Eligibility Quiz
Can you prove you have at least €1,091 per month (approx. €13,092 per year) for your stay?
Requirements
Eligibility for the Opportunity Card is divided into two distinct tracks. You only need to qualify under one of these tracks to be eligible.
1. The Skilled Worker Track
You qualify automatically for the Opportunity Card without needing to calculate points if you are a "skilled worker" (Fachkraft). To meet this definition, you must possess a university degree or a vocational qualification that is fully recognized in Germany. You can verify your degree's status through the Anabin database.
2. The Points-Based Track
If your qualification is not yet fully recognized, you must meet three mandatory basic requirements and then score at least 6 points on the selection scale.
Mandatory Basic Requirements:
- Education: You must have completed a university degree or at least two years of state-recognized vocational training in your country of origin. Short-term certificates or "bootcamps" do not qualify.
- Language: You must prove German language skills at level A1 (beginner) or English language skills at level B2 (upper-intermediate).
- Financial Means: You must prove you can support yourself without relying on German public funds. As of 2026, the requirement is €1,091 per month (approx. €13,092 for the full year). This is typically proven via a Sperrkonto (blocked account).
The Points System:
- 4 Points: Partial recognition of your foreign professional qualification.
- 3 Points: Five years of professional experience in your field (within the last seven years) OR German language skills at level B1.
- 2 Points: Two years of professional experience (within the last five years) OR being under 35 years old OR German language skills at level A2.
- 1 Point: Being between 35 and 40 years old OR a previous legal stay in Germany of at least six months (within the last five years, excluding tourism) OR English skills at level C1 OR having a spouse who is also applying for an Opportunity Card OR working in a "bottleneck profession" (shortage occupation).
Conditions & Warnings
Vocational training must be at least two years and state-recognized; short-term certificates or bootcamps generally do not qualify.
High-demand locations like India, Pakistan, and Nigeria may experience significant appointment backlogs extending total processing to 6 months.
The permit is a bridge for job seeking and does not grant permanent residency; you must find qualified employment within 12 months to stay.
Qualifications
German A1 OR English B2 (mandatory for points-track); higher levels (German B1/B2, English C1) grant additional points.
Fees
Standard national long-term visa fee. Excludes blocked account service fees and translations.