Germany Opportunity Card Points Calculator (Chancenkarte)

How the points system works

The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a job-search residence title under §20a and §20b of the German Residence Act (AufenthG). The points table sits in the official annex to §20b. The minimum on the points route is 6. Each criterion has a listed evidence document: a language certificate, a recognition notice, employment references, a passport for age, and so on. Points without that document do not count at the mission.

German language points are exclusive: only the highest band counts (A2, B1, or B2 or higher). A1 is the language gate for the points route and scores 0. English C1 is additive to German points, and only with a certificate. Experience has two exclusive tiers: at least two years in the last five, or at least five years in the last seven. Age points use your date of birth against the application date — this calculator uses today as a proxy and says so. Shortage occupations are the EU Blue Card ISCO-08 groups in §18g, not the Bundesagentur für Arbeit Engpassanalyse lists. The partner point is one point per couple when a spouse or registered partner independently qualifies and applies together. Adding the highest exclusive band in each group gives a theoretical maximum of 16 (12 without partial recognition). 6 is still the legal minimum; extra points only help if the matching certificate or notice is in the file.

Primary texts:§20a,§20b, and thepoints annexon gesetze-im-internet.de, plus theMake it in GermanyOpportunity Card overview. Where those sources disagree on an age birthday, this page shows both readings instead of picking one.

The two routes

§20a Abs. 3 sets two qualification routes. Route (a) is the Fachkraft path: your degree or vocational qualification is already fully recognised as equivalent in Germany (Anabin H+ entspricht/gleichwertig, a full Gleichwertigkeit notice, or a German qualification). That route does not use the points table. You still show funds (€1,091 net/month as of 2026), a passport, and the general grant conditions. Language is recommended there; it is not the legal gate.

Route (b) is the points path. You need a state-recognised foreign vocational qualification of at least two years’ training, or a state-recognised foreign university degree, or an AHK category-A certificate — unless you hold an issued partial-recognition notice (Teilanerkennungsbescheid / Defizitbescheid), which waives that qualification gate and scores on the points table. You then need the language gate, funds, and at least 6 points. A ZAB confirmation (DAB for vocational qualifications; Anabin or Zeugnisbewertung for degrees) is how the qualification is usually proved.

The gates

Before any points are added, the points route checks three gates. Qualification: the recognised foreign qualification or AHK certificate described above, unless an issued partial-recognition notice waives it. A pending recognition file without that notice does not waive the gate and does not score. Language: a German A1 certificate or an English B2 certificate. Missions generally expect the exam date to be under 12 months old; that recency is administrative practice, not a line in the AufenthG. Funds: €1,091 net/month as of 2026, for the months you apply for, via a blocked account, a Verpflichtungserklärung, or a job contract of up to 20 hours a week counted toward it.

Failing a gate names a missing document, not a dead end. German A1 is a short course of study. This site’s freeletter-frames guideand theGoethe vs telcandDTZ vs telccomparisons are written for the B1 exams German employers and later titles actually ask for. B1 Atlas is a complete self-study course in production; it is not on sale yet. The waitlist is the only signup.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an age limit for the Germany Opportunity Card?

There is no hard age cap on the card. Age points end at 41: two points if you are not older than 35, one point if you are older than 35 and not older than 40. Official sources disagree on the exact birthday boundaries at 35 and 40. This calculator shows both readings in those windows. You can still qualify on other criteria with zero age points.

How much does the Opportunity Card cost?

The national visa fee is €75. You also need to show funds of €1,091 net per month, as of 2026, for the months you apply for. In-country fees after arrival are a separate matter and are not part of this calculator.

How long does Opportunity Card processing take?

Processing time varies by mission. Only the German Embassy in Dhaka publishes figures, and those official pages disagree: one states about 6 weeks as a minimum, another states 8 weeks. Appointment waiting time is separate. Other missions do not publish a comparable figure.

How many points do I need for the Opportunity Card?

The points-route minimum is 6. A fully recognised qualification (Fachkraft route) does not use the points table. Points only count with the matching certificate or notice. A score on this page is not a prediction of visa approval.