The Opportunity Card visa allows non-EU citizens to stay in Germany for one year to seek full-time employment, with benefits over the former job seeker visa such as longer duration and part-time work allowance. Applicants must meet criteria like vocational training, language proficiency, a blocked bank account, and health insurance. For health coverage, expat health insurance is recommended for those without employment, with a transition option to public or private insurance upon starting a job. Those with an employment offer should use expat health insurance initially and then switch accordingly. Additional visa application guidance is available in the linked resources.
What is the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) visa in Germany?
The Opportunity Card visa allows non-EU citizens to stay in Germany for one year to search for full-time employment. If an applicant secures a suitable full-time job during this time, they can apply for a residence permit.
How does the Opportunity Card visa differ from the former job seeker visa?
The Opportunity Card visa differs mainly in two ways:
It is valid for one year instead of six months.
It permits part-time or mini jobs up to 20 hours per week while searching for full-time employment, which was not allowed under the job seeker visa.
What are the general eligibility requirements for the Opportunity Card visa?
Applicants must satisfy several requirements, including:
Having two years of vocational training or a university degree.
Possessing basic German language skills (A1 level) or English language proficiency (B2 level).
Maintaining a blocked bank account.
Having health insurance coverage.
Submitting a completed visa application form.
For the complete list of requirements, applicants can refer to the official government page linked in the original article.
Which health insurance should I obtain for the Opportunity Card visa?
Health insurance requirements depend on whether the applicant has a job offer:
If you do not have employment yet:
Obtain expat health insurance coverage to meet visa requirements.
After arriving in Germany and securing employment, you can switch to public or private health insurance through our switching service.
Contact our support team to obtain any additional documents needed for the visa application.
If you have an employment offer:
Initially obtain expat health insurance to cover the period before your employment starts.
Simultaneously apply for public health insurance if your salary is below €77,400 per year or private health insurance if above this threshold.
Use our switching service to transition smoothly from expat health insurance to public or private coverage.
Where can I find more detailed information about applying for the Opportunity Card visa?
A detailed step-by-step guide to the Opportunity Card visa application process is available in the Feather Insurance blog post linked in the original article.
Who can I contact if I have further questions about the Opportunity Card visa or health insurance?
For additional support and questions, applicants can contact our support team.