All guides · Part of: The Opportunity Card guide
Many older articles and agents still talk about a German "job seeker visa". If you are applying from Pakistan or India, the current law has one route for that purpose, and it is the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte).
What "job seeker visa" means today
The job-search permit in § 20 of the Residence Act now covers only people who are already in Germany: after finishing a degree, research, vocational training or a recognition measure here. Graduates of a German university get up to 18 months to find a job, if they can support themselves. Source: § 20 AufenthG · checked 7 Nov 2026
For people coming from abroad, the German missions in Pakistan list the Opportunity Card under "Jobseeker"; their page is titled "Opportunity Card (Jobseeking)". There is no separate job-seeker visa to apply for. Source: pakistan.diplo.de · checked 7 Nov 2026
The routes side by side
| Route | Who it is for | How long | Work allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opportunity Card (§ 20a) | Applicants from abroad: a fully recognised qualification, or at least 6 points plus German A1 or English B2 | Up to 12 months | On average up to 20 hours a week, plus trial work of up to two weeks per job |
| Job search after a stay in Germany (§ 20) | Graduates and trainees of German institutions, people who completed recognition here | Up to 18 months | Not covered in this guide; ask your foreigners office |
| Skilled worker permit (§ 18b) or EU Blue Card (§ 18g) | Anyone with a recognised degree and a qualified job offer | Up to 4 years | The job you were hired for |
Source: § 20a AufenthG · checked 7 Nov 2026 Source: § 20 AufenthG · checked 7 Nov 2026 Source: § 18 AufenthG · checked 7 Nov 2026
Two ways to qualify for the Opportunity Card
Skilled worker (Fachkraft). If your degree is fully recognised in Germany, you count as a skilled worker. You need no points and, according to the federal portal, no language certificate. You still need the money for your stay. Source: make-it-in-germany.com · checked 7 Nov 2026
Points. Otherwise you need all three of these:
- at least 6 points;
- a degree, or a vocational qualification of at least two years, that the issuing country recognises, confirmed by a German body (in practice anabin or ZAB);
- German A1 or English B2.
The full points table is on the Opportunity Card page. Source: § 20a(3)–(4) AufenthG · checked 7 Nov 2026
What happens when you find a job
You apply for a work permit, usually the EU Blue Card or a § 18b permit. If no work permit fits your job, a follow-up Opportunity Card (Folge-Chancenkarte) of up to 2 more years is possible. It needs a contract or binding offer for qualified work and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency, and you must apply for it while your first card is still valid. Source: § 20a(5) AufenthG · checked 7 Nov 2026
If you leave without a job, a new Opportunity Card is only possible after you have spent at least as long abroad, or in Germany on another permit, as you spent here on the last one. Source: § 20a(5) AufenthG · checked 7 Nov 2026
If you already have a job offer, skip it
The federal portal says it plainly: the Opportunity Card is not a requirement for coming to Germany. You can search from home and, with an offer of qualified work, apply for a work visa directly. Source: make-it-in-germany.com · checked 7 Nov 2026
For the EU Blue Card in 2026 the salary must be at least €50,700 a year, or €45,934.20 for engineers and other listed occupations and for recent graduates. Source: Bundesanzeiger · checked 6 Nov 2026 What engineers actually earn is in the civil engineer salary guide.
Applying from Pakistan? How the Opportunity Card application works in Islamabad and Karachi.
Related videos from Qaiser
This guide is written from official sources, not from one video. These videos (Urdu/Hindi) cover related questions.
- German Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) (YouTube)
Questions people ask
Is there still a job seeker visa for Germany?
Not as a separate visa for people applying from abroad. The Opportunity Card fills that role; the job-search permit in § 20 of the Residence Act is for people who graduated, trained or completed recognition in Germany.
How long can I stay in Germany on the Opportunity Card?
Up to 12 months. With a qualified job offer and the Federal Employment Agency's approval, a follow-up card of up to two more years is possible if no work permit fits.
Can I work on the Opportunity Card?
Yes, on average up to 20 hours a week, plus trial work of up to two weeks with each employer.
Do I need the Opportunity Card if I already have a job offer?
No. With an offer of qualified work you can apply for an EU Blue Card or a skilled-worker permit from home.
Official sources
- § 20a Residence Act (Opportunity Card)
- § 20 Residence Act (job search after a stay in Germany)
- Make it in Germany: Opportunity Card for jobseekers
- § 18g Residence Act (EU Blue Card)
Read next
- Opportunity Card from Pakistan: Islamabad or Karachi, and how to apply
- Civil engineer salary in Germany: the official figures
- Opportunity Card with a DAE or paramedical diploma
Questions about a video? Ask Qaiser in the comments on Instagram or YouTube.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change. Check the official source linked above; for your own case, the German mission decides.