The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), explained

The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) is a residence permit that lets qualified non-EU nationals come to Germany to look for a job — you don't need an offer in hand first. It was introduced by the Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz) and has been in force since 1 June 2024. It is valid for up to one year, during which you may work part-time (20 hours/week) and trial-work to find a full position.

There are two separate hurdles, and you must clear both.

1. The mandatory prerequisites (all required)

These are gates, not points — missing any one means you don't qualify, no matter your score:

• A qualifying credential — either a vocational qualification (at least two years) or a university degree, recognised in the country where you obtained it.
• Language — at least German A1 or English B2.
• Proof you can support yourself — typically a blocked account or a concrete part-time job offer covering your stay.

2. The points — you need at least 6

If you clear all three prerequisites, you then need 6 points or more. Points come from:

Factor	Points
Partial recognition of your qualification, or a permit to practise a regulated profession	4
Qualification in a shortage occupation	1
Work experience: 2+ years	2
Work experience: 5+ years (instead of the above)	3
German A2	1
German B1	2
German B2 or higher	3
English C1 or higher	1
Age 35 or under	2
Age 36–40	1
Lived in Germany recently (≥ 6 months in the last 5 years)	1
Your spouse/partner also meets the Chancenkarte requirements	1

Language and work-experience points are tiered — you score the single highest band you reach, not the sum. For example German B2 is 3 points (not 1 + 2 + 3), and five years of experience is 3 points (not 2 + 3).

Check your own score

Rather than add this up by hand, use the Chancenkarte calculator on this site — it applies the same rules and tells you both your point total and whether you meet every prerequisite. The numbers it uses come from this site's single, dated source of truth, so they stay consistent with the rest of the guide.

Good to know

• The Chancenkarte is a route in, not a work visa. Once you have a qualifying job offer, you switch to an EU Blue Card or a regular work permit.
• If your salary offer is high enough for the EU Blue Card, that is usually the faster, stronger path — the Chancenkarte is most useful when you want to search on the ground first.
• Recognition of foreign qualifications can take weeks; start it early via the official Anerkennung in Deutschland portal.

This is information, not legal advice. Points and prerequisites change; confirm the current rules with the German mission responsible for you or the official Make it in Germany portal before applying.