Chancenkarte for Indians: 3 profiles scored, and the €13,092 you need

Priya is 28. She has a three-year BCA degree and four years of work as a software developer in Bengaluru. Her degree may not get full recognition in Germany, so she can't skip the points test. She scores exactly 6 points, and 6 is the minimum.

Priya is an example, not a real person. So are the two other profiles below. I made them up to show how the Chancenkarte works for Indian applicants.

The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) is a residence permit. It lets you live in Germany for up to 12 months and look for a job. It replaces the old six-month jobseeker visa. All figures here are as of 2026.

Do you need the points system at all?

Maybe not. Check this first, because it can save you a lot of effort.

If your Indian degree is fully recognised in Germany, you skip the points. You count directly as a skilled worker. An example is a B.Tech or Master's degree from a university rated H+ on Anabin, as long as the degree matches a German one. Anabin is the German database that rates foreign universities and degrees.

The points system is for everyone else. It helps most if you have a three-year degree such as BCA, B.Sc or B.Com, or a diploma. These often don't get full equivalence straight away.

How does the Chancenkarte points system work?

First, you must meet three basic requirements. Points only matter after that.

• A degree or vocational qualification that needed at least 2 years of training, and that is recognised in India.
• German at A1 level (beginner), or English at B2 level (upper intermediate).
• Proof that you can pay for your stay.

Then you need at least 6 points out of a possible 14. Here is how the points are given.

Two details that catch people out

First, the work experience must match your qualification. Four years in sales will not count for an engineering degree.

Second, you need an official language certificate. Use IELTS for English or the Goethe-Zertifikat for German. A letter from your college saying classes were in English is generally not accepted.

Three Indian profiles, scored

Here are the three profiles side by side. Below the table, I explain each one.

Priya: software developer

Priya