The Opportunity Card gives you a legal residence permit that allows you to look for a job in Germany without a fixed employment contract (if you come from a non-EU country). Part-time employment of up to 20 hours a week is possible, as well as a trial job for two weeks. You can also have your vocational qualification recognised retrospectively with the Opportunity Card.

The duration of stay is limited to one year. If you do not find a suitable job, there is no entitlement to an extension after the time has expired. If you have a job, a longer stay in Germany is not linked to the Opportunity Card. Find out more about this at your local Foreigners’ Registration Office.

Applicants from non-EU countries can enter Germany more easily and look for work there more quickly. In addition, holders of the Opportunity Card have the chance to apply for a permanent residence title in Germany. Companies also benefit from this. For potential employers, the Opportunity Card greatly expands the pool of applicants.

Due to a deficit of skilled workers, Germany would have a shortage of about 16 million workers by 2060 – without immigration from abroad. (Source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) Many companies are already dependent on the support of individuals. With the Opportunity Card, both applicants and employers gain a long-term perspective on a positive development in the labour market.

You can apply for the Opportunity Card at the relevant German mission abroad in your country of origin (for example, at the German Embassy or German Consulate). If you are already in Germany, simply submit the application to the relevant local Foreigners’ Registration Office.

In this case, please note that you must already be in possession of a valid residence permit or visa. In order to obtain the Opportunity Card, you must fulfill the necessary requirements and, if applicable, provide proof, for example, of your professional experience (vocational training + work experience) or your language skills (German A1 or English B2). You must also have sufficient financial means. You can prove this by means of an employment contract for a part-time job (up to 20 hours per week), for example. Please register for our newsletter if you are interested in such a part-time job.

You can apply for the Opportunity Card at the relevant German mission abroad in your country of origin (for example, at the German Embassy or German Consulate). If you are already in Germany, simply submit the application to the relevant local Foreigners’ Registration Office.

In this case, please note that you must already be in possession of a valid residence permit or visa. In order to obtain the Opportunity Card, you must fulfill the necessary requirements and, if applicable, provide proof, for example, of your professional experience (vocational training + work experience) or your language skills (German A1 or English B2). You must also have sufficient financial means. You can prove this by means of an employment contract for a part-time job (up to 20 hours per week), for example. Please register for our newsletter if you are interested in such a part-time job.

You can apply for the Opportunity Card since 01 June 2024 at the local Foreigners’ Registration Office or the relevant German mission abroad in your country of origin. It expands the previous Skilled Immigration Act (in force since 1 March 2020) to include another residence title for qualified non-EU citizens. While the Skilled Immigration Act facilitates entry and residence, the Opportunity Card is explicitly intended to help people who do not yet have a permanent employment contract in Germany and want to look for a job locally.

To obtain the Opportunity Card, you must submit an application to the competent German mission abroad (for example, the German Embassy or German Consulate). To do this, you should have important documents ready, such as your passport as well as proof of language skills and your vocational training etc. You will also need these for the next steps with the Foreigners’ Registration Office.

The basic requirements for the Opportunity Card are language skills in German (A1) or English (B2) and (at least) two years of vocational training or a university degree. You must also have sufficient financial means. Proof of this can be provided by means of an employment contract for a part-time job (up to 20 hours per week), for example. Please register for our newsletter, if you are interested in such a part-time job. If you cannot prove that you have the necessary language skills or a professional qualification according to the rules of your country of origin, you must fulfill these criteria before applying for the Opportunity Card.

As a recognized skilled worker, you only need to secure your livelihood. If you apply through the points system, you must fulfill at least six points to receive the Opportunity Card. The criteria are as follows:

• Language skills
• Work experience
• Age
• Link to Germany

Calculate your points for the Opportunity Card now!

With the Opportunity Card, you are allowed to carry out a part-time job of up to 20 hours a week. Working hours can be arranged flexibly. This regulation remains in force even if you complete a language course in Germany or study here. Participants on a language course therefore have another way of supplementing their living expenses. Stays in the form of a student exchange are excluded from this.

To receive the Opportunity Card, you must have sufficient financial means. Proof of this can be provided, for example, by means of an employment contract for such part-time employment, which you conclude before applying for an Opportunity Card. Please register for our newsletter if you are interested in such a part-time job.

It can take several weeks or months from the time you apply to the relevant Foreigners’ Registration Office or the German mission abroad in your country of origin until you are granted a residence permit in Germany with the Opportunity Card. The German authorities undertake to process the permit as quickly as possible and to check your documents as soon as possible.

The duration of stay in Germany with the Opportunity Card is exactly one year. An extension is possible by up to two years under certain circumstances. If you have already held the Opportunity Card but left Germany thereafter, you can apply again (after a break of at least one year).

No, the Opportunity Card is limited to Germany and does not automatically entitle you to work in other EU countries. If you also want to work in other EU countries, you must apply for a separate work permit and residence permit there. However, there are various EU regulations that make it easier to work in other EU countries, especially if you already work or have lived in another EU country. Find out about this from the competent authorities in the respective EU country.

For holders of the Opportunity Card there should be integration courses and language courses in Germany with which you can acquire basic language skills and knowledge of the country. Such courses are available in practically every major city and are offered regularly. If you want to stay in Germany for a longer period of time, you should take advantage of this offer.