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Opportunity card (Chancenkarte)
Kindernachzug Visa © GKSP/Canva.com
General Information
The Opportunity Card was introduced to enable jobseekers to stay in Germany to look for employment. This card can be obtained in two different ways:
Find out if you are eligible for an opportunity card: self-check
| Option 1: | Option 2: |
| You have a foreign non-academic vocational or academic qualification that is fully recognised in Germany. Alternatively, you obtained your academic or non-academic vocational qualification in Germany. | You score a minimum of six points in the points system in addition to meeting the following requirements: |
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Opportunity cards are issued for a maximum of one year, provided the cardholder is able to support him- or herself during this period.The opportunity card holders will be able to do work trials or take up secondary employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during their stay in Germany. The opportunity card can be extended for another two years.
Submitting an application
Necessary documents
The CSP will require upload of the following documents.
Please note, that in some cases the Embassy might ask for additional documents.
Please complete the online application form (application forms are required for each applicant separately; all children require separate forms) and bring the printed and signed form including the barcodes to your appointment.
A valid passport signed by the holder, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least one year is necessary. The passport needs to have at least 2 subsequent blank pages. Please bring 1 photocopy of the passport biodata page to your appointment.
1 fully biometric passport photo, 35 x 45 mm, no older than three months. Digitally altered passport photos cannot be accepted. Please ensure that your photo adheres to German biometric requirements and is taken in front of a white/bright background.
Bring your valid Qatar residence permit (QID) and 1 photocopy to your appointment.
You must provide the original degree certificate when submitting your application at VFS. The original will be returned to you after your application has been decided.
Any non-German, English or French documents must be translated into one of these three languages by a certified or sworn translator.
To show that your degree is recognised in Germany, you will need to upload:
printouts from the ANABIN database - showing that both the qualification as well as the academic institution are listed as comparable
or
the “Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications”, issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
or (for vocational training diplomas)
- the “Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification”, issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
You must provide the original degree certificate when submitting your application at VFS. The original will be returned to you after your application has been decided.
Any non-German, English or French documents must be translated into one of these three languages by a certified or sworn translator.
To show that your training diploma is recognised in the country you have obtained it from, you will need to upload:
- the “Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification”, issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
You may earn points for your previous professional experience in relation to your formal qualifications. You will earn 2 points for having a minimum of two years’ post-qualification professional experience within the past five years. For a minimum of five years of professional experience within the past seven years, you may earn 3 points.
Please provide the originals and 1 copy each of the experience certificates.
You will also earn points if your German language skills are above level A1 (CEFR). One point is awarded at level A2, two points at level B1 and three points at level B2 or above. An additional point will be awarded if you have English language at level C1 or above, or if you are a native speaker.
Please provide proof of recognized German language proficiency skills.
You must provide a blocked bank account with a minimum amount of € 12,324.00 for one year (i.e. a minimum amount of €1,027.00 per month). Alternatively you can present a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor residing in Germany.
Proof of health insurance for the duration of your stay
ONE of the following documents:
- Proof of a private German health insurance which fulfills the below mentioned requirements and starts at your tentative travel date
- Proof of a public German health insurance, which consists of a letter from your German healthcare provider, as well as a travel health insurance for the first three weeks.
- Proof of a private foreign health insurance including the policy you choose which fulfills the below mentioned requirements and starts at your tentative travel date