Applying for an Opportunity Card in Germany?
- We assess whether you qualify through the skilled worker route, the points-based route, or both before you apply.
- We prepare your proof of funds and documents with you.
- We take legal action if the authority has not decided after three months.
Known From
Opportunity Card Requirements:
Which Route Applies to You?
Skilled worker route
Points route
If you studied or trained in Germany, the job-seeker permit may fit you better than the Opportunity Card.
How Does the Opportunity Card Points System Work?
Qualification
- Partly recognised qualification (adaptation or further training still needed): 4 points
Work experience
- 5 years of experience in the last 7 years: 3 points
- 2 years of experience in the last 5 years: 2 points (only if you get no points for 5 years)
- Shortage occupation: 1 point
Language
- German B2 or better: 3 points
- German B1: 2 points (only if you get no points for B2)
- German A2: 1 point (only if you get no points for B1 or B2)
- English C1: 1 point
Age and ties
- Not older than 35 when you apply: 2 points
- Older than 35 and not older than 40: 1 point
- Six months of lawful, uninterrupted stay in Germany in the last five years: 1 point
- Spouse or registered partner applies with you at the same authority: 1 point
Not sure how many points you have? Our legal team can check it for you.
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Opportunity Card Explained
What is the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) in Germany?
The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a residence permit that lets you come to Germany to look for a job. You qualify either as a skilled worker or through the points system.
You can also use it to search for measures that recognise your foreign qualification in Germany.
How much money do you need to show for the Opportunity Card?
You need to show at least €1,091 net per month to get an Opportunity Card (as of Oct 2026). For a full 12 months, that adds up to €13,092.
You can prove this in two ways:
- A blocked account.
- A declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung), where a person in Germany promises to cover your living costs.
Income from a job in Germany also counts, if you earn at least €1,091 net per month. If you earn less, a blocked account can cover the difference.
How much does the Opportunity Card application cost?
The embassy visa fee is €75 (as of Oct 2026). Some missions work with service providers that may charge a service fee on top.
How do you apply for the Opportunity Card?
You should follow these steps to apply for Opportunity Card in Germany:
- Choose where to apply.
- From abroad, you apply online through the Consular Services Portal or at the German mission that covers your state.
- From inside Germany, you apply at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).
- Confirm your route. Skilled workers apply without points. Everyone else applies through the points route.
- Gather the documents for your application. The mission or office asks for documents like these:
- Your valid passport.
- Proof of your qualification and its recognition.
- Proof of your German or English language skills.
- Proof of funds, such as a blocked account or a declaration of commitment.
- Evidence for your points, if you apply through the points route.
- Submit your application and pay the fee. You submit it where you chose in step 1.
Can you work on an Opportunity Card in Germany?
Yes, you can work on an Opportunity Card in Germany, within limits. The card is issued for up to one year, which is your time to find a job.
While you search: You may work up to 20 hours per week. You may also do trial work of up to two weeks per employer.
Once you find a job: With a job contract or a binding offer for qualified employment, and approval from the Federal Employment Agency, you can get a follow-up Opportunity Card for up to two more years. You can also switch to another residence permit for work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to apply for an Opportunity Card?
No, you do not need a lawyer to apply for an Opportunity Card. However, immigration applications are technical, and a small mistake can delay your decision. A lawyer helps you choose the right route, count your points, and avoid mistakes in your documents and proof of funds.
Should I apply for the Opportunity Card or the job-seeker permit if I studied in Germany?
If you studied, researched, or trained in Germany, you should apply for the job-seeker permit under § 20 AufenthG instead of the Opportunity Card.
The job-seeker permit lasts up to 18 months after your studies, research, or training, while the Opportunity Card lasts up to one year. You must be able to support yourself either way.
Do I need a job offer to apply for the Opportunity Card?
No, you do not need a job offer to apply for the Opportunity Card. The card is a residence permit for looking for a job in Germany. A job offer only becomes necessary later, when you move to a work residence permit.
What is an Untätigkeitsklage?
