The Chancenkarte (§ 20a AufenthG) lets qualified people come to Germany for up to 12 months to find a job. When you find qualified work, you switch to a work permit such as the EU Blue Card or the skilled worker permit without leaving the country.
Two ways to qualify
- Full recognition: your degree or vocational qualification is fully recognised in Germany. You don't need points.
- Points: your qualification is recognised in the country where you earned it (a degree, or vocational training of at least two years), and you reach at least 6 points.
Either way, you also need basic German (A1) or good English (B2), and enough money to live on.
The points table
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Partial recognition of your qualification in Germany | 4 |
| At least 5 years' professional experience in the last 7 years | 3 |
| At least 2 years' professional experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| German at B2 or above | 3 |
| German at B1 | 2 |
| German at A2 | 1 |
| English at C1 or above | 1 |
| Aged under 35 | 2 |
| Aged 35 to 40 | 1 |
| A previous legal stay in Germany of at least 6 months | 1 |
| A qualification in a shortage occupation | 1 |
| Your spouse or partner also qualifies and applies with you | 1 |
The money you need
You prove €1,091 for each month of the planned stay, so €13,092 for 12 months. A blocked account is the usual way. A formal guarantee from someone in Germany (Verpflichtungserklärung) or a part-time employment contract can also count.
Blocked account providers that support the Chancenkarte
Fintiba
Blocked account with confirmation for the embassy, opened online.
Go to FintibaExpatrio
Blocked account, optionally bundled with health insurance.
Go to ExpatrioWhat you can do while you search
- Work part-time for up to 20 hours a week, in any job.
- Do trial work (Probebeschäftigung) of up to two weeks per employer.
- Switch to a work permit from inside Germany once you have a qualified job offer.
Common questions
Can I extend the Chancenkarte?
Only if you already have a qualified job offer that doesn't yet meet a work permit's conditions. The follow-up permit can then run for up to two more years. Otherwise it ends after 12 months.
Can my family come with me?
The Chancenkarte itself gives no right to family reunification. Once you switch to a work permit, the family rules for that permit apply.
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Sources
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.