The opportunity card can be granted if you count as a skilled worker or can reach a sufficient number of points in the points system. Anyone applying quickly asks how the points add up. This guide explains how the points system in the Residence Act is structured, which other requirements apply, and where the current point values are published.
Short answer: The opportunity card under section 20a of the Residence Act requires that you are a skilled worker or reach a sufficient number of points in the points system. The point values and the minimum number of points are set out in the annex to the law, not in the statutory text itself. The job-seeker opportunity card is initially valid for up to one year. Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
Key points
- The opportunity card can be granted if you are a skilled worker or reach a sufficient number of points (section 20a subsection 3).
- The characteristics and point values are set out in a table in the annex to the law. Check the current version there before you calculate.
- Your livelihood must be secured (section 20a subsection 4).
- The job-seeker opportunity card is initially valid for up to one year, a follow-up card for up to two years (section 20a subsection 5).
- If you are already in Germany, you need a residence title from another section of the law (section 20a subsection 4).
Which requirements does the law set?
The opportunity card is a residence permit for looking for employment. Under section 20a subsection 3, it can be granted if you are a skilled worker (number 1) or if you reach a sufficient number of points for the characteristics listed in the table in the annex (number 2). Both routes lead to the card, but the evidence required differs considerably.
For the points route, you need a professional qualification obtained abroad that is officially recognised, or a university degree from abroad that is officially recognised. The qualification must also be confirmed by a competent domestic body. For foreign qualifications, that confirmation is requested on application. The competent body decides how the procedure works for your qualification, and our guide on recognising a foreign university degree (in German) describes the route to an evaluation.
How is the points system built?
The points system assesses several characteristics that the law defines by reference to the annex. The point values and the minimum number of points are listed there in a table. They can change, so the table should always be your last source before you put documents together. A calculator found online does not replace it, because it may not reflect the current state of the annex.
The overview below shows the order in which you proceed. Each step refers to the place where the binding wording can be found.
| Step | What you do | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check whether you can count as a skilled worker | Section 20a subsection 3 number 1 |
| 2 | Present your qualification and have it confirmed by a domestic body | Section 20a subsection 4 |
| 3 | Work out your points using the characteristics | Table in the annex to the law |
| 4 | Check the livelihood requirement and the application route | Section 20a subsection 4 |
If you need a number, take the annex as your source and read off each characteristic step by step. Do not work from memory, because characteristics and values in earlier versions read differently.
In practice, the points route means translating your education and work history into figures. List your qualifications, your professional experience and your language skills, and assign each one to the matching line of the table. Note next to every point which document proves it. This small overview is often the most valuable part of the preparation, because it shows where gaps exist before an authority asks.
Typical mistakes arise when documents do not match a characteristic. A certificate without confirmation, an outdated table from a forum or an invoice that names the wrong person set you back to the beginning. Check every document against the wording of the annex before you submit it, and ask when something stays unclear.
How long is the opportunity card valid?
The job-seeker opportunity card under section 20a subsection 5 is initially valid for up to one year. A follow-up opportunity card of up to two years is possible if an employment contract or a binding offer for qualified work exists and the Federal Employment Agency agrees. A follow-up card is only available if no other residence permit from the relevant section is applicable, and a further extension as an opportunity card is excluded.
If you want to apply for a new job-seeker card after expiry, you must have stayed abroad, or lawfully in Germany, for at least as long as you held the previous job-seeker card. Anyone who does not meet this period risks not receiving the new card.
Keep the dates in a calendar as soon as the card is issued. The end date and the conditions for a follow-up card determine your next steps, and a missed deadline can leave you without a valid basis for your stay.
Which evidence should you prepare?
Put your documents together before you plan the application: certificates of qualification, the confirmation by the domestic body, language evidence and proof of livelihood. Which language evidence applies depends on the application and on the competent body. An overview of language tests is in our guide on language evidence for study (in German).
For the application itself, including appointments and the procedure, the guide Opportunity card 2026: requirements and procedure (in German) is the right next step. This article deliberately concentrates on the points system.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the opportunity card with a foreign university degree?
A foreign university degree that is officially recognised is one of the routes that the points variant requires. The competent domestic body confirms whether your degree meets the conditions. An evaluation in advance helps you judge your chances.
What does skilled worker mean for the opportunity card?
Under number 1, the card can be granted if you are a skilled worker. The law defines the term and the evidence required. Ask the competent body before you submit documents.
How do I prove my characteristics in the points system?
The competent body decides how you prove your characteristics. Place the table of the annex next to your documents so that you can prove each characteristic clearly. Missing evidence usually costs more time than careful preparation.
Does the opportunity card apply after graduation?
The card serves the job search and is one route among several. Anyone who wants to stay in Germany after their studies will find suitable residence titles in our guide Staying in Germany after your studies (in German).
What to do now
- Check whether you can count as a skilled worker or whether the points route is the one for you.
- Obtain the annex to the law and read the current characteristics and values yourself.
- Have your qualification confirmed by the competent domestic body before you apply.
- Plan the application around livelihood, language evidence and an appointment with the competent body.
Related reading
- Opportunity card 2026: requirements and procedure (in German)
- Staying in Germany after your studies: which residence title fits (in German)
- Recognising a foreign university degree: responsible bodies (in German)
- Language evidence for study: TestDaF, DSH and alternatives (in German)
- Studying in Germany as an international student: the overview (in German)
Sources: Residence Act, section 20a: Opportunity card (gesetze-im-internet.de) (accessed November 2026), Federal Foreign Office: Will my foreign academic degree be recognised in Germany? (accessed November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