An Untätigkeitsklage (“action for failure to act”) is a lawsuit you file at the administrative court (Verwaltungsgericht) when an authority sits on your application without deciding it. It doesn’t ask the court to grant you the permit directly — it asks the court to make the authority finally do its job.
In immigration cases, the authority is usually the Ausländerbehörde, but it can also be the Bundesverwaltungsamt (citizenship), a Standesamt, or a German embassy.
When can I file an Untätigkeitsklage?
You can generally file an Untätigkeitsklage once three months have passed since you applied and the authority has not decided, without a good reason for the delay (§ 75 VwGO).
- A shorter wait is possible if special circumstances in your case call for it. § 75 gives no examples, so we can help assess this for you.
- If the authority has a good reason for the delay, the court pauses the case until a date it sets.
What can the court actually order?
Depending on your case, the court can:
- Require the authority to decide on your application.
- Order the authority to issue the permit, if you clearly meet the requirements and the law leaves it no discretion.
A court cannot guarantee a positive decision if you don’t meet the requirements. If your application is weak, forcing a decision can produce a faster rejection. We tell you that before you spend money.
What is the difference between Untätigkeitsklage and einstweiliger Rechtsschutz?
An Untätigkeitsklage is the standard route: it resolves the delay properly, and takes weeks to months.
Einstweiliger Rechtsschutz (provisional injunctive relief) is the emergency route, used when waiting itself will cause you irreversible harm. E.g., you’re about to lose a job offer, your Fiktionsbescheinigung is expiring, a family member is stuck abroad. It’s much faster, but the court has to accept that your situation is genuinely urgent.
The two are not mutually exclusive, and in the right case filing both applies real pressure. Which route fits you is a strategic decision. We explain you what strategy makes sense in your situation in the beginning.
Will filing a lawsuit make the authority treat me badly?
No. This is the fear we hear most often, and it isn’t how the system works. Officials are bound by law, not by mood, and processing your application faster is exactly what the court obliges them to do. A decision on your Opportunity card has to be made on the legal requirements alone.
Filing a claim is a normal, routine legal step in Germany.
Do you handle both the letter and, if needed, the lawsuit?
Yes, we offer complete service at a flat rate.
Based on your case, we try to resolve it out of court, file a lawsuit, or move forward with provisional injunction relief. We stay with you until you get your Opportunity Card.
Even after you receive your Opportunity Card, you can reach us if you have any issues, questions, or concerns.
Which cases do you handle?
Any delay in a German immigration matter, including:
- German citizenship (Einbürgerung)
- Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis, Daueraufenthalt-EU)
- Blue Card and work permits
- Family reunification and spouse visas
- Residence permit extensions and change of purpose
- Settlement of EU/EEA family members
- Delayed appointments and unanswered Widerspruch
If you’re not sure your situation fits, ask. The assessment is free either way.
Do I have to appear in court?
Usually not. So far, we haven’t seen a case where a court hearing is scheduled.
Most delay cases are resolved in writing or end once the authority decides. Personal attendance is rarely required.
What does winning the lawsuit mean?
Winning a delay lawsuit means the authority makes a decision on your application. The decision can be in your favor or against you.
Once the office decides, the case ends. If you could expect a decision before you filed, the authority bears the costs (§ 161(3) VwGO). We then request reimbursement on your behalf.
Does my legal insurance cover the cost of the lawsuit?
Whether your legal insurance covers a lawsuit against the authority depends on your policy.
Some legal insurance plans in Germany include administrative law cases, which can cover a lawsuit over a delayed Opportunity Card.
Contact your insurer to confirm whether it covers the costs of an Untätigkeitsklage.
Will taking legal action make the authority slow things down further?
No. The authority has to decide on your application whether or not you take legal action. A delay lawsuit exists for the case where the office has not decided within a reasonable time (§ 75 VwGO). The office decides on whether you meet the requirements of your route, not on whether you went to court.
Do I get the legal fees back after winning the lawsuit?
In Germany, if you win a lawsuit, the opposing party (in this case, the immigration office) typically covers your legal fees, including court and lawyer costs. However, the specifics can depend on the individual case and ruling.
It’s always best to confirm with your lawyer for details specific to your situation.