Germany points-based immigration: how to get the Chancenkarte and what German is worth
The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) is Germany's points-based job-search visa, valid for up to one year. You need 6 points from qualification, experience, age, ties to Germany and language. German earns up to 3 points: A1 gives 1, A2 gives 2, B1 gives 3. You also need a recognised qualification and proof of funds.
What the Chancenkarte is and who it suits
The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) has been available since 1 June 2024 (Section 20a of the Residence Act, AufenthG). It is an entry visa for looking for work: you arrive without a job offer and spend up to a year finding a position in your field. It is a search window, not a work residence permit.
It suits qualified professionals: you need either a recognised vocational or university qualification (at least two years of training), or a university degree that is recognised in the country that issued it and listed in the German anabin database. Without a verified qualification the card is refused, however many points you score elsewhere.
Language is required at entry: at least German A1 or English B2. This is a threshold checked separately from the points, not a bonus.
The points system: how to reach 6
Points are awarded across several criteria. Qualification: a fully recognised degree earns 4 points, partial recognition or experience-based routes less. Experience: 2 years in the last 5 earns 2 points, 5 years in the last 7 earns 3. Age: under 35 earns 2, ages 35 to 39 earn 1. Ties to Germany (for example a previous legal stay of six months or more in the last five years) earn 1. A shortage occupation earns 1. A spouse with suitable qualifications travelling with you adds 1.
Language is the one criterion you can improve in a few months. German A1 earns 1 point, A2 earns 2, B1 and above earn 3. English C1 can add another point as a second language. The gap between no German and B1 is half of the 6 points you need.
Example: a 33-year-old specialist with 3 years of experience and a partially recognised degree but no German may fall short. With the same profile and B1, they usually clear the threshold comfortably. Always calculate against the current table on the official Make it in Germany portal, as rules and amounts can be updated.
Funds, duration and what you may do on the card
You must show you can support yourself without benefits, typically through a blocked account, a formal obligation declaration, or sufficient own funds. The amount follows German statutory rates and changes, so check the current figure on the website of the embassy or consulate you apply to.
The card is issued for up to one year. If you find a qualified job offer, you can switch to a work residence permit or the EU Blue Card. During the search you may take a side job of up to 20 hours a week and do trial work (up to two weeks per employer), which helps you meet employers quickly.
After switching to a work permit you follow the standard path to permanent residence, where language speeds things up again. A certificate earned now stays useful at later stages, so it is worth sitting it once, at the full level.
Preparing your German for the Chancenkarte
A certificate from a recognised provider is needed: Goethe-Zertifikat, telc or ÖSD at the target level (A1, A2 or B1). telc is usually cheaper and offered at many adult education centres (VHS), Goethe is best known abroad, and ÖSD is handy if Austria is also on your list. Check your consulate's requirements before booking.
A realistic plan: around 3 to 4 months of steady study to reach A2, and 8 to 12 months of daily practice to reach B1. If you have time before applying, aim for B1: 3 points in one go, and a level that helps in interviews and later speeds up permanent residence.
Deutsch30 offers a structured daily plan from A1 to B1 with listening, reading and speaking practice, plus mock exams that follow real test formats, so you see your progress before paying for a costly resit.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you need for the Chancenkarte?
You need 6 points in the points system. First you must meet the basic requirements: a recognised qualification, German A1 or English B2, and proof of funds.
How many points does German give?
German A1 gives 1 point, A2 gives 2, and B1 or above gives 3. That is the maximum for the language criterion, which makes B1 the most efficient way to approach the 6-point threshold.
Can you work on the Chancenkarte?
In a limited way: a side job of up to 20 hours a week and trial work of up to two weeks per position. Full-time skilled work starts once you switch to a work residence permit or Blue Card.