Route: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
The Opportunity Card lets you come to Germany to look for a job. It needs no job offer – but it is not a shortcut. You must show money, language and a qualification.
Two ways in
- Route A: you are already a "skilled worker" in the German sense, meaning your qualification is fully recognised in Germany. No points needed.
- Route B (points): you need all three of: a qualification recognised in Indonesia (at least 2 years of vocational training, or a degree; proof via ZAB or anabin), German at A1 or English at B2 from an ALTE-certified test, and at least 6 points.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Partial recognition in Germany | 4 |
| German B2 / B1 / A2 | 3 / 2 / 1 |
| English C1 | 1 |
| At least 5 years of experience in the last 7 years | 3 |
| At least 2 years of experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| Shortage occupation | 1 |
| Age up to 35 / 36 to 40 | 2 / 1 |
| At least 6 months of continuous legal stay in Germany in the last 5 years | 1 |
| Spouse also qualifies and applies | 1 |
Money and documents
- You must show €1,091 a month – a blocked account of about €13,092 for a year, a sponsor's declaration of commitment, or a part-time contract.
- Health insurance; a statement of purpose with evidence that you have applied for jobs; for degrees, proof that you studied on campus. Visa fee €75.
- Apostille and translations as for every route: Documents.
Work rights
Up to 20 hours a week on average, plus trial work of up to 2 weeks per employer. The card lasts up to 1 year. A follow-up Opportunity Card of up to 2 years is possible if you have a job offer and the Federal Employment Agency approves.
Be honest about the arithmetic. Berlin is expensive, 20 hours a week at the minimum wage does not cover rent, and job searches take months. The Opportunity Card works best when you already have good German and a qualification an employer here recognises. Details of the current rules come partly from secondary sources; confirm on the Federal Foreign Office site before you apply.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.