The Opportunity Card, also known as the "Chancenkarte," is a program by the German government designed to facilitate the entry of skilled workers from non-EU countries. It gives you the opportunity to move to Germany to look for work in your field of qualification for 20 months without a need for things like a blocked account, sponsorship letter, or invitation. The perks and more details of this program are as follows.

Entry without Permanent Employment Contract: Unlike traditional visa programs, this program allows you to enter Germany without having a pre-arranged permanent employment contract. This opens up opportunities to explore the German job market firsthand.

Criteria for Eligibility: To qualify for the Opportunity Card, you must meet specific criteria, including having at least two years of vocational training or a university degree recognized in your home country. Additionally, you need to demonstrate proficiency in either German (A1 level) or English (B2 level) and prove financial stability to support yourself during your stay, more on this later.

Points System: Candidates are evaluated based on a points system. You need to score at least six points to be eligible. These Points are awarded for various factors such as language proficiency, professional experience, age, and previous connections to Germany.

Duration of Stay: For People who qualify for the Opportunity Card, you will be allowed to stay in Germany for one year ie 12 months, at first, with the possibility of extending your stay for up to two additional years, i.e. 24 more months. During this time, your focus must be on finding suitable employment.

Work Permits: With the Opportunity Card, you are permitted to work in Germany for up to 20 hours per week, in jobs unrelated to your field, as you continue to look for a job in your field. This allows you to gain practical experience and explore potential career opportunities in the German job market. With this permit, you may not need to present proof of financial stability upfront, as stated previously. There will be a portal opened when this program officially kicks off in the next few weeks, to help you apply for these 20-hour-a-week jobs, to help you finance your stay in Germany while you search for a job. With a job offer through this portal, you won't have to provide proof of financial stability upfront.

Path to Permanent Residence: While the Opportunity Card itself is a temporary residence permit, it can pave the way for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Germany. Successful integration into the workforce and meeting certain criteria may lead to permanent residency.

Simplified Entry and Job Search Procedures: The Opportunity Card streamlines the entry process for you as a skilled worker from a non-EU country, making it easier to enter Germany and seek employment. It eliminates the need for lengthy approval procedures and allows you to start looking for jobs immediately upon arrival. Literally, the next day after your arrival.

One question that may be on your mind is, How does the transition from the Opportunity Card to a permanent residence permit work?
You have to apply for another permit or for a permanent residence title in Germany at the local Foreigners’ Registration Office. You can change from the Opportunity Card to a follow-up residence title if you meet the criteria for the other residence titles. This could be language skills or specialist knowledge in your profession. If you have found a part-time or full-time job in Germany via the Opportunity Card, this counts as a criterion for extending your stay in Germany. Changing to a residence title for regular employment is uncomplicated.

Questions like the one above and many more are available on the Official Chancekarte website. https://chancenkarte.com/de/

Everyone is welcome to contribute to this thread and provide any information that maybe helpful to others, about applying to this program, what the job market in Germany is like, and general living in Germany as a black immigrant. Good luck to everybody.

Same people that were fiercely against immigrants in the 80s, 90s etc now begging immigrants to come. They have now realized that a lot of old people are retiring today and the government does have not enough to pay for their social security and they are desperate to bring in people who will work and from the tax pool the government will continue paying social security in order to avoid crisis in their country

rinzaugustine:
Same people that were fiercely against immigrants in the 80s, 90s etc now begging immigrants to come. They have now realized that a lot of old people are retiring today and the government does have not enough to pay for their social security and they are desperate to bring in people who will work and from the tax pool the government will continue paying social security in order to avoid crisis in their country

i think it's more about the political outlook of the world changing, and countries generally opening up due to globalization. Germany unlike Japan doesn't necessarily have a serious fertility crisis. But nevertheless, this is actually a great opportunity, and they're open and willing to accept migrants. They're also doing their best to pass laws to make things easier for immigrants from simplifying paths to permanent residency and citizenship, to making it easier for top tech talents to come to Germany and start businessess.

Dutch2:
The Opportunity Card, also known as the "Chancenkarte," is a program by the German government designed to facilitate the entry of skilled workers from non-EU countries. It gives you the opportunity to move to Germany to look for work in your field of qualification for 20 months without a need for things like a blocked account, sponsorship letter, or invitation. The perks and more details of this program are as follows.

Entry without Permanent Employment Contract: Unlike traditional visa programs, this program allows you to enter Germany without having a pre-arranged permanent employment contract. This opens up opportunities to explore the German job market firsthand.

Criteria for Eligibility: To qualify for the Opportunity Card, you must meet specific criteria, including having at least two years of vocational training or a university degree recognized in your home country. Additionally, you need to demonstrate proficiency in either German (A1 level) or English (B2 level) and prove financial stability to support yourself during your stay, more on this later.

Points System: Candidates are evaluated based on a points system. You need to score at least six points to be eligible. These Points are awarded for various factors such as language proficiency, professional experience, age, and previous connections to Germany.

Duration of Stay: For People who qualify for the Opportunity Card, you will be allowed to stay in Germany for one year ie 12 months, at first, with the possibility of extending your stay for up to two additional years, i.e. 24 more months. During this time, your focus must be on finding suitable employment.

Work Permits: With the Opportunity Card, you are permitted to work in Germany for up to 20 hours per week, in jobs unrelated to your field, as you continue to look for a job in your field. This allows you to gain practical experience and explore potential career opportunities in the German job market. With this permit, you may not need to present proof of financial stability upfront, as stated previously. There will be a portal opened when this program officially kicks off in the next few weeks, to help you apply for these 20-hour-a-week jobs, to help you finance your stay in Germany while you search for a job. With a job offer through this portal, you won't have to provide proof of financial stability upfront.

