GENERAL INFORMATION
The opportunity card is a new feature in the German Residence Act allowing eligible people to come to Germany to look for a job. As well as looking for a job, successful applicants can also take part in additional training for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in Germany.
WAYS TO OBTAIN AN OPPORTUNITY CARD
- Third-country nationals who can prove full equivalence of their foreign qualification and are thus considered to be skilled workers can receive an opportunity card without meeting any other special requirements if they provide evidence that they can support themselves.
- All other applicants have to provide proof that they have completed a degree from a foreign university, an at least two-year vocational qualification (both of which need to be officially recognised by the country in which they were completed) or a vocational qualification issued by one of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad. In addition, applicants need to have either basic German (level A1) or intermediate English skills (level B2). If these requirements are met, varying numbers of points can be collected for criteria such as recognition of the qualification in Germany, language skills, professional experience, age and connection to Germany, as well as an eligible civil partner or spouse who is accompanying you. You need at least 6 points to be granted the opportunity card.
DURATION OF THE OPPORTUNITY CARD
The opportunity card is issued for a maximum of one year provided you can support yourself for this period. During your time looking for a job in Germany, you can complete work trials or engage in secondary employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week.
Potential Candidates are classified into skilled and unskilled workers:
Skilled worker
Have you completed German vocational training or a degree from a German university? Or foreign vocational training or a degree from a foreign university which are recognised in Germany? Then you are considered a skilled worker pursuant and you do not need to collect points to get the opportunity card.
Please provide proof of your qualification as a skilled worker in the form of:
- Vocational training qualification in Germany (original + copy)
OR - University degree in Germany (original + copy)
OR - Recognition of the equivalence of the foreign professional qualification by the respective body responsible for recognition (original + copy)
OR - Recognition of the equivalence of the foreign university degree
OR
4. In the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the profession, for example, doctors, engineers etc
Professional license from the competent recognition body or assurance of the professional license – e.g. for medical professions: Decision of the licensing authority in the federal territory, i.e. assurance of the professional license or granting of the medical license (original + copy)
Unskilled worker
If you are not a skilled worker (see definition above), you must fulfill and provide proof of the following requirements:
- Foreign vocational training qualification (original + copy)
- Certificate (original + copy) from the ‘Central Office for Foreign Education’ ZAB about your foreign professional qualification (state recognition, at least 2 years of training)
OR - Partial recognition notice/deficit notice for your professional qualification (original + copy)
OR - Foreign university degree (original + copy) AS WELL AS
- Proof of state recognition of the university degree – either by
- Determination of the (conditional) comparability of the foreign university degree (printout from the anabin database for your university degree and your university)
- Certificate evaluation by the ‘Central Office for Foreign Education’ (original + copy)
OR
Vocational qualification from a German Chamber of Foreign Trade with corresponding confirmation from the ‘Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training’ BIBB (original + copy)
LANGUAGE SKILLS
- Certificate (original + copy) of your knowledge of the German – at least A1!
OR - Certificate (original + copy) of your knowledge of English – at least B2! the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is also accepted.
POINTS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY CARD
You can also collect points for the opportunity card by proving the following:
1.Proof of your professional experience in the last 5 or 7 years, if this is related to your professional qualification: Employment references, employer certificates, etc. (originals + copy)
- If you have been legally resident in Germany for an uninterrupted period of at least 6 months in the last 5 years (short stays under the Schengen Agreement do not count!), please prove this by providing suitable documents, for example,- valid rental contracts- terms of employment, service contracts, etc.- passports with visas and entry stamps
- Does your spouse/registered partner also want to apply for an opportunity card – or have they already done so – to then enter Germany together with you? If yes, one of you can collect 1 additional point for the opportunity card. Please enclose proof of the opportunity card application submitted by your spouse/partner.
PLEASE NOTE:
Additional documents may be required depending on the individual case. All costs associated with obtaining the necessary documents are to be borne by the applicant.
ADVANTAGES OF THE OPPORTUNITY CARD
Until now, applicants from non-EU countries had to show a permanent employment contract or be considered a recognised skilled worker in order to work in Germany. Complicated entry procedures hinder the immigration of qualified workers from abroad. The Opportunity Card (“Chancenkarte”) is designed to change this. Applicants from non-EU countries are guaranteed a 12-month stay in Germany through the Opportunity Card in order to look for a job.
You can apply for the Opportunity Card either at the Foreigners’ Registration Office or at the German Embassy at your home country
ADVANTAGES
- Fast Entry into Germany
- Chance of getting a permanent residence
- Chance of gaining a Good Income
- Guaranteed Work Permit
- Possibility for Full-Time Work
DISADVANTAGES
- Proof of funds/blocked account needed
- The Duration of Job Search is just for one year