Stage 2 · Lesson 3 of 6
Germany: the Opportunity Card
Germany's (Chancenkarte), available since June 2024, lets you enter and look for work for up to a year. There are two ways to qualify. Either your degree is fully recognised in Germany, or you score at least 6 points on criteria such as qualification, experience, language, age and ties to Germany, with a degree or two-year vocational qualification recognised in the country where you earned it, and German at A1 or English at B2.
As of 2026 you must show funds of 1,091 euros a month, usually in a , and while searching you may work up to 20 hours a week or do trial work. Once you have a qualifying offer, you switch to a or another work permit in Germany.
Common traparriving with too little money and no shortlist, then spending the year on part-time work instead of the search.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with
- GuideFreeMake it in Germany
Federal Government of Germany
The official guide to the Opportunity Card, the Blue Card and other German routes
Practise
Keep handy
Also worth your time
How the Opportunity Card works in practice for developers
EU-wide job mobility portal, for routes outside Germany
- Sefism 1:1 MentorshipGo deeper
Check your understanding of a route with someone who has been through it