Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card): Your 2025 Guide

Today, we’ll show you how dozens of international job seekers secured a Chancenkarte (Germany’s opportunity card) in under 90 days.

Many of our clients were approved even though they:

• Lived outside the Schengen Area
• Had unrecognized degrees or training in Germany
• Weren’t initially eligible for public or private German health insurance

This guide is for you if you're a skilled worker, recent graduate, or career changer from outside the EU who wants to live and work in Germany (even if you don’t yet have a job offer).

We’ll walk you through each step of the process:

1. Understand the Chancenkarte system
2. Compare it to other visa options
3. Calculate your eligibility points
4. Get your qualifications recognized
5. Secure a visa-compliant health insurance
6. Show financial stability
7. Prepare and submit your application
8. Settle in Germany and start your job search

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to build a strong Chancenkarte application.

Let’s get started.

What is the Chancenkarte?

The Chancenkarte (opportunity card) is a new German visa that lets skilled non-EU workers move to Germany for up to 12 months to find a job, even without a job offer upfront.

It’s great for:

• Skilled non-EU professionals
• People with recognized qualifications (vocational or academic)
• Applicants who want to job hunt in Germany before committing to a company

To qualify, you need:

1. A recognized degree or vocational qualification
2. Either:
   • A job offer, or
   • Enough points on a selection system (we’ll explain below)
3. Proof you can support yourself (either savings or a part-time job in Germany)

Alternatives to the Chancenkarte in Germany

The Chancenkarte is a flexible way to enter Germany without a job offer, but it’s not your only option. Depending on your education, work experience, and whether you already have a job lined up, other visas might suit you better.

You may want to consider other visa options if you:

• Don’t meet the required points
• Already have a job offer
• Are just starting your career (without a degree)

Here are the best opportunity card alternatives at a glance:

Who is eligible for the German opportunity card?

To qualify for the Chancenkarte, applicants must meet four core requirements:

1. Be a non-EU citizen.
2. Hold a professional qualification recognized in your home country. Either an academic degree or vocational training (more on this in the next section).
3. Have sufficient funds or a part-time job offer (up to 20 hours per week) to support yourself during your stay.
4. Score at least 6 points based on personal and professional criteria.

If you meet all four, you’re eligible and can apply even without a job offer.

Note: For IT professionals, three years of practical experience are equivalent to a recognized qualification.

How the Chancenkarte points system works

Points are awarded based on several categories. Here are all the ways you can earn points:

You need at least 6 points total to qualify. You can combine different elements to reach this threshold.

The Make it in Germany Chancenkarte tool provides a reliable estimate. If you’re in doubt, this is the best way to learn if you’re eligible.

Step 1: Show that you meet the skill requirements

Before you can apply for the Chancenkarte, you need to demonstrate that you meet the Chancenkarte standards.

This means proving that your degree or vocational training is recognized in your country of origin. Bonus points (between 4 and 6) if it’s equivalent to a German qualification.

If the German government recognizes your degree only partially or not at all, don’t worry. You can still qualify by earning points through other criteria like work experience, language skills, or ties to Germany (see the table above).

Let’s walk through how recognition works and what to do in different scenarios.

How to check if your degree or training is recognized in Germany

Germany uses two main tools to assess foreign educational credentials:

1. Anabin database (for academic degrees)

Anabin is the official database used to verify whether your university and degree type are recognized.

• Step 1: Use the “Institutions” search to check if your university is listed as H+. That means it’s recognized.
• Step 2: Use the “Degrees” search to confirm if your degree matches a German equivalent.

If both your institution and degree type are marked positively, your qualification is fully recognized.

This earns you 6 points automatically under the Chancenkarte points system.

If you degree comes from a recognized institution (H+), but your specific degree title does not have a direct German equivalent, or is listed as only “vergleichbar”, your qualification is partially recognized.

This earns you 4 points automatically under the Chancenkarte points system.

Check the Anabin database here.

1. ZAB statement of comparability

If your degree isn’t listed in Anabin (or the listing is unclear) you can request a formal Statement of Comparability from the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB).

This is an official, personalized document that evaluates whether your foreign degree is equivalent to a German one.

• Cost: Around €200
• Processing time: 2–3 months
• Outcome:
  • If your degree is found to be fully equivalent, you receive 6 points (same as full anabin recognition).
  • If it's only partially comparable, you receive 4 points.

Register via the KMK ZAB Portal.

For vocational training and skilled trades: BQFG recognition

You don’t need a university degree to apply. Vocational training is equally valid under the Chancenkarte system, as long as it meets certain conditions.

To qualify through this path:

• Your training must last at least 2 years.
• You need relevant work experience (typically 2+ years).
• Your training must be recognized in your home country.

This path is often used by skilled tradespeople, caregivers, and workers in logistics or manufacturing.

If you want to score points thanks to your training, it must be formally recognized by a German authority like the Chamber of Crafts or equivalent. Recognition is managed under the BQFG (Federal Recognition Act). You can start the recognition process here.

