The Opportunity Card allows non-EU citizens to spend a year in Germany looking for work.
If you’ve been considering moving to Germany, this new work visa could be for you.
Germany is looking for more talented workers and has announced a new route for qualified foreign people to relocate to the country.
The Opportunity Card allows non-EU citizens to spend a year in Germany looking for work.
Who is qualified, and how does the card work?
There is a new way for foreign workers to relocate to Germany.
The Chancenkarte, often known as the Opportunity Card, was introduced in 2022 to facilitate employment opportunities for international workers in Germany.
It will now debut on June 1, 2024, as the country strives to supplement its limited supply of young, qualified workers.
Germany needs approximately 400,000 new skilled workers annually, particularly in engineering, IT, and healthcare.
Germany’s new work visa allows you to seek a job for one year.
The Opportunity Card serves as a temporary visa or work permit, allowing non-EU citizens to stay in the country for up to one year.
During this time, cardholders can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week or participate in two-week trial work experiences.
The goal is to make it easier for skilled workers to obtain suitable employment and enterprises in need of employees to locate foreign workers to fill their roles.
If a cardholder wants to move to a full-time work, they can apply for longer-term residency, which is made easier because the applicant already has a job.
Who is eligible for Germany’s Opportunity Cards?
If you want to apply for the Chancenkarte, you must have completed at least two years of vocational training or have a university degree from your home country relevant to your preferred role.
Applicants must also be proficient in German or English.
Those interested must demonstrate that they have the cash or earnings from a part-time employment contract to cover their year-long stay in Germany, which is little more than €12,000.
Candidates are ranked using a points system, with a minimum of six points.
Holding a recognised professional qualification in Germany or permission to practice a regulated profession, such as teacher, nurse, or engineer, earns four points.
Three points are awarded to applicants who have completed five years of professional experience in their field during the last seven years or who speak German at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Two points are awarded for two years of professional experience, including previous vocational training within the last five years, being under 35 years old at the time of application, and holding a B1 certificate in German.
One point is awarded for: being under 40 at the time of application; having previously lived in Germany for at least six months (excluding tourism purposes); having C1 English and A2 German language skills; being trained in an occupation where there is a labour shortage in Germany; and applying with a spouse.
Those interested can apply for the Opportunity Card through the German consulate in their native country or the local Foreigners’ Registration Office in Germany.
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