Path to Permanent Residence: While the Opportunity Card itself is a temporary residence permit, it can pave the way for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Germany. Successful integration into the workforce and meeting certain criteria may lead to permanent residency.

Simplified Entry and Job Search Procedures: The Opportunity Card streamlines the entry process for you as a skilled worker from a non-EU country, making it easier to enter Germany and seek employment. It eliminates the need for lengthy approval procedures and allows you to start looking for jobs immediately upon arrival. Literally, the next day after your arrival.

One question that may be on your mind is, How does the transition from the Opportunity Card to a permanent residence permit work?
You have to apply for another permit or for a permanent residence title in Germany at the local Foreigners’ Registration Office. You can change from the Opportunity Card to a follow-up residence title if you meet the criteria for the other residence titles. This could be language skills or specialist knowledge in your profession. If you have found a part-time or full-time job in Germany via the Opportunity Card, this counts as a criterion for extending your stay in Germany. Changing to a residence title for regular employment is uncomplicated.

Questions like the one above and many more are available on the Official Chancekarte website. https://chancenkarte.com/de/

Everyone is welcome to contribute to this thread and provide any information that maybe helpful to others, about applying to this program, what the job market in Germany is like, and general living in Germany as a black immigrant. Good luck to everybody.

So they have finally started this, announced it since 2022. I'm interested, na to write IELTS or TOEFL and wait till June when it will open.
This 5 years experience sha

Thane:



So they have finally started this, announced it since 2022. I'm interested, na to write IELTS or TOEFL and wait till June when it will open.
This 5 years experience sha

Yes, they have. You may not need to write TOEFL, since you're Nigerian.

Dutch2:


Yes, they have. You may not need to write TOEFL, since you're Nigerian.

i checked their conditions, be like say na must o. I want to email them to see if it can be waived for nigerians

Thane:


i checked their conditions, be like say na must o. I want to email them to see if it can be waived for nigerians

The only alternative to IELTS 6 band for chancekarte is for you to pass at A1 German language exams, so its either for you to get language proficiency points.

nuruoniwo:

The only alternative to IELTS 6 band for chancekarte is for you to pass at A1 German language exams, so its either for you to get language proficiency points.

its easier for you to simply write ielts then

Finger crossed...

I mailed both Abuja and lagos about the english test waiver but na only abuja replied that it is the responsibility of lagos not them, lagos is yet to respond till now.
I messaged chancekarte directly but no reply yet too.

They just replied.
no waiver

Thane:
They just replied.
no waiver

hmmmm, that's not so great. why require such tests from everyone? Now I understand why my friends who visited or studies in Germany complained about the bureaucracy and unnecessarily rigid way things are done.

English is not even the main language of communication there, unless you're living in places like Berlin, in the tech community which is mostly foreigners. Requiring IELTS from Americans, Brits, Nigerians and other English Speakers is funny.

Dutch2:


hmmmm, that's not so great. why require such tests from everyone? Now I understand why my friends who visited or studies in Germany complained about the bureaucracy and unnecessarily rigid way things are done.

English is not even the main language of communication there, unless you're living in places like Berlin, in the tech community which is mostly foreigners. Requiring IELTS from Americans, Brits, Nigerians and other English Speakers is funny.

well, what we can do. So its to write ielts like this, i dont even know how much is it and if people are interesrted in it

Thane:
They just replied.
no waiver

What about a letter of English proficiency from your school? Will that work?

ihavesense:

What about a letter of English proficiency from your school? Will that work?

I don't think that'd work. According to the email, they want an IELTS evaluation, even for Americans and Brits

Has the opportunity card visa application started? I thought they are starting it in June, 2024?

Dutch2:


I don't think that'd work. According to the email, they want an IELTS evaluation, even for Americans and Brits

This opportunity card is great and I have been following it up since last year but I'm not sure I v a full graps on it.

What is likely the easiest route?


With someone with

1.Bsc in Engineering
2.Iiw( diploma cert in international institute of welding)
3.Autocad certification.

Other certification are there too

Like in 15 certifications in health care services like for carer.

I'm looking at what you guys think on this and which way forward.

I'm doing IELTS by June tho so with that, is it to apply directly for this opportunity card visa or there is a certain route?


And importantly, how much is needed as POF in the bank account?

I'm following too

peleson1:


This opportunity card is great and I have been following it up since last year but I'm not sure I v a full graps on it.

What is likely the easiest route?


With someone with

1.Bsc in Engineering
2.Iiw( diploma cert in international institute of welding)
3.Autocad certification.

Other certification are there too

Like in 15 certifications in health care services like for carer.

I'm looking at what you guys think on this and which way forward.

I'm doing IELTS by June tho so with that, is it to apply directly for this opportunity card visa or there is a certain route?


And importantly, how much is needed as POF in the bank account?

Thane:
They just replied.
no waiver

Need to speak with you. Will send you a dm

dyydxx:


Need to speak with you. Will send you a dm

I got notification from nairaland, I don't know why Seun is yet to implement a dm feature on this site. A very simple process, nawa

peleson1:


This opportunity card is great and I have been following it up since last year but I'm not sure I v a full graps on it.

What is likely the easiest route?


With someone with

1.Bsc in Engineering
2.Iiw( diploma cert in international institute of welding)
3.Autocad certification.

Other certification are there too

Like in 15 certifications in health care services like for carer.

I'm looking at what you guys think on this and which way forward.

I'm doing IELTS by June tho so with that, is it to apply directly for this opportunity card visa or there is a certain route?


And importantly, how much is needed as POF in the bank account?

Nice profile, me too I'm looking at the ielts but an funds be the issue.
POF is 11k+ euros, and its block account? either you get a minimum wage job when they open the job portal or you show POF of 11k