If it’s fully recognized, you’ll score 6 points, and if it’s partially recognized, you’ll score 4.

Step 2: Get health insurance coverage

Health insurance is a legal requirement for all visa applicants in Germany—including those applying for the Chancenkarte. However, this step is more complex than it seems.

To meet the visa requirements, you need a policy that is recognized under German law. But here’s the catch: most people can't get approved for standard public or private health insurance before they have a job in Germany.

Let’s take a look at the details:

What counts as valid insurance for a German visa?

There are four main categories of insurance you’ll hear about:

The health insurance problem

This is where many applicants get stuck:

1. The consulate requires proof of valid German health insurance.
2. But German insurers typically won’t issue full coverage without a job offer.
3. Applicants buy travel insurance instead, but it gets rejected.

This paradox creates a frustrating situation where no available option seems to satisfy the consulate, unless you know which insurers offer visa-compliant coverage.

Feather’s visa-compliant insurance

Feather offers a digital health insurance plan built to solve this issue. Here’s what makes it consulate-ready:

• ✅ Confirmation of coverage letter (accepted by German consulates)
• ✅ Certificate of Authority (Anlage 6)
• ✅ Personalised letter for the embassy (upon request)
• ✅ Meets long-term coverage criteria
• ✅ Digital transition to public/private insurance once you secure a job

This plan is widely accepted in embassies and consulates worldwide, except for some occasional issues at the Mumbai consulate. If you're applying there, double-check current requirements with the consulate or request written confirmation before your appointment.

Step 3: Prove financial stability

To receive a Chancenkarte, you must demonstrate that you can support yourself financially during your job search in Germany, without relying on public funds.

How much money do you need?

In 2025, the minimum monthly requirement is €1,091. For a full year (the maximum length of a Chancenkarte), that means you must show access to:

€1,091 × 12 months = €13,092

Accepted forms of financial proof include:

• Blocked account (Sperrkonto): Most common option. Must cover the full amount, held in a German-approved bank.
• Remote work income: Accepted if you can prove ongoing contracts and stable income. Requires bank statements and payslips.
• Formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung): A German resident guarantees your expenses. Must be notarized and submitted by the sponsor.
• Part-time employment: Secure a job of up to 20 hours per week and attach the work contract to your application.

Step 4: Prepare your application

Once you’ve confirmed eligibility, arranged your insurance, and secured financial proof, it’s time to prepare your Chancenkarte application.

German authorities only accept documents in German or English. Anything in another language must be professionally translated.

Here’s what you’ll need for your Chancenkarte application:

Step 5: Submit your application

In most cases, you must apply for the Chancenkarte through a German consulate or embassy in your home country. Applications cannot be submitted online or by mail.

Here are the steps to submit your opportunity card application:

1. Visit your nearest German embassy or consulate’s website. Use this world map to find the nearest consulate and this tool to determine if online applications are possible.
2. Look for the “National Visa” or “Long-Term Stay” section.
3. Book a visa appointment under the Skilled Workers / Chancenkarte category.
4. Prepare printed and digital copies of all required documents.
5. Attend your appointment with your complete application file.
6. Pay the application fee (typically in local currency).

You can expect to pay the equivalent of €75, and 4 to 12 weeks application processing time.

Step 6: Moving to Germany

Once your Chancenkarte is approved and you arrive in Germany, there are a few essential steps you must take to get settled legally and begin your job search.

Here’s a checklist of what to do in your first 2–4 weeks:

1. Register your address (Anmeldung): Within 14 days of moving into your new home, register at the local resident’s office (Bürgeramt). This provides you with a registration certificate, which is often required for banking, taxes, contracts, and other purposes.
2. Open a bank account: You’ll need a local account for salary, rent, and insurance. Choose from traditional banks (e.g., Sparkasse) or digital ones like N26.
3. Obtain your tax ID (Steuer-ID): After Anmeldung, your tax ID will arrive by post within 2–3 weeks. It’s needed for any employment or freelance work. If it doesn’t come, ask your local tax office.
4. Job hunt: With the Chancenkarte, you can stay up to 12 months to find a job. You’re allowed to work up to 20 hours per week, do trial jobs for 2 weeks, and attend interviews and job fairs.
5. Visa extension or switch: You can extend your Chancenkarte up to 2 more years or switch to another visa once employed.

Conclusion

The Chancenkarte is a game-changing opportunity for skilled non-EU professionals who want to work and live in Germany, without the usual barrier of needing a job offer in advance.

But while the Chancenkarte offers more access than traditional visas, success depends on careful preparation. Two of the most important (and time-sensitive) steps are:

• Securing visa-compliant health insurance early is essential, as standard travel policies are often not accepted by many consulates.
• Getting your degree or vocational training recognized, whether through Anabin or a Statement of Comparability from ZAB.

Starting these processes as soon as possible helps you avoid delays and puts you in a stronger position when it’s time to submit your application.