Please read carefully before applying:

The opportunity card is a new legal basis in the German Residence Act to enable controlled access to job search in Germany. In addition to job searches, it also enables the search for programs to recognize foreign professional qualifications in Germany. The Opportunity Card can be obtained in two ways:

-Third-country nationals who can prove that their foreign qualification is fully equivalent and are therefore considered skilled workers can receive the Opportunity Card without any further special requirements if they can prove that they are able to support themselves financially.

-All other applicants must provide proof of a foreign university degree, a vocational qualification of at least two years (recognized by the state in the country of training) or a vocational qualification issued by a German chamber of commerce abroad. In addition, either basic German (level A1) or English language skills (level B2) are required. If these requirements are met, you can collect different scores for criteria such as recognition of the qualification in Germany, language skills, professional experience, age and ties to Germany as well as the potential of the accompanying spouse. At least 6 points must be achieved in order to be granted an opportunity card.

The Opportunity Card is issued for a maximum of 1 year if you can secure your subsistence for this period. It offers opportunities for trial work or part-time employment of 20 hours per week during the stay in Germany.

Further information on the Opportunity Card (in particular a “self-check”) and general information on working and living in Germany can be found on www.make-it-in-germany.com

You are required to present a valid passport (min. validity 6 months or longer if you intend to stay for a year).

The following documents must be presented to the Embassy during your appointment. Make sure to handover only complete applications and only book an appointment once your application is complete.

• Filled in application form (national visa) + declaration form (Section 54 (2) 8 in conjunction with Section 53 of the Residence Act)
• 3 biometric passport photos (not older than 6 months)
• Copy of all stamped pages of your passport (A4 size copy)
• CV
• If applicable: O/L & A/L examination certificates
• If applicable: University Degree of Certificates of Apprenticeship
• Proof of all your previous qualifications / jobs (e.g. certificates etc.)
• Proof of Financing: Blocked account in the amount of EUR 1091,00 per month. If you would like to stay in Germany for 12 months, you will therefore need a total of EUR 13092,00 OR additional proof of a specific part-time job in Germany, e.g. through an employment contract OR formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung gem. §§ 66, 68 AufenthG) with indication of the corresponding travel purpose.
• Private health insurance valid throughout the Schengen area, minimum cover of EUR 30,000, valid for the entire period of validity of the Opportunity Card

As a skilled worker:

Please submit the following additional documents:

Proof of your qualification by providing your vocational training qualification or university degree in Germany, recognition of the equivalence of a foreign university degree (anabin) or a certificate evaluation by the “Central Office for Foreign Education” (ZAB),

In the case of regulated professions for which a permit is required to practice the profession (e.g. doctors, engineers, etc.), the corresponding professional license from the competent recognition body is required.

Information on the recognition process can be found at www.anerkennung-indeutschland.de.

As a non-skilled worker:

Please submit the following additional documents:

Foreign vocational training qualification and certificate from the “Central Office for Foreign Education” (ZAB) regarding your foreign professional qualification or partial recognition notice/deficit notice for your professional qualification OR

foreign university degree, as well as proof of state recognition of the university degree through determination of comparability by ANABIN database.

or certificate assessment by the “Central Office for Foreign Education” (ZAB) or professional qualification from a German Chamber of Commerce.

Please also submit a certificate of proficiency in German at A1 level and in English at B2 level.

Points for the Opportunity Card:

Kindly refer to our website www.make-it-in-Germany.com for additional information and submit corresponding proof during the application process.

Please prepare two identical application sets with the above-mentioned documents copied and bring all your original certificates along. Moreover, every set has to be sorted already in the correct order as showed above!

Fee: EUR 75 (to be paid in Rs., by credit card or cash) – no refund in case of rejection! Conversion into Rs. is made based on the exchange rate at the time of application.

Note further:

False or falsified documents will lead to the refusal of the visa and / or further consequences.

Flight bookings are not required to apply for a visa; please book your trip only after you have received your visa.

Incomplete applications may result in refusal. Complete documentation does not guarantee a visa approval.

Download as pdf here