Skilled Migration / Germany / Route
Germany · Investment route
Up to one year in Germany to find skilled work, with part-time work of up to 20 hours a week allowed while you search.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Overview
Advising UAE residents on skilled migration from our Dubai office.
Overview
Germany's Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) gives a qualified professional from outside the EU up to one year in Germany to find skilled work, and allows part-time work while the search is under way. It is governed by sections 20a and 20b of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) and has applied since 1 June 2024, when it replaced the previous job seeker visa. Section 20 of the Act now covers job search only for people who have completed studies, research, vocational training or the recognition of a qualification in Germany.
For a professional based in India or the UAE who does not yet hold a German job offer, the Opportunity Card is the route into the German job market.
Two ways to qualify
| Route | What you need |
|---|---|
| Skilled-worker route | A vocational or academic qualification fully recognised in Germany. No points and no language certificate are required. |
| Points route | A foreign degree, a state-recognised vocational qualification of at least two years, or a certificate from a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK), plus German at A1 or English at B2, plus at least 6 points |
The points table
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification partially recognised as equivalent in Germany | 4 |
| Occupation in a German shortage field | 1 |
| At least two years' professional experience in the last five years | 2 |
| At least five years' professional experience in the last seven years | 3 |
| German at A2 / B1 / B2 | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| English at C1 or native level | 1 |
| Aged under 35 / aged 35 to 40 | 2 / 1 |
| At least six months' previous legal residence in Germany | 1 |
| Spouse or partner also meets the Opportunity Card conditions and applies with you | 1 |
Experience earns points; it is not a condition. Neither route sets a minimum period of professional experience: five years in the last seven is worth three points on the scale.
What the card allows
- Up to one year in Germany to look for skilled work, with no job offer needed to apply.
- Part-time work of up to 20 hours a week while you search.
- Trial employment of up to two weeks with each prospective employer.
- A move to an EU Blue Card or another work-based residence permit once you hold a qualifying offer. Where no other permit fits, the card can be extended as a follow-up card (Folge-Chancenkarte) for up to two further years with a qualified job offer.
Costs and proof of funds
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National (D) visa fee | €75 | INR 8,400 at German missions in India, plus the visa service provider's charge |
| Proof of funds, 2026 | €1,091 a month | Usually shown through a blocked account |
| Blocked account for a 12-month card, 2026 | €13,092 | Funds held in your name to cover living costs during the search |
The monthly amount is set for each year. Applicants also need health insurance covering the stay.
Timeline
The Federal Foreign Office publishes no fixed processing time for national visas and states that long-stay visas may take several months. XIPHIAS prepares the complete file (qualification and recognition evidence, language certificate, points evidence and blocked-account confirmation) so that it is ready on the day of the appointment.
Family
The Opportunity Card is issued to the individual. A spouse or partner who also meets its conditions can apply for a card of their own, and applying together adds a point to your score. Family reunification is planned around the residence permit you move into once employed; XIPHIAS sets out the options for your family before you apply.
The next step: EU Blue Card
Most Opportunity Card holders aim for an EU Blue Card. The 2026 salary thresholds are:
| Category | Gross annual salary, 2026 |
|---|---|
| General threshold | €50,700 |
| Shortage occupations, and graduates within three years of their degree | €45,934.20 |
IT specialists without a degree can qualify at the reduced threshold with three years of comparable experience in the last seven. Under the recognition partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft) introduced in March 2024, the recognition of a foreign qualification no longer has to begin before you enter Germany.
Settlement and citizenship
Time on the Opportunity Card is a search period. Permanent residence and naturalisation are built on the residence permit you hold once employed, and XIPHIAS maps that timeline for the permit you actually obtain. India does not permit dual citizenship: acquiring German citizenship would end Indian citizenship under Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act 1955. German residence does not.
Risks to plan for
- The card lasts at most one year. Without qualifying work it cannot simply be renewed: the follow-up card requires a qualified job offer.
- Work is capped at 20 hours a week plus two-week trials. Full-time employment needs a work-based residence permit.
- Every point must be documented. A partial equivalence, language level or period of experience that cannot be evidenced is not counted.
- Funds are assessed at the rate for the year of application: €1,091 a month in 2026.
Talk to our Germany visa consultants in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has advised families and businesses since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022. Our immigration consultants in Dubai will take you through the requirements, costs and timeline for your specific case.
Sources
What you getالمزايا
Up to one year in Germany to search for skilled work, with no job offer needed to apply.
Part-time work of up to 20 hours a week allowed while you search.
Trial employment of up to two weeks with each prospective employer.
Move to an EU Blue Card or another work-based residence permit once you hold a qualifying offer.
Follow-up card (Folge-Chancenkarte) for up to two further years with a qualified job offer.
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Qualifying investment
National (D) visa fee
At the visa appointment · INR 8,400 at German missions in India, plus the visa service provider's charge.
Government & due-diligence fees
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Nationality of a country outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Skilled-worker route: a vocational or academic qualification fully recognised in Germany (no points or language proof needed).
Points route: a foreign degree, a state-recognised vocational qualification of at least two years, or an AHK certificate.
Points route: German at A1 or English at B2, and at least 6 points.
Proof of funds of €1,091 a month in 2026, usually through a blocked account (€13,092 for a 12-month card).
Health insurance covering the stay.
Proof of funds
Who cannot apply
A foreign qualification that is neither fully recognised in Germany nor eligible for the points route.
Fewer than 6 points on the points route.
No German A1 or English B2 certificate on the points route.
Insufficient proof of funds for the stay.
Language requirementاللغة
Minimum level
Points route: German A1 or English B2. No language proof where the qualification is fully recognised.
Accepted tests
The processكيف نعمل
Choose your route
Full recognition of your qualification, or the points route with at least 6 points.
Build the evidence
Qualification and recognition documents, language certificate and proof of every point claimed.
Open the blocked account
€1,091 a month in 2026, or €13,092 for a 12-month card.
Apply for the national visa
File at the German mission or its visa service provider and pay the €75 fee.
Search and trial work
Work up to 20 hours a week and take trial employment of up to two weeks per employer.
Switch to a work permit
Once you hold a qualifying offer, move to an EU Blue Card or another work-based residence permit.
Document checklistالوثائق
Identity Documents
- ✦Valid passport
- ✦Biometric passport photographs
Qualification
- ✦Degree or vocational qualification certificates
- ✦Recognition notice, or evidence of partial equivalence where claiming points
- ✦AHK certificate, where that is the qualifying route
Language
- ✦German A1 or English B2 certificate (points route)
- ✦Higher German or English certificates where claiming language points
Experience and Points Evidence
- ✦Employer letters, contracts and payslips covering the experience claimed
- ✦Evidence of previous legal residence in Germany, if claimed
- ✦Spouse or partner documents, if applying together
Funds and Insurance
- ✦Blocked-account confirmation (€13,092 for a 12-month card in 2026)
- ✦Health insurance covering the stay
Your XIPHIAS advisor prepares a personalised document list at onboarding. The checklist above is indicative and may vary by family size.
Risk notes
The card lasts at most one year. Without qualifying work it cannot simply be renewed: the follow-up card requires a qualified job offer.
Work is capped at 20 hours a week plus trial employment of up to two weeks per employer. Full-time employment needs a work-based residence permit.
No official processing time is published; the Federal Foreign Office states that long-stay visas may take several months.
The required monthly funds are set for each year: €1,091 a month applies in 2026.
Compliance
Legal basis: sections 20a and 20b of the Residence Act (AufenthG), in force since 1 June 2024, when the Opportunity Card replaced the previous job seeker visa.
Section 20 of the Residence Act now covers job search only after studies, research, vocational training or qualification recognition completed in Germany.
Points are awarded only for factors supported by documents.
National visa fee: €75 (INR 8,400 at German missions in India), plus the visa service provider's charge.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
Not in its previous form. Since 1 June 2024, job search from abroad runs through the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) under sections 20a and 20b of the Residence Act. Section 20 now covers people who have studied, researched, trained or had a qualification recognised in Germany.
Start the Germany route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.