Check your Germany eligibility instantly
Germany Opportunity Card Eligibility Calculator
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • Germany
1. How many points can you score (qualification + language + experience + age)?
2. German language level?
3. Years of qualified work experience in last 5 yrs?
4. Blocked account / proof of €13,092 for the year?
Germany Opportunity Card Overview
Germany Opportunity Card is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to Germany
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
Germany Opportunity Card Eligibility Requirements
Points System (≥6 pts required)
Awarded for qualification recognition, German language (A1–C1), English (B2), age, prior Germany stay, partner accompanying, shortage occupation, work experience.
Qualification
Foreign vocational/university degree of ≥2 yrs OR partially recognised by competent German body (Anabin / Anerkennung in Deutschland).
Language
Min German A1 OR English B2 — required to enter the points pool.
Financial Means
~€1,091/month proven via blocked account (€13,092/yr) OR part-time job up to 20 hrs/wk allowed.
Job Search Window
Up to 12 months in Germany to find qualified employment; convert to Blue Card / Skilled Worker visa thereafter.
Official Germany Opportunity Card Information
Germany Opportunity Card FAQs
Common mistakes to avoid
Counting language points without TELC/Goethe/ÖSD certificate (self-declaration rejected).
Qualification not in Anabin — file ZAB Statement of Comparability first.
Underfunded blocked account or using personal savings without lock.
Working >20 hrs/week part-time during job-search phase (illegal).
Improve your chances
- 1
Reach German B1 before applying — adds 1 pt and signals integration.
- 2
Apply with spouse/partner who also has qualification (+1 pt + family permit).
- 3
Target shortage occupation list (Engpassberufe) — +1 pt + easier job conversion.
- 4
Convert to EU Blue Card the moment you sign a qualifying contract.
Chancenkarte points (2026)
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Partial recognition of qualification | 4 pts |
| Shortage occupation | 1 pt |
| Work experience: 5 yrs in last 7 | 3 pts |
| Work experience: 2 yrs in last 5 | 2 pts |
| German C1 | 3 pts |
| German B2 | 2 pts |
| German B1 | 1 pt |
| German A2 | 1 pt |
| English C1 | 1 pt |
| Age ≤35 | 2 pts |
| Age 36–40 | 1 pt |
| Prior 6-mo stay in Germany | 1 pt |
| Spouse accompanying with own qualification | 1 pt |
| Blocked account | €13,092 (€1,091/mo × 12) |
| Visa fee | €75 |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official Germany Opportunity Card Eligibility Calculator criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
Helpful resources
Continue your Germany research with these trusted next steps.
Popular guides
Tailored visa & PR guides by occupation and nationality.
Ready for your full assessment?
Get matched against 110+ visa programs across 24 countries with AI-powered personalized recommendations.