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Opportunity Card
- Purpose and target group
- How can I get the Opportunity card?
- Conditions
- Application for the opportunity card
- What documents must be submitted during the application process?
- Online application for the opportunity card
- Appointment booking
- Processing time
- During the application process
- Decision about the application
Wichtiger Hinweis
Technical issue are currently occurring in the consular service portal. If you are affected, please proceed as follows:
- Prepare the application documents according to the list provided below.
- Schedule an appointment.
- Submit the application in person.
To find out whether you require a visa to enter Germany, see „Who needs a visa?“.
Purpose and target group
The opportunity card (Section 20a of the Residence Act [AufenthG]) improves your chances of making contact with German employers and finding qualified employment in Germany. Further information are available at Make it in Germany.com.
How can I get the Opportunity card?
If you live outside the EU, you will generally require a visa for the purpose of gainful employment which will be issued by the competent German diplomatic mission. You can enter Germany on this visa. Prior to expiry of the visa, you must subsequently apply to the local immigration authority for your working and residence permit.
How can I get the opportunity card? Explainers video
Conditions
Option 1: You have a foreign professional or academic qualification that is fully recognised in Germany. Alternatively, you obtained your university degree or professional qualification in Germany.
Option 2: You score a minimum of six points in the points system in addition to meeting the following requirements:
- You have successfully completed vocational or academic training. It is important that the qualification is recognised by the country in which you obtained it. In addition, your vocational qualification must have required at least two years of vocational training. To support your visa application, you will need a positive result for this qualification, which you can apply for online at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
- Proof of language proficiency: You either have German language skills of at least level A1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or English language skills of at least level B2 (CEFR).
Application for the opportunity card
The application for the opportunity card is only possible online through the Consular Services Portal. After filling out a questionnaire, it will be checked whether you qualify for the opportunity card. If this check is successful, you can upload your documents. Your application will then be checked for completeness. Communication regarding any additional information needed will be done directly through the Consular Services Portal. An appointment can only be booked afterwards.
At your appointment, please present all original documents and your biometric photos.
What documents must be submitted during the application process?
A current biometric passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm with a light-coloured background) according to the photo sample table of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The photo should not be older than three months.
Personally signed passport (original with one copy of the passport data page), with at least two completely empty pages and sufficient validity.
If you do not have your habitual residence in Switzerland, the German Embassy in Bern is not responsible for processing your application.
Proof of language proficiency: You have either German language skills at least at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or English language skills at least at level B2 (CEFR).
printout of the online self check
Own funds on bank account: own bank statements of the last 3 months (containing a minimum of €1,027 net per month, for twelve month) or
Secondary employment: If you already have a specific part-time job in Germany in prospect, you can provide evidence of this in the form of an employment contract or a binding job offer stating the weekly working hours and monthly earnings or
Proof of financial means: blocked bank account confirmation (containing a minimum of €1,027 net per month, for twelve month) or a declaration of commitment.
Motivation letter with details regarding the planned job search, including the following information:
Industry in which a job is being sought.
Region where the job search will primarily focus.
Reason for seeking employment in Germany.
Professional or academic CV.
Health insurance in line with EU standards (covering the entire Schengen area, min. coverage of 30,000 €, valid from the day of entry for twelve months.
Information sheet with check list to down load
The German Embassy Bern reserve the right to ask for additional documents at any time during the processing of your application.
Postage expenses of 7 Swiss Francs
and
Visa fee of 75 Euro payable by cash in Swiss Francs or in Euro by Visa or MasterCard (information here).
Online application for the opportunity card
The online application for the Opportunity Card is possible through the Consular Services Portal. After you have uploaded your documents, your application will be checked for completeness. Communication regarding any additional information required will be conducted directly through the Consular Services Portal.
At your appointment, you will need to present all original documents, your biometric photos and pay the visa fee.
Appointment booking
You will receive the link to book an appointment once all documents have been reviewed in the Consular Services Portal.
Processing time
In this visa category, most applications are typically processed within 2-3 weeks (calculated from the day you procided all documents).
During the application process
Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa department and cannot be answered. We will contact you by email as soon as the decision has been made. In principle, all communication can only take place with the applicant themselves, a legal representative or an authorized person.
Decision about the application
You will be informed as soon as the embassy has decided on your application. Your passport is required for the visa to be issued.
Please check your visa label as soon as you have your passport with the visa in your hands. You should inform us immediately of any errors so that we can issue a new visa.