Most work visas need a job offer first. Germany’s Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) works the other way round: it lets you move to Germany for up to a year to look for a job, and work part-time while you search.
It’s open to people from any country outside the EU, including Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans, South Africans, Zimbabweans and Zambians.
Who qualifies
There are two ways in.
1. Your qualification is fully recognised in Germany. If a German authority has already recognised your degree or vocational qualification as equal to a German one, you qualify without points.
2. You score at least 6 points. For this route you need:
- a university degree, or at least 2 years of vocational training, that is recognised in your home country,
- German at A1 level or English at B2 level, and
- at least 6 points.
| What you have | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification partly recognised in Germany | 4 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation | 1 |
| Work experience: 2+ years in the last 5 | 2 |
| Work experience: 5+ years in the last 7 | 3 |
| German A2 / B1 / B2 or higher | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| English C1 or higher (or native speaker) | 1 |
| Age under 35 | 2 |
| Age 35 to 40 | 1 |
| 6+ months’ legal stay in Germany in the last 5 years (not as a tourist) | 1 |
| Spouse or partner who also qualifies for the card | 1 |
For example, a 30-year-old nurse with 5 years’ experience and German B1 scores 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 points.
Source: Make it in Germany.
How much money you need
You must show you can support yourself while you search. The usual way is a blocked account holding €1,091 for each month of your stay in 2026. For a full year, that’s €13,092.
The other option is a declaration of commitment, where someone in Germany formally agrees to cover your costs.
What you can do with it
- Stay in Germany for up to 1 year.
- Work part-time, up to 20 hours a week.
- Do trial work for up to 2 weeks per employer.
- Switch to a residence permit for skilled work in Germany once you find a qualifying job, without going home first.
How to apply
- Check your points or get your qualification recognised.
- Open a blocked account and arrange health insurance.
- Book a national visa appointment at the German embassy or consulate for your country.
- Pay the €75 visa fee and submit your documents.
The German Embassy in Accra lists the fee and documents on its visa information page. Check the page for your own country before your appointment, as document lists can differ.
Tips
- Learning German is the biggest advantage you can give yourself. It earns points for the card, and most jobs in Germany need it.
- Start applying for jobs before you travel, so you use your year well.
- Nurses and care professionals should look at Germany’s recognition process for health jobs, which is separate from the Opportunity Card.
Looking at other countries? See routes open to carers and nurses.