---
title: "Germany Opportunity Card requirements 2026: 3-year stay"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/opportunity-card-job-search/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Germany · Talent schemes

# Germany Opportunity Card

**First stay:** 3 yrs

Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte, sections 20a and 20b AufenthG)

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Savings needed:** €1,091 a month ≈ $1,220 (Savings of about EUR 1,091 a month (≈ $1,220) A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.)
- **First stay:** 3 yrs (Search Opportunity Card issued for up to one year; it can be extended by up to two further years as a Follow-up Opportunity Card with an employment contract or binding job offer for qualified work and Federal Employment Agency approval. A new search card needs a period abroad or lawful stay in Germany at least as long as the previous stay.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.)
- **Spouse work:** Can work (Accompanying spouse or registered partner may be assessed together; criterion 12 awards a point when the spouse meets the conditions and applies at the same authority. Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.)

## Key facts

Opportunity Card is a talent schemes route for Germany. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** €100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84
- **First stay:** 3 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

**Government fees: €100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84**

- EUR 100 (≈ $110) Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
- EUR 75 (≈ $84) Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

**Shown, not spent:** ~€1,091/mo ≈ $1,220

**Renewal: Renewable, 3 years max**

The search card lasts up to one year and can be followed by a Follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two more years with a qualified job offer and Federal Employment Agency approval.

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20a.html)

**Citizenship: General rule: 5 years of residence**

Naturalisation needs 5 years of lawful habitual residence, but this permit type does not qualify you to apply (Section 10(1) no. 2), so you need a different residence title such as a work permit first.

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html)

**Where to apply: Abroad or in-country**

Apply for a visa at the German mission abroad; someone already in Germany can only switch from a work or study-related residence title (Section 20a(4)).

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20a.html)

**Presence rules: Stay rule**

The residence permit expires if you leave Germany and do not return within six months, unless the authority sets a longer period.

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__51.html)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Time on this route is capped at 3 years in total
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a third-country national.
- The applicant is a skilled worker, or reaches at least six points under the points table.
- Points applicants also need a state-recognised foreign vocational qualification of at least two years, a recognised foreign degree, or a chamber-issued vocational diploma.
- Points applicants also need basic German (A1) or English at B2.
- Points applicants have their foreign qualification confirmed by a competent body in Germany.
- Applicants already in Germany need an existing residence permit under sections 3 or 4 of the Residence Act.

#### What you must show

- Subsistence must be secured, normally EUR1,091 (≈ $1,220) net per month for a single person.

#### After you arrive

- The follow-up card is given only when the person does not qualify for another work-related residence permit under Section 4 of the Residence Act.

## When you become tax resident

How Germany decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 3 years in total**
- **Tax residence:** A continuous stay of more than six months counts as habitual abode from the start (section 9 AO), unless it is solely for a visit, recreation, cure or similar private purpose and lasts no longer than one year; a dwelling kept available for use creates a domicile (section 8 AO).
- **Foreign-source income:** Residents are taxed on worldwide income.

[All tax rules for Germany](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Residence permit to look for work or for recognition of a foreign qualification, for skilled workers or for applicants who reach six points under the points table. It allows work of up to 20 hours a week on average and trial employment of up to two weeks each. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

#### What you must show and pay

- Savings of about EUR 1,091 a month (≈ $1,220) (source 4)
- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. (source 9)
- A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries. (source 10)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a third-country national. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4)
- The applicant is a skilled worker, or reaches at least six points under the points table. (sources 1, 4)
- Points applicants also need a state-recognised foreign vocational qualification of at least two years, a recognised foreign degree, or a chamber-issued vocational diploma. (sources 1, 4)
- Points applicants also need basic German (A1) or English at B2. (sources 1, 4)
- Points applicants have their foreign qualification confirmed by a competent body in Germany. (source 1)
- Applicants already in Germany need an existing residence permit under sections 3 or 4 of the Residence Act. (source 1)
- Subsistence must be secured, normally EUR1,091 (≈ $1,220) net per month for a single person. (source 4)
- The follow-up card is given only when the person does not qualify for another work-related residence permit under Section 4 of the Residence Act. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Search Opportunity Card issued for up to one year; it can be extended by up to two further years as a Follow-up Opportunity Card with an employment contract or binding job offer for qualified work and Federal Employment Agency approval. A new search card needs a period abroad or lawful stay in Germany at least as long as the previous stay.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Visa validity: 12 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

#### Work

Employment of up to 20 hours a week on average and trial employment of up to two weeks each (qualified, training-oriented or recognition-related); the 20-hour limit does not apply to the Follow-up Opportunity Card.

#### Family

Accompanying spouse or registered partner may be assessed together; criterion 12 awards a point when the spouse meets the conditions and applies at the same authority. Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Section 20a AufenthG: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20a.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Section 20b AufenthG: awarding of points for the Opportunity Card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20b.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Annex to the Residence Act: points table for the Opportunity Card (minimum six points)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/anlage.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Visa Handbook (Visumhandbuch): subsistence table (valid from 09/2025), Opportunity Card (01/2025), Working Holiday (06/2026)](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/resource/blob/207816/5f5be4158ee61f51115a2a32e2885c67/visumhandbuch-data.pdf) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-10
5. [AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__4a.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__30.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
7. [Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen)](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/NachzugZuDrittstaatlern/nachzug-zu-drittstaatlern-node.html) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
8. [Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__41.html) · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
9. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__45.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
10. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__46.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
11. [Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
12. [AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__51.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11

## Opportunity Card and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Opportunity Card | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [Talent · Renowned person](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-renown/) France | Needs income of €22k+ a year ≈ $25k | 4 yr, renewable | – |
| [Global Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/global-talent/) United Kingdom | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| [Orientation year (zoekjaar)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/orientation-year/) Netherlands | – | 1 yr | – |
| [Turquoise Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/turkiye/turquoise-card/) Türkiye | – | 3 yr | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Opportunity Card?

Savings of about EUR 1,091 a month (≈ $1,220). A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84). Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

### How long can I stay on the Opportunity Card?

Search Opportunity Card issued for up to one year; it can be extended by up to two further years as a Follow-up Opportunity Card with an employment contract or binding job offer for qualified work and Federal Employment Agency approval.

### Can I work on the Opportunity Card?

Employment of up to 20 hours a week on average and trial employment of up to two weeks each (qualified, training-oriented or recognition-related); the 20-hour limit does not apply to the Follow-up Opportunity Card.

### Can I bring my family on the Opportunity Card?

Accompanying spouse or registered partner may be assessed together; criterion 12 awards a point when the spouse meets the conditions and applies at the same authority.

### Who can apply for the Opportunity Card?

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

### How are Opportunity Card holders taxed in Germany?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Opportunity Card. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income. The 2026 tariff is zero up to EUR12,348, (≈ $13,800) rising progressively to a 42% marginal rate from EUR69,879 (≈ $78,100) and 45% from EUR277,826 (≈ $310,000).

## More in Germany

[Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/working-holiday/) [Freelancer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/freelance-21-5/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/self-employment-21/) [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [Intra-company transfer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/ict-card-19/) [Experienced professional permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/experienced-professional-19c2/) [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/researcher-18d/) [Skilled worker · degree](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/skilled-worker-18b/)

## Special talent visas elsewhere

[🇦🇿 Highly skilled migrant (points)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/azerbaijan/highly-skilled-migrant/) [🇦🇩 Science, culture or sport](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/andorra/science-culture-sport/) [🇱🇮 Special-interest residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/special-interest-residence/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 12 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Section 20a AufenthG: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20a.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Section 20b AufenthG: awarding of points for the Opportunity Card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20b.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Annex to the Residence Act: points table for the Opportunity Card (minimum six points)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/anlage.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Visa Handbook (Visumhandbuch): subsistence table (valid from 09/2025), Opportunity Card (01/2025), Working Holiday (06/2026)](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/resource/blob/207816/5f5be4158ee61f51115a2a32e2885c67/visumhandbuch-data.pdf) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-10
5. [AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__4a.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__30.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
7. [Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen)](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/NachzugZuDrittstaatlern/nachzug-zu-drittstaatlern-node.html) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
8. [Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__41.html) · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
9. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__45.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
10. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__46.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
11. [Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
12. [AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__51.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.