Opportunity Card: Pros and Cons

Last week I made a survey: The most voted result was “How to think about the Job Seeker Visa”

Also known as the “Opportunity Card”, or “Chancenkarte” in German. 

I will lay out the pros and cons for you here.

PROS: ✅

• You can come without getting a job beforehand
• You don’t need a University degree as long as you have qualified experience
• Regulations around this visa are becoming lighter
• You’re able to interview on-site and shake hands
• Networking

CONS: ❌

• You must show proof that you have money saved up in your bank ****(€13,092 for 2025)
• It puts you on a time clock. Could be a good pressure for some, bad for others.
• You don’t feel completely settled until the job is secured.
• Rent, cost of living, all the rest need to be paid, while you are job searching and not working full-time.
• Could take up to 1 month for someone to send you a contract after you get the verbal job offer.

Conclusion: The main aspect is the time constraint & large financial investment with no guarantee of a job.

By getting 1 year, or up to 18 months if you’re graduating from masters, you have to be ready to be successful in a shorter time frame.

My tip: If you are eligible, thinking of going for it, and you aren’t currently in a German masters program… it’s best to make as many connections as you can with managers before you move to Germany.

When you land in Germany, you should already have some warm connections. Otherwise, the pressure can mount on you if you do not have a job and your time is running out. You should already be into conversations before you travel.

Here is what I told Südwest Presse when they asked my opinion on the Chancenkarte progress:

“It’s a nice option, being able to shake hands and talk to someone in real life builds more trust than zoom interviews. I would gladly work with someone who comes to Germany on the Chancenkarte because I already know they are qualified, and we can setup in-person meetings. Trust and reliability are two of the most important traits that need to be showcased. Trust: to be let into the company, reliability: to prove you can learn the language, and do the job well enough to pass probation. Both of those increase in a candidate when they have shown the commitment to coming to Germany using their own savings, and being on-site in interviews.” 

One story from a past client of mine:

She put off her serious job search until the last minute. She joined the spring Expats Job Miracle program late.

Even though she had some interviews, at the time we were also facing another challenge.

We had to discuss with the authorities about getting her a visa extension since she was enrolled in the Expats Job Miracle until July. At least we could point to 11 years of people finding their first job in Germany from Immigrant Spirit. In the end, she received three extensions and later found a job!

In the case of running out of time, you leave the authorities with a tough choice about whether to give you an extension. It is certainly not normal to get more than 1 extension. 

Make sure you plan accordingly if you decide the Chancenkarte is for you.