The Opportunity Card is a legal provision in the German Residence Act, designed to facilitate controlled access to job search opportunities and programs for recognizing foreign professional qualifications in Germany.

Eligibility Criteria for the Opportunity Card

There are two pathways to apply for the Opportunity Card:

For Skilled Workers:

• Fully Equivalent Foreign Qualifications: If you can prove that your foreign qualification is fully equivalent to a German qualification and can financially support yourself, you can apply without additional requirements.

For Other Applicants:

• Required Qualifications: You must prove that you have:
  • A foreign university degree, or
  • A vocational qualification of at least two years, recognized by the state in the country of training, or
  • A vocational qualification issued by a German Chamber of Commerce abroad.
• Language Proficiency: Either basic German (A1) or English (B2) language skills are required.

To qualify for the Opportunity Card, you must collect sufficient points based on various criteria, such as:

• Recognition of your qualifications in Germany
• Language skills
• Professional experience
• Age and ties to Germany
• Potential of accompanying spouse

You need at least 6 points to qualify for an Opportunity Card.

Key Features of the Opportunity Card

• The Opportunity Card is issued for a maximum of one year.
• It allows you to search for a job, engage in trial work, or work part-time (up to 20 hours per week).
• You must prove that you can financially support yourself for the duration of your stay in Germany.

Required Documents

You must present a valid passport (minimum validity of 6 months). Ensure that you provide complete applications and book an appointment only when your application is fully ready. The following documents are required for submission:

1. Application Form

• Filled-in national visa application form and declaration form (Section 54 (2) 8 in conjunction with Section 53 of the Residence Act).

2. Biometric Photos

• Three biometric passport photos (not older than 6 months).

3. Passport Copy

• Copy of all stamped pages of your passport (A4 size).

4. CV

5. Educational Documents

• If applicable: O/L & A/L examination certificates.
• If applicable: University Degree or Certificates of Apprenticeship.

6. Proof of Qualifications

• Proof of your previous qualifications or jobs (e.g., certificates).

7. Proof of Financing

• Blocked account showing EUR 1027 per month (total EUR 12,324 for 12 months).
• Alternatively, you can submit proof of a part-time job in Germany (e.g., employment contract or formal obligation letter from a sponsor in Germany).

8. Private Health Insurance

• Proof of private health insurance valid throughout the Schengen area, covering a minimum of EUR 30,000 for the entire period of validity of the Opportunity Card.

9. Additional Documents for Skilled Workers

• Proof of qualification (vocational training or university degree).
• Recognition of equivalence of your foreign university degree by ANABIN or a certificate evaluation by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
• If applying for regulated professions (e.g., doctors, engineers), you must submit the relevant professional license issued by the competent recognition body.

Additional Documents for Non-Skilled Workers

• Foreign vocational training qualification and a certificate from the ZAB regarding the recognition of your qualification.
• Certificate of proficiency in German (A1) and English (B2).

Points System

For additional information regarding the points system and how to calculate your score for the Opportunity Card, please refer to the official website: www.make-it-in-germany.com.

Important Instructions

• Prepare two identical application sets with the required documents and bring all original certificates along.
• Ensure that every document is sorted in the correct order as outlined above.