Germany Opportunity Card Points Calculator (Chancenkarte) 2026
Short answer. Germany’s Opportunity Card lets you look for work there for up to a year. Without a fully recognised degree you need 6 points, plus a degree recognised in India, German A1 or English B2, and funds of EUR 1,091 a month in 2026. A 26 year old Indian engineer with two years’ experience and C1 English scores exactly 6.
Points follow the rules published by the German government on Make it in Germany, checked in October 2026. Every point needs documentary proof in your visa application, and the German mission makes the final decision.
How the points add up
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification found partially equivalent in Germany | 4 |
| Work experience after qualifying: 5 years in the last 7 | 3 |
| Work experience after qualifying: 2 years in the last 5 | 2 |
| German at B2 or above | 3 |
| German at B1 | 2 |
| German at A2 | 1 |
| Under 35 | 2 |
| 35 to 40 | 1 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation | 1 |
| English at C1 or above, or native speaker | 1 |
| 6 months’ legal stay in Germany in the last 5 years | 1 |
| Partner who also qualifies, coming with you | 1 |
Before any points count, the points route has three conditions. Your qualification must be recognised in the country where you got it, which for a degree means a positive anabin result or a ZAB Statement of Comparability; vocational qualifications need at least two years of training. You need German at A1 or English at B2. And you must show you can fund your job search, with a blocked account of at least EUR 1,091 net a month in 2026, about ₹1.16 lakh, or a declaration of commitment from someone in Germany.
Tourist visits do not count towards the previous stay point; study, language course and work stays do. Every point you claim needs proof in the visa application, from experience letters to old passports with visas and entry stamps.
A typical Indian profile
Take a 26 year old with a BTech from an H+ university, two years in an IT job, an IELTS score at C1 level and no German. That is 2 points for age, 2 for experience, 1 for a shortage occupation if the job qualifies, and 1 for C1 English: exactly 6. Drop the English to B2 and the total falls to 5. The cheapest fix is usually German, where A2 alone adds a point and B1 adds two. Check your university first with our anabin guide; a degree from an institution Germany does not recognise rules out the points route however many points you have.
What the card lets you do
- Look for work in Germany for up to one year, or set up as self employed.
- Work part time in one or more jobs totalling up to 20 hours a week while you search.
- Do trial work for up to two weeks with each employer, aimed at qualified employment, an apprenticeship or a qualification programme.
- Switch once you find a job: apply to your local foreigners authority for a work, training or recognition permit. If the job is qualified employment but no other permit fits, the Opportunity Card can be extended for up to two years.
Faz's ruleIf you plan to study in Germany anyway, you do not need the Opportunity Card. Graduating there gives you 18 months, not 12.
The Opportunity Card is for people who already have their qualification and want to job hunt in Germany. If you finish a degree or vocational training in Germany, you can apply straight away for a job seeker residence permit under Section 20 instead, which gives you 18 months and lets you work part time without the 20 hour limit. So for a fresh graduate in India weighing a German master’s against an Opportunity Card, the master’s route ends in a longer and more flexible job search, at the cost of the degree. Make it in Germany also points out that the card is not required at all if you find a job from India first.
Applying from India
You apply online through the Federal Foreign Office’s Consular Services Portal. Before you start, run the official self check on Make it in Germany, get your anabin printout or Statement of Comparability, your language certificate, experience letters and proof of funds ready. Our blocked account calculator works out the deposit for the months you plan to stay.
Questions people ask
How many points do I need for the Germany Opportunity Card?
Six, unless your qualification is fully recognised in Germany, in which case no points are needed. You also need a qualification recognised in your country, German A1 or English B2, and proof of funds.
How much money do I need for the Opportunity Card?
At least EUR 1,091 net a month in 2026, about ₹1.16 lakh, usually shown through a blocked account, or a declaration of commitment from someone in Germany.
Can I work on the Opportunity Card?
Yes, part time, up to 20 hours a week across one or more jobs, plus trial work of up to two weeks per employer while you look for qualified employment.
Do I need to know German for the Opportunity Card?
Not necessarily. On the points route you need either German at A1 or English at B2. German above A1 earns extra points, and with full recognition no language proof is required at all.
How long is the Opportunity Card valid?
Up to one year for the job search. If you then find qualified employment and no other residence permit fits, it can be extended for up to two years.
Where these rules come from
- Make it in Germany, Federal Government portal, job search Opportunity Card
- Residence Act, Section 20a
- ZAB, Statement of Comparability FAQs
- European Central Bank, euro reference exchange rates
Checked in October 2026. The funds amount changes each year; confirm current rules with the German mission before you apply.