-demand jobs in Germany
Professionals with skills looking to progress in a friendly and energetic setting have a great opportunity to do so with the Germany Opportunity Card. This card may be your pass to a successful future in Germany, regardless of your industry—technology, healthcare, or something else entirely.
Manufacturing, Mining, Construction, and Distribution Managers
1. Manufacturing managers
2. Mining managers
3. Construction managers
4. Supply, distribution and related managers
2. Mining managers
3. Construction managers
4. Supply, distribution and related managers
Information and Communications Technology Service Managers
1. Information and communications technology service managers
Professional Services Managers
1. Childcare services managers
2. Health services managers
3. Aged care services managers
4. Social welfare managers
5. Education managers
6. Financial and insurance services branch managers
7. Professional services managers not elsewhere classified
2. Health services managers
3. Aged care services managers
4. Social welfare managers
5. Education managers
6. Financial and insurance services branch managers
7. Professional services managers not elsewhere classified
Science and Engineering Professionals
1. Physical and earth science professionals
2. Physicists and astronomers
3. Meteorologists
4. Chemists
5. Geologists und geophysicists
2. Physicists and astronomers
3. Meteorologists
4. Chemists
5. Geologists und geophysicists
Primary School and Early Childhood Teachers
1. Primary school teachers
2. Early childhood educators
2. Early childhood educators
Database and Network Professionals
1. Database designers and administrators
2. Systems administrators
3. Computer network professionals
4. Database and network professionals not elsewhere classified
2. Systems administrators
3. Computer network professionals
4. Database and network professionals not elsewhere classified
Other Teaching Professionals
1. Education methods specialists
2. Special needs teachers
3. Other language teachers
4. Other music teachers
5. Other arts teachers
6. Information technology trainers
7. Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified
2. Special needs teachers
3. Other language teachers
4. Other music teachers
5. Other arts teachers
6. Information technology trainers
7. Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified
Secondary Education Teachers
Science and Engineering Professionals
Mathematicians, Actuaries and Statisticians
University and Higher Education Teachers
Vocational Education Teachers
Life Science Professionals
1. Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals
2. Farming, forestry and fisheries advisers
3. Environmental protection professionals
2. Farming, forestry and fisheries advisers
3. Environmental protection professionals
Engineering Professionals (Excluding Electrotechnology)
1. Industrial and production engineers
2. Civil engineers
3. Environmental engineers
4. Mechanical engineers
5. Chemical engineers
6. Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals
7. Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified
2. Civil engineers
3. Environmental engineers
4. Mechanical engineers
5. Chemical engineers
6. Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals
7. Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified
Electrotechnology Engineers
1.Electrical engineers
2. Electronics engineers
3. Telecommunications engineers
2. Electronics engineers
3. Telecommunications engineers
Architects, Planners, Surveyors and Designers
1. Building architects
2. Landscape architects
3. Product and garment designers
4. Town and traffic planners
5. Cartographers and surveyors
6. Graphic and multimedia designers
2. Landscape architects
3. Product and garment designers
4. Town and traffic planners
5. Cartographers and surveyors
6. Graphic and multimedia designers
Medical Doctors
1. Generalist medical practitioners
2. Specialist medical practitioners
2. Specialist medical practitioners
Nursing and Midwifery Professionals
1. Nursing professionals
2. Midwifery professionals
2. Midwifery professionals
Other health Professionals
1. Dentists
2. Pharmacists
3. Environmental and occupational health and hygiene professionals
4. Physiotherapists
5. Dieticians and nutritionists
6. Audiologists and speech therapists
7. Optometrists and ophthalmic opticians
8. Health professionals not elsewhere classified
2. Pharmacists
3. Environmental and occupational health and hygiene professionals
4. Physiotherapists
5. Dieticians and nutritionists
6. Audiologists and speech therapists
7. Optometrists and ophthalmic opticians
8. Health professionals not elsewhere classified
Software and Applications Developers and Analysts
1. Systems analysts
2. Software developers
3. Web and multimedia developers
4. Applications programmers
5. Software and applications developers and analysts not elsewhere classified
2. Software developers
3. Web and multimedia developers
4. Applications programmers
5. Software and applications developers and analysts not elsewhere classified
Veterinarians
Teaching Professionals
Information and Communications Technology Professionals
OTHER IMPORTANT FAQS
If you are not a citizen of the European Union, the Opportunity Card grants you a legal residence status that enables you to search for work in Germany without being bound by a set contract. There is a possibility of working up to 20 hours a week in part-time employment, along with a two-week trial period.
The following list highlights the key distinctions between the two groups: Requirements minimum: Visa for job seekers: German-recognized degree or vocational training. The Opportunity Card requires a professional degree and at least two years of work experience.
If you have a degree that is equal to a German degree, you can indeed look for a job in Germany from India. India and other foreign people can find plenty of work possibilities in Germany, which has the fourth-largest economy in the world. There is a skilled labor shortage in Germany right now. The best time to apply for jobs in Germany is right now. The steps to apply for a job in Germany are as follows: Step 1: Check your Eligibility Step 2: Get your educational qualifications recognised Step 3: Search for a job related to your field Step 4: Write an application Step 5: Apply for Germany work visa
In the country, nurses are the most in-demand profession after doctors. In Germany, the average yearly pay for a registered nurse is between EUR 45,817 and EUR 80,000. Technicians: Due to the requirement in every other industry across the country, technicians are among the most sought-after careers in Germany.
Highly skilled qualified workers
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