Updated on May 2, 2026
Apply for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
With the Opportunity Card, you can legally search for a job in Germany for up to one year.
At a glance
How do you apply for an Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) for job search in Germany?
You would like to look for work in Germany? Then you can apply for an Opportunity Card. The authority decides on a case-by-case basis whether you receive it. The Opportunity Card is a residence permit (Job Search Opportunity Card, Such-Chancenkarte) and is normally valid for one year. You can also use it to prepare for starting a business.
With a Job Search Opportunity Card, you may work up to 20 hours per week. You may also do trial employment — but no longer than two weeks at a time. A trial employment is permitted if it is qualified employment. It is also permitted if it aims at vocational training. Or if it fits a measure for the recognition of your foreign professional qualification. Self-employed activity is not permitted with the Job Search Opportunity Card. As soon as you meet all the requirements, you can switch to another residence title at any time.
For the Opportunity Card, you need the following requirements. You must have your primary residence in Berlin. A secondary residence is not enough. You must have either entered with a national D-visa for job search or already hold a residence permit for employment or an EU Blue Card. After visa-free entry, you cannot obtain a Job Search Opportunity Card. You must also be able to secure your living expenses — through your own income, savings, or financial support from others. You also need health insurance in Germany. Foreign health insurance is generally not sufficient. Even fines can result in you not receiving the permit. During an ongoing investigation, the authority does not process your application.
This is how the procedure works. Submit the online application "Temporary residence title for employment". Prepare all documents as PDFs — individual files may be a maximum of 7 MB and not more than 100 MB in total. You can also photograph documents with your smartphone and upload them (permitted formats: PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG). Pay the processing fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or PayPal. You then receive a PDF confirmation. This shows that your previous residence title remains valid — even after the previous expiration date. However, this does not apply if you only have a Schengen visa (C-visa) or your residence title had already expired on the day of the application. Be sure to save and print this confirmation. The State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung, LEA) will then contact you by email as soon as possible. Therefore, also regularly check your spam folder.
Note: You have completed your studies, vocational training, professional recognition, or research activity in Germany and now want to look for work? Then the "Residence permit for job search after a stay in the federal territory" is more suitable for you. It is normally valid for 18 months and allows you any gainful employment — including self-employed activity. Note: Are your spouse or your child living with you in Berlin and need a residence permit? Enter them directly in your online application. Do not submit a separate application for them. The LEA will then contact you regarding their residence permits.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You would like to look for qualified work in Germany or prepare to start a business and have either entered with a national D-visa for job search or already hold a residence permit for employment under § 18a, 18b, 18d, 18f, or 18g of the Residence Act (AufenthG) or an EU Blue Card. After visa-free entry, you cannot obtain the Opportunity Card.
- You have no entry that endangers public security: even fines can prevent the issuance. During an ongoing investigation, your application may not be processed. You must not pose a threat to the free democratic basic order or the security of Germany and must neither use violence to pursue political or religious goals nor publicly call for it or threaten it.
Additional requirements
- You must have your primary residence in Berlin — a secondary residence is not enough.
- You must be able to secure your own living expenses: through your own income, sufficient reserves, or financial support from third parties. You also need health insurance in Germany — either statutory or comparable private. Foreign health insurance is generally not sufficient.
- You need a current email address, as the State Office for Immigration uses it to contact you. Also regularly check your spam folder. For online application, you must agree to the electronic payment procedure — you can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal.
How to apply
You can only submit the application for the issuance of the residence permit as a Job Search Opportunity Card online — be sure to save the PDF document that you receive as confirmation and, if possible, also print it.
Color passport copies of the data pages (with photo and personal data)
Copy of your current residence title (visa, residence permit, or EU Blue Card)
Proof of your residence: registration confirmation or move-in confirmation from the landlord
Proof of size and costs of the living space: rental contract (without house rules and other attachments) and proof of the current monthly costs (warm rent), for example bank statements
Proof of your living expenses, for example informative bank statements, salary statements, or scholarship
Proof of your health insurance: for statutory health insurance the electronic health card (copy of front and back) or a current confirmation from the health insurance provider; for private health insurance a certificate from the insurer about the scope and costs of the insurance (point out to your insurer that you need the certificate for a residence title for gainful employment)
Issuance after entry with a national D-visa and issuance as a label
- Issuance after entry with a national D-visa and issuance as an electronic residence title100,00 EUR
- Switch from a residence title for employment and issuance as a label54,00 EUR
- Switch from a residence title for employment and issuance as an electronic residence title98,00 EUR
- Turkish nationals up to the age of 24 — issuance after entry or switch from another residence title27,60 EUR
- Turkish nationals from the age of 24 — issuance after entry or switch from another residence title46,00 EUR
- Creation of a digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site (additional)6,00 EUR
Good to know
With a search Chancenkarte (opportunity card), you cannot receive a settlement permit. This is only possible with a follow-up Chancenkarte. You must meet the general requirements for this.
Aus einem Aufenthalt unmittelbar aufgrund einer Such-Chancenkarte heraus kann nicht in eine Niederlassungserlaubnis gewechselt werden. Der Ausschluss gilt allerdings nicht für § 20a Absatz 5 Satz 2, sodass Inhaber einer Folge-Chancenkarte bei Vorliegen der Voraussetzungen eine Niederlassungserlaubnis erhalten können.
VAB A.20a, S. 242-245
If you apply for a follow-up Chancenkarte (opportunity card), you may continue to work. The Fiktionswirkung (continuation effect) protects you until the decision is made. However, you may only carry out the intended employment.
Nach Satz 4 gilt die Fiktionswirkung des § 81 Absatz 4 für die Verlängerung als Folge-Chancenkarte und die zukünftige Beschäftigung bis zur Entscheidung darüber mit der Maßgabe, dass nur die Ausübung der angestrebten Beschäftigung nach Absatz 5 Satz 2 erlaubt ist.
VAB A.20a, S. 242-245
You can switch between different types of trial employment. This also applies with the same employer. You are not limited to one type.
Zwischen verschiedenen Arten der Probebeschäftigung kann, auch bei einem Arbeitgeber, innerhalb desselben Aufenthalts gewechselt werden.
VAB A.20a, S. 242-245
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Apply for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment. An Opportunity Card as a sticker can be issued on site at the appointment. If issued as an electronic residence title (eAT), it takes 4 to 6 weeks until it can be collected.
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