Germany Chancenkarte 2026 — How to Use the Opportunity Card to Move to Germany
The points system
You need at least 6 points from the following criteria:
- Recognised professional qualification or university degree: 3 points (mandatory base)
- German language skills at A1 level or above: 1 point (B2 or above: 2 points)
- English language skills at B2 level or above: 1 point
- Under 35 years old: 1 point
- Previous stay in Germany (study, work or training): 1 point
- Qualification in a STEM or shortage occupation: 1 point
What it gives you
A 1-year residence permit to live in Germany while you search for work. You can take up part-time work (up to 20 hours per week) or trial employment (up to 2 weeks) during this period. Once you have a job offer, you convert to a standard work visa.
Qualification recognition
Your foreign qualification must either be recognised by the relevant German authority, or you must have a qualification from a country with which Germany has a bilateral recognition agreement. Start the recognition process early — it can take 3–6 months.
Germany as a destination
No wealth tax. No inheritance tax between spouses. Income tax is progressive but the threshold before the top rate is generous. Germany is the largest economy in the EU, highly internationalized, and relatively straightforward to navigate with English in major cities. Path to permanent residence: 4 years. Path to citizenship: 5 years (recently reduced from 8).
Find Germany Chancenkarte and skilled worker visa specialists on WhereCaniMove.