How to apply for a Germany Opportunity Card?

The German Opportunity Card is a residence permit for non-EU/EEA nationals, allowing them to live and work in the country for up to 12 months. With an Opportunity Card, you can reside and look for employment in Germany without a job offer. The Opportunity Card was introduced in January 2024 to attract skilled workers.

Skilled non-EU/EEA nationals with a degree or any professional qualification of a minimum of two years are eligible for the Germany Opportunity Card. The eligibility criteria to apply for a Germany Opportunity Card are as follows:

• Be a non-EU/EEA national
• Have a recognized educational qualification (A university degree or vocational qualification of at least 2 years)
• Have sufficient funds to support your stay in Germany
• Score at least 6 points through the points-based system

The main benefits of the Germany Opportunity Card are that it allows you to live in Germany for up to 12 months and look for employment without a valid job offer. Some of the other benefits include:

• You can work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week
• You do not need a job offer to apply for this visa
• Get access to the German job market
• Live and look for jobs in Germany for up to 1 year
• Offers a PR pathway upon eligibility

The Germany Opportunity Card uses a points-based system to evaluate the applicant's eligibility. You must score a minimum of 6 points to qualify for the Opportunity Card. The points-based system assesses your eligibility through factors such as education, work experience, language skills, age, having a qualifying spouse, and any previous stays in Germany. The table below has a breakdown of the points system for the Germany Opportunity Card:

The minimum points required to qualify for the Germany Opportunity Card is at least 6 points. The points are awarded based on factors such as age, language proficiency, educational qualifications, and work experience.

The documents required for the Germany Opportunity Card are as follows:

• Valid passport
• Visa application form
• Copies of your latest passport-sized photographs
• Proof of funds (bank statements)
• Medical insurance
• Educational qualifications (Degree or proof of vocational training)
• Proof of language proficiency skills (A1 level for German & B2 level for English)
• Updated CV
• Proof of accommodation in Germany (residence address in Germany)
• Proof of relationship, like a marriage certificate (if your spouse is applying with you)

Yes, you can apply for the Germany Opportunity Card without a job offer in hand. The Opportunity card is specifically designed for highly skilled non-EU professionals to enter Germany and seek employment for up to 12 months. During this time, you can also work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week, or take up trial jobs.

The German Opportunity Card is valid for 12 months, allowing you to look for jobs in the country for up to a year. You can also apply for an extension by applying for a residence permit if you get a job from a German company.

Yes, you can extend the Germany Opportunity Card, provided you fulfil the required eligibility criteria. The possibility of extending the Opportunity Card depends on whether you have received a job offer in Germany and your employment status. You can apply for a residence permit for work, or an extension, if you have found a job in Germany. You may not be able to renew your Opportunity card if you have not received an employment offer in Germany.

While there is no fixed salary requirement for the Germany Opportunity Card, you must have sufficient funds to support your stay in the country in the form of personal funds or part-time work. If you are working part-time, you must earn at least €1,091 every month to support yourself in Germany.

Yes, you can bring your family members to Germany with the Opportunity Card; however, you will have to follow a separate Family Reunification visa process to do so. You will be required to meet specific visa requirements, including providing sufficient funds, proof of accommodation, medical insurance, and proof of language proficiency, among other documents. The Opportunity Card does not directly allow your family members to accompany you, but they can do so through a separate family reunification visa process.

The German Opportunity Card costs around €75, and the fee, once paid, is non-refundable. The fees can be paid at the nearest German consulate and may also include additional charges, such as medical insurance, document translation fees, and an extra fee to have your qualification recognized or in case of a formal assessment.

The processing time for a Germany Opportunity Card application is around 3-6 months on average. The processing time may, however, vary depending on other factors, such as the location from which you are applying, the completeness of the application, and the accuracy of the applicant's profile.

Yes, you can convert the Germany Opportunity Card into a work or a residence permit, provided you secure a valid job offer in Germany. The Germany Opportunity Card enables candidates to live and work part-time in the country for up to 12 months while searching for employment. You can apply for a work residence permit once you receive a job offer that matches your skill set and the salary requirements. You can also qualify for permanent residence upon residing in the country after living and working in Germany for at least five continuous years.

You can apply for jobs in the IT, healthcare, skilled trades, logistics, engineering, and finance sectors with a Germany Opportunity Card. The Opportunity Card is specifically designed for skilled professionals to seek employment in Germany, allowing them to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week. Most of the eligible job roles are in the shortage occupations, making it easier for the visa applicants to score the minimum points required for the Opportunity Card. The table below has the list of sectors and the job roles that one can apply for with an Opportunity Card:

No, you do not need to know the German language to apply for the Opportunity Card; however, you must submit proof of B2 level proficiency in the English language or A1 level proficiency in the German language. Candidates with a higher level of language proficiency can score more points in the points-based system that assesses your application for the Opportunity Card.

No, you cannot study or take training courses while holding a Germany Opportunity Card, as it is primarily designed for skilled professionals with no job offer to come and look for employment in the country. You can, however, work part-time or take part in activities related to getting your foreign qualifications recognized. You will be required to apply for a separate student visa if you wish to pursue studies or take training courses in Germany.

You can work a maximum of 20 hours per week under the Germany Opportunity Card, with the option to undertake trial work for up to 1-2 weeks with a single German employer at a time. You cannot work full-time with an Opportunity Card, as it primarily functions as a job-seeking visa, allowing you to look for employment in Germany for up to 12 months without a valid job offer.

You can submit your German Opportunity card application at the nearest German embassy when applying from India or abroad, or you can apply to the local Foreigners' Registration Office if you are applying from within the country. You can follow the steps below to submit your Germany Opportunity Card application from India:

1. Schedule a visa appointment at the nearest German embassy
2. Fill out the visa application form
3. Arrange the visa documents
4. Attend the visa interview at the consulate and submit the biometrics and application along with the requirements
5. Await the visa status

The main difference between the Germany Opportunity Card and the Job Seeker visa is that the Opportunity Card is a newer, more easily accessible, and more flexible pathway, which has replaced the previous Job Seeker visa. The Opportunity Card uses a points-based system that assesses candidates based on several factors. In contrast, a Job Seeker visa had stricter rules, does not allow part-time work, and requires applicants to have a recognized degree.