How Does the Chancenkarte Work, and Do You Qualify? (2026)
The verdict
The Chancenkarte lets you come to Germany to look for work without an offer in hand. You get in either as a fully recognised skilled worker, or by scoring at least six points on the criteria below. It costs EUR 13,092 in a blocked account, released at EUR 1,091 a month, and it lets you work 20 hours a week while you search.
Legal basis: AufenthG section 20a, points under section 20b · Chancenkarte
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Do You Qualify?
- Route one, no points needed: your foreign qualification is fully recognised in Germany, which makes you a skilled worker under the Act.
- Route two, the points system: you need a qualification that is state-recognised where it was issued, plus German at A1 or English at B2, plus at least six points.
- The qualification must be either vocational training of at least two years, or a university degree, or training certified against German standards by a German chamber.
The points table
The Act states the threshold explicitly: the minimum is 6 points. The language grades are defined in section 2 of the Residence Act, so the CEFR levels are given here rather than the statutory wording.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Foreign qualification needing adaptation or additional qualification | 4 |
| German at B2 (gute Sprachkenntnisse) | 3 |
| German at B1 (ausreichende Sprachkenntnisse) | 2 |
| German at A2 (hinreichende Sprachkenntnisse) | 1 |
| English at C1 | 1 |
| Five or more years of relevant experience in the last seven | 3 |
| Two or more years of relevant experience in the last five | 2 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation (section 18g) | 1 |
| Aged 35 or under at application | 2 |
| Aged 36 to 40 at application | 1 |
| At least six months of prior lawful continuous residence in Germany in the last five years | 1 |
| Spouse or registered partner applying with you | 1 |
Source: section 20b of the Residence Act and the annex to the Act, as of 24 August 2026.
The Steps, in Order
- 1
Score yourself against the points table below and confirm you reach six, unless your qualification is already fully recognised.
- With
- You, before you spend anything
- Bring
- Your qualification certificates, language certificates and proof of work experience
- Fee
- None at this step
- Takes
- An hour with your own documents
- 2
Open and fund a blocked account with EUR 13,092, or arrange an accepted alternative proof.
- With
- A blocked-account provider
- Bring
- Passport and the provider's own onboarding documents
- Fee
- None at this step
- Takes
- Days, depending on the provider
- 3
Apply for the national visa for the Chancenkarte at the German mission in your country of residence.
- With
- The German embassy or consulate responsible for where you live
- Bring
- Passport, the application form, biometric photos, and the proof of funds for this route; Your own mission's checklist: there is no national document list, each mission publishes its own
- Fee
- EUR 75
- Takes
- Not centrally published. Appointment and decision times are set per mission and vary from weeks to months, so book the appointment before anything else.
- 4
Convert the visa into a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) after you arrive and register.
- With
- The Ausländerbehörde of the city you registered in
- Bring
- Meldebescheinigung from the Anmeldung, passport with the visa, biometric photo, proof of health insurance
- Fee
- EUR 100
- Takes
- Set by each city, not nationally. Apply before the visa expires: a booked appointment is what protects your status if the date falls later.
After you arrive: The Anmeldung within two weeks, the Steuer-ID by post after it, and the residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde before the visa expires. Every deadline of the first 3 months.
What You Must Prove
EUR 13,092 for the year, released at EUR 1,091 a month (2026)
A blocked account (Sperrkonto)
Also accepted
- A declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany who can show the income to back it
Work and Duration
Working
Up to 20 hours a week on average while you search, plus trial employment of up to two weeks at a time with a prospective employer.
Duration
Up to one year for the search itself. Once you find qualified work, the follow-on Chancenkarte extends by up to two further years.
What It Turns Into
Into a work permit once you have an offer that matches your qualification, applied for from inside Germany: AufenthV section 39 no. 1 covers anyone already holding a national visa or a residence permit, so you do not have to fly home to switch.
What This Route Does Not Allow
- It is not a work permit. Full-time employment on the Chancenkarte itself is not permitted: the 20-hour cap is the point of the card.
- Points are not discretionary. Six is the statutory minimum, and a strong profile that scores five does not qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points do you need for the Chancenkarte?
Six. The Act sets the minimum explicitly: 'Die Mindestpunktzahl beträgt sechs Punkte'. Applicants whose foreign qualification is already fully recognised in Germany are skilled workers under the Act and need no points at all.
How much money does the Chancenkarte require in 2026?
EUR 13,092 for the year, held in a blocked account and released at EUR 1,091 a month. The same monthly figure applies to the section 16d recognition visa, the section 16f(1) language-course visa and the section 17 study-place-search visa.
Can you work full time on the Chancenkarte?
No. The Act permits an average of at most 20 hours a week, plus trial employment of up to two weeks at a time. Full-time work requires converting to a work permit once you have a qualified offer.
The Other Routes
Not the right one? Compare every route.