The new Opportunity Card

Germany has so much to offer, from exciting career prospects and innovative businesses, social security and a stable democracy which upholds freedoms of opinion and expression, and great schools and outstanding universities. Key future industries such as renewables and digital technologies are thriving in Germany, and this is reflected in the labour market. For Germany's Federal Government, a key priority in delivering this transformation is bringing in the expertise of skilled workers from around the world.

With the updated Skilled Workers Immigration Law, Germany has taken another step in 2024 towards its goal of becoming a modern nation of immigration. The new law includes numerous measures to remove obstacles for graduates and skilled workers who hold vocational qualifications from outside the EU. The most important of these new measures is the Opportunity Card, which was introduced in June 2024.

Who can get an Opportunity Card?

The Opportunity Card allows skilled workers from non-EU states to come to Germany to find a job. The card is initially valid for one year. Who can get an Opportunity Card?

1. Holders of foreign vocational or academic qualifications which are fully recognised in Germany. People who graduated from higher education in Germany or completed vocational training there can also get an Opportunity Card without having to meet any additional skills or language requirements.

2. Holders of foreign university degrees, holders of vocational qualifications (at least 2 years in length and officially recognised in the country where training was completed), or holders of vocational qualifications awarded by a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad. Applicants also need to show they can speak German at A1 level or English at B2 level. A points system applies from this point on. Those applying for an Opportunity Card need to score six points:

• 4 points for a foreign vocational qualification which can be recognised under German standards, even if additional qualifications will be required later (known as “Teilanerkennung”). 
• 3 points for at least 5 years’ professional experience within the last 7 years or “good” German language skills at B2 level.
• 2 points for “satisfactory” German language skills (B1 level), 2 years’ professional experience within the last 5 years, and being aged under 35.
• 1 point for “adequate” German language skills (A2 level), a previous stay of at least 6 months in Germany within the last 5 years, aged 35-39, C1 English skills (if the qualification is relevant where there is a worker shortage, and if the partner meets the requirements for the Opportunity Card).

To obtain an Opportunity Card, skilled workers must prove that they can afford to live in Germany for up to one year while they find work without requiring state benefits.

Opportunity Card holders who find a job in Germany within a year can apply to the local Immigration Office in their new place of residence for permanent permission to work in Germany, such as an EU Blue Card. 

Lower salary thresholds, and professions where there is a shortage of workers

In 2023 the Federal Government removed a range of obstacles to skilled worker immigration, such as by lowering salary thresholds for the EU Blue Card.

The Federal Government also expanded the list of professions where there is a shortage of workers. In addition to specialists in maths, IT, science, engineering and medicine, in future, the lower salary thresholds for an EU Blue Card will also apply to vets, dentists and pharmacists, managers in the manufacturing, construction and logistics sectors, early years teachers and healthcare workers.

More information is available on the Federal Government’s portal for skilled workers from abroad, “Make it in Germany”.