Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): points calculator & 2026 requirements
The Chancenkarte lets you move to Germany for up to 12 months to look for a job - no job offer required. You need a recognised qualification, German A1 or English B2, proof of €1,091/month, and - unless your degree is fully recognised in Germany - at least 6 points. Check your score below.
Chancenkarte points calculator
Answer honestly - the visa office will ask for proof of every point you claim.
Do you have a university degree or vocational training of at least 2 years?
The qualification must be state-recognised in the country where you earned it.
Is your qualification fully recognised in Germany (or do you hold a German licence to practise)?
Check on anabin or 'Recognition in Germany'. If yes, you skip the points system entirely.
Partial recognition of your foreign qualification? (4 points)
A deficit notice (Defizitbescheid) from a German recognition authority counts.
German language level
A1 satisfies the entry requirement but earns no points. Points start at A2.
English at B2 or higher?
Satisfies the language entry requirement if your German is below A1.
English at C1 or higher? (1 point)
Professional experience related to your qualification
Your age
Lived in Germany for 6+ months in the last 5 years? (1 point)
Legal stays only - tourist visits don't count.
Is your occupation on Germany's shortage list? (1 point)
Includes IT, engineering, nursing and healthcare, teaching, construction and production managers.
Applying together with a spouse/partner who also qualifies? (1 point)
The official points table (2026)
You need 6 points. Language points don't stack (your highest German level counts once), and every point must be provable with documents.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Recognition or partial recognition of your foreign qualification (deficit notice), or licence to practise a regulated profession | 4 |
| German language B2 or higher | 3 |
| 5+ years of professional experience in the last 7 years (with 2-year vocational training or degree) | 3 |
| German language B1 | 2 |
| 2+ years of professional experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| Age under 35 | 2 |
| German language A2 | 1 |
| Age 35–40 | 1 |
| English C1 or higher | 1 |
| Previous legal stay in Germany of 6+ months in the last 5 years (not tourism) | 1 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation (IT, engineering, nursing, teaching, construction management …) | 1 |
| Spouse or partner who also qualifies, applying together | 1 |
What you must have before points even count
A qualification of at least 2 years
A university degree or vocational training of 2+ years, state-recognised in the country where you completed it. Without this, the points route is closed.
German A1 or English B2
Prove it with a certificate: Goethe, telc, ÖSD, or TestDaF for German; IELTS (5.5-6.5+), TOEFL, or Cambridge for English B2. A1 German satisfies the requirement but earns no points - points start at A2.
€1,091 per month of your stay (2026)
Usually a German blocked account (Sperrkonto): €13,092 for 12 months. Alternatives: a declaration of commitment from a resident in Germany, or a pre-arranged part-time contract up to 20h/week.
Passport and clean paperwork
Valid passport, degree certificates (with certified translations), language certificates, CV, and proof of funds. Apply at the German mission in your country or - if legally in Germany - at the local foreigners authority.
Arriving is step one. Getting interviews is the real game.
German recruiters expect a tabular CV and most Chancenkarte holders compete for English-speaking roles. Qarera builds the CV, matches you to live English-language jobs in Germany, and tracks your applications - free.