About

The Opportunity Card is a new job-seeker residence permit introduced by Germany in 2024 under its reformed Skilled Immigration Act. It allows skilled professionals from non-EU countries to enter Germany without a job offer and gives them up to one year to search for work. If successful, they can extend their stay or change to a work visa.

Who can apply

To qualify, applicants must:

• Have at least two years of vocational training or a university degree recognized in their home country.
  
  
• Show basic knowledge of German (A1) or English (B2).
  
  
• Meet a points-based system, where points are awarded for education, work experience, age, language skills, and ties to Germany. A minimum of six points is usually required.
  
  
• Prove they have enough funds to support themselves during the job search, generally through blocked accounts or proof of monthly income.

Benefits

• No job offer required — enter Germany and look for work directly.
  
  
• Part-time and trial work allowed — up to 20 hours per week and unlimited short trial jobs.
  
  
• Flexible extension — if employment is found, the card can be converted into a longer work visa.
  
  
• Family-friendly in the long term — once employed and on a longer permit, applicants may apply for family reunification.
  
  
• Pathway to permanent residency — can eventually lead to long-term settlement in Germany.

Real-Life Example

Maya, from India, has a three-year university degree and speaks English at a B2 level. She applies for the Opportunity Card and moves to Berlin. While job searching, she works part-time in her field, then secures a full-time role at a software company. She converts her residence status into a long-term work permit and begins her new life in Germany.

Frequently Asked Questions