Applying for the Opportunity Card from Pakistan is possible through the embassy of Germany by paying €75. This visa is a residence permit for job search also called a “Chancen Karte” in German.
According to the new German Skilled Immigration Act, an opportunity card has been introduced for non-EU nationals to come to Germany with a job offer in an easier and faster way possible. This visa route is effective from 1 June 2024 and applicants from all non-EU countries can apply for it as well as the Pakistanis.
Benefits of Opportunity Card
- This is a one-year duration visa that can also be extended for up to 2 more years;
- Once you get this visa status, you move to Germany find a relevant qualified job, and then convert it to a residence permit;
- The opportunity card can be applied without a job offer from Germany;
- The visa does not require you to have a recognized qualification from Germany;
- You can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) in Germany through this visa while you search for a relevant job;
- You can also apply for it with your spouse.
Who can apply for the Opportunity Card?
There are 2 steps that you have to follow to understand the eligibility process. The first eligibility factor is the general requirements which must be met by all. In the next step, you have to decide if you apply directly or indirectly depending on your qualification:
General Requirements (mandatory)
To meet the requirements for the Opportunity Card, you must fulfill the first main criteria. This means you:
- Possess a university degree (whether recognized in Germany or not) or a vocational qualification that involves at least two years of training;
- Demonstrate English proficiency at the B2 level or German proficiency at the A1 level, verified by a test certificate;
- Prove you can financially sustain yourself in Germany for 12 months by showing:
- €11,208 per person in a blocked account; or
- a “Statement of Declaration” (verpflichtungserklärung) which means a person in Germany can bear the cost of living for you. In this case, that person should be working full-time and earning enough money to be your financial sponsor.
- a part-time job offer from Germany in whatever field.
Once you fulfill above mentioned requirements, you have to decide to apply for the opportunity card through one of the following ways:
a) Direct Application Requirements
You can apply directly without having to use the points-based system for the opportunity card if you:
- have a qualification (a degree or a vocational qualification) that is fully recognized from Germany. This gives you the status of a recognized skilled worker:
- have completed a degree from a German university.
b) Indirect Application through Points Based System Requirements
If you do not have your qualification recognized by Germany, you can still apply under the points-based system. You have to score 6 points and fulfill financial requirements to be eligible. The points are scored through qualification, age, work experience, spouse qualification, language proficiency, and ties to Germany.
Opportunity Card Points Based System
You can check through the following table if you qualify for this visa program by scoring 6 points minimum.
Partial recognition of Qualification
| Qualification | Points |
| *You have applied for the qualification recognition and got partial recognition | 4 |
| **You have a qualification for a regulated profession and you are required to participate in compensatory measures before obtaining a license to practice your profession | 4 |
**If you have completed a vocational qualification, to have it evaluated from Germany, you need to check this page of KMK.
Qualification from Bottleneck occupations (shortage occupations list)
| Qualification | Points |
| If your formal qualification is from Bottleneck occupations list | 1 |
Work Experience
| Work experience | Points |
| If you have professional work experience of 2 years in connection to your formal qualification (within the last 5 years) | 2 |
| If you have professional work experience of 5 years in connection to your formal qualification (within the last 7 years) | 3 |
Age
| Condition | Points |
| Under 35 | 2 |
| Between 35 and 40 | 1 |
Language skills
| Language Skills | Points |
| *German proficiency at CEFR A2 | 1 |
| German proficiency at CEFR B1 | 2 |
| German proficiency at CEFR B2 | 3 |
| **English proficiency at CEFR C1 or you are a native English speaker | 1 |
**Acceptable English language tests are IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge English Certificate.
Points for spouse skills
| Relation | Points |
| Your partner or Spouse wants to come to Germany with you and they also score 6 points for the opportunity card, then you get an extra point for this eligibility. | 1 |
Ties to Germany
| Previous Stays in German | Points |
| If you have stayed in a continuous period of 6 months in the last 5 years in Germany, you can be awarded an extra point. The stays can be for work or study purposes. Tourism or meeting family purposes do not qualify for this eligibility. | 1 |
Determine your score through the Opportunity Card Calculator
Opportunity Card Points Calculator
Where to apply for the opportunity card in Pakistan?
There are two ways the opportunity card visa application can be submitted in Pakistan:
- directly online through the official portal of the German government at “Counselor Service Portal”; and or
- at the German Embassy (if you are applying from KPK, GB, AJK, or Punjab provinces and at the German Karachi Consulate (if you are applying from Sindh or Balochistan provinces).
Surely, you need to get an appointment first to apply for the opportunity card.
How to apply for the Opportunity Card in Pakistan?
To apply for this visa in Pakistan, you should follow the following steps:
Step 1- Prepare the required documents
You must prepare the following document to be included with your visa application:
- Ensure your passport-sized photograph meets the specific requirements outlined here;
- Have a valid passport ready for submission (validity should be beyond visa expiry);
- Present documentation verifying your university degree or vocational qualification, with at least two years of vocational training, supported by appropriate evidence;
- Provide a language proficiency certificate demonstrating English proficiency at CEFR level B2 or German proficiency at CEFR level A1;
- For additional points, showcase proficiency in German at CEFR level A2 to B2 or English at CEFR level C1;
- Optionally, provide proof of previous residency in Germany for a minimum of six months, earning you an additional point, excluding tourist stays as evidence;
- Demonstrate financial capability either through a blocked bank account holding a minimum of €1,027 net per month or through a “State of Declaration” (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a full-time employed sponsor in Germany with sufficient financial means;
- If applying with a spouse, include their relevant documents;
- provide proof of your work experience of two to five years with a confirmation letter from your current or former employer;
- Ensure you possess valid health insurance from authorized companies in Pakistan (list can be found here); and
- Include either a vocational training report from ZAB Germany or proof of university degree qualification in your application package.
Step 2- Fill Application
You must fill in the visa form to submit it with your supporting documents to the embassy or consulate. The visa application forms for all German visas are online and can be accessed here. You should fill it in on your PC, and print and sign it. You will also get a barcode page after printing it, it is mandatory to attach it to your visa application.
Step 3- Get Appointment
The opportunity card application must be submitted by getting an appointment from the German embassy in Islamabad or the German Consulate in Karachi depending on where you live:
| German Embassy Islamabad | German Consulate Karachi |
| Applicants from Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit- Baltistan, or Azad Jammu and Kashmir should get an appointment from the German embassy in Islamabad from this page. | Applicants from Sindh or Balochistan should get an appointment from the German Consulate Karachi from this page. |
Step 4- Submit the Opportunity Card Application
On the given day, you must be present in the German mission to submit your opportunity card application. As a part of the visa application, you can be asked questions in the form of an informal interview, in which you must answer about your details and where you would stay in Germany.
After submitting the opportunity card application, you can decide if you want to have your passport returned through courier services. This would cost extra.
You will have to pay the embassy fee in PKR currency. In Euros, it is €75 for the opportunity card for one applicant. For children below 17 age, a fee of €37.84 is charged.
Please read the following information about reaching the German missions on the appointment day.
German Embassy Islamabad: The German Embassy is situated within Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave. Visitors are required to use the Diplomatic Shuttle, which departs from 3rd Avenue on Quaid-e-Azam University Road, to reach the Embassy. This shuttle service is operated by a private company, and their rates may change without prior notice. The visa sections are accessible exclusively during official working hours. Additionally, there is no parking available near the Embassy’s Consular section.
German Consulate Karachi: The Consulate General in Karachi is situated in the Clifton area, close to the Szabist University campus. Although there is no parking directly in front of the Consulate, parking is typically available on the nearby streets.
Step 5- Opportunity Card Approval
Once the embassy processes your application and finds all requirements met, you will be granted the opportunity card visa status of one year. You can travel to Germany on this visa from the first starting day.