Work in Germany
Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
A one year permit to live in Germany while you look for a skilled job. You do not need a job offer to apply.
12 months
in Germany to find a job
20 hours
of work a week while you look
6 points
or a degree equal to a German one
€75
embassy visa fee
The card
What it gives you
A year in Germany
Live in Germany for up to 12 months while you look for a job that matches your qualification.
Work while you look
Work up to 20 hours a week on average, and do trial jobs of up to two weeks with an employer.
Stay on with a job
With a qualified job offer you can extend for up to two more years, or move on to a work permit or an EU Blue Card.
Your partner applies too
Family cannot join on your card. Your husband or wife can apply for their own card at the same time, and it earns you each a point.
Eligibility check
Check if you qualify
Upload your degree and we check it against Germany's official list. Run the full check, or only the part you are unsure about.
Choose a check to start. Each one takes a minute or two.
Who qualifies
Two ways to qualify
Everyone needs a recognised qualification, the money and health insurance. Points only matter if your degree is not treated as equal to a German one.
Route 1
Skilled worker route
No points and no language certificate. This is for people whose degree Germany treats as equal to a German degree, or whose qualification is already fully recognised in Germany.
Most UK honours degrees count. So can a 4 year degree or a master's from a recognised university abroad. The degree check above tells you which yours is.
Route 2
Points route
- A university degree, or a vocational qualification of at least 2 years, recognised by the government where you got it
- German at level A1, or English at level B2
- At least 6 points from the table below
If your degree is not on Anabin, ZAB in Germany issues a statement for €208. For a vocational qualification it is €150. It takes a few weeks.
The points on route 2
You need 6. Your highest German level counts once, and work experience must be in the field of your qualification, after you qualified.
| You get points for | Points |
|---|---|
| Your qualification is partly recognised in Germany | 4 |
| German B2 | 3 |
| German B1 | 2 |
| German A2 | 1 |
| English C1 | 1 |
| 5 years of work in your field, within the last 7 years | 3 |
| 2 years of work in your field, within the last 5 years | 2 |
| Your qualification is in a shortage field | 1 |
| Age 35 or younger | 2 |
| Age 36 to 40 | 1 |
| 6 months or more living in Germany, in the last 5 years | 1 |
| Your husband, wife or partner applies with you and qualifies | 1 |
Money and insurance
Showing you can support yourself
The embassy asks for €1,091 for each month, which is €13,092 for the year.
A blocked account
A German account that holds €13,092 and pays you €1,091 a month once you are there.
A sponsor in Germany
Someone living in Germany signs a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) at their local foreigners office.
A part-time job contract
A contract with a German employer for up to 20 hours a week, paying at least €1,091 a month after tax.
Bank statements are no longer accepted
From 1 October 2026 the German Embassy in London does not accept bank statements as proof of money. You need one of the three options above.
You also need health insurance for the whole stay, at the level of German public health insurance.
From the UK
How the application works
It does not go through TLScontact. Germany takes these applications online, then sees you at the embassy.
Check your degree
We look up your university and degree on Anabin. If they are not listed, you apply to ZAB in Germany for a statement (€208).
Prepare your file
Language certificate less than a year old, CV, letters from employers, proof of money and health insurance.
Apply online
Everything is uploaded to the German Foreign Office portal. The embassy checks it and asks for corrections once.
Your appointment
You bring the originals to the Embassy in London, or the Consulate General in Edinburgh if you live in Scotland, give fingerprints and pay the €75 fee in pounds.
The decision
The embassy in London says most applications are decided within about two weeks after the appointment.
Documents
What you will need
Questions
About the Opportunity Card
What is the Opportunity Card?
A German residence permit, called the Chancenkarte in German. It lets you live in Germany for up to a year while you look for a skilled job.
Do I need a job offer to apply?
No. The card is for looking for a job. You need a job offer only to stay on after the first year.
How do I know if Germany recognises my degree?
Germany keeps an official list of foreign universities and degrees called Anabin. Upload your degree in the degree check on this page and we check it against Anabin for you. If your degree is not on the list, ZAB in Germany can assess it.
Can I apply with a UK degree?
Yes. Most UK honours degrees are treated as equal to German degrees, so most UK graduates qualify without points and without a language certificate. You still need the money and health insurance.
Do I need to speak German?
Not always. On the points route you need German A1 or English B2. On the skilled worker route you need neither. More German gives you more points.
How much money do I need?
€1,091 a month, which is €13,092 for the year. The embassy in London accepts a blocked account, a formal obligation from a sponsor in Germany, or a part-time job contract in Germany. From 1 October 2026 it does not accept bank statements.
Can I work while I look for a job?
Yes. You can work up to 20 hours a week on average, and do trial jobs of up to two weeks with an employer.
What happens when I find a job?
With a qualified job offer you can extend the card for up to two more years, or move on to a work permit or an EU Blue Card.
Can my family come with me?
Not on your card. Your husband or wife can apply for their own Opportunity Card at the same time if they qualify.
I am British. Do I need this?
You do not need a visa first. British citizens can travel to Germany and apply for the card at the local foreigners office after they arrive.
Where do I apply in the UK?
Online through the German Foreign Office portal, then at an appointment at the Embassy in London, or the Consulate General in Edinburgh if you live in Scotland. It does not go through TLScontact. The visa fee is €75, paid in pounds.
How long does it take?
The embassy in London says most applications are decided within about two weeks after the appointment. If you need a ZAB statement for your degree, allow a few weeks more before you apply.
What happens to the degree I upload?
It is read for the check and not kept. Nothing reaches our office unless you press the WhatsApp button.
Does the check on this page decide my application?
No. It follows the published rules and Anabin, but the embassy makes the decision. We look at your documents before you apply.
Rules and amounts as published in German law and by the German Embassy in London, checked September 2026. They can change. The embassy makes every decision.
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