Are you looking for a job in Germany?
Or would you like to have your professional qualifications recognized in order to work in Germany?
Do you have at least a professional qualification or a university degree?
Do you speak English or German?
Then the Opportunity Card is a way for you to find a job in Germany without having to speak German or have already received a job offer.
Check directly with the → Self-Check whether you meet the requirements.

The Opportunity Card entitles you to enter Germany for up to 12 months to look for a job there or to carry out measures to recognize foreign professional qualifications.
The prerequisite is that you can finance your living expenses for the duration of your stay. You can also take on a part-time job (20 hours per week) or do trial work while you are looking for a job. If you can already prove that you have planned a part-time job, this can be included in the check to see if you can finance your living expenses.
With a German qualification or a foreign professional or university degree that is considered equivalent or comparable to German qualifications, you are considered a “skilled worker” in Germany and do not have to meet any other special requirements other than financing your living expenses.

A Statement of Comparability for Foreign University Degrees helps skilled workers to get ahead: it is the pathway to the German labor market for graduates with a foreign university degree. On this website you can learn everything about Statements of Comparability and the benefits of holding one.

Do you want to get off to a great start in the German job market with your foreign vocational qualification? Use the Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification (DAB) to prove that you meet one of the key criteria to come to Germany.

However, even without an equivalent or comparable qualification, you can get an opportunity card if you meet the following requirements:

⬜ You can prove basic knowledge of German (A1)
or
⬜ good knowledge of English (B2),
and meet one of the three following criteria:
⬜You have a foreign professional qualification that is officially recognized in the country in which it was acquired and that requires at least two years of training,
or
⬜You have a foreign university degree that is officially recognized in the country in which it was acquired,
or
⬜You have a professional qualification from a German Chamber of Foreign Trade that requires training that corresponds to the requirements in Germany for a comparable professional qualification.
More information: https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/

Note: Please complete the self-check before requesting an appointment. You will be asked to enter your number of points if you are not already considered a “professional”, see above.

Visa application checklist

Appointment scheduling

Explanatory video: How do I get the opportunity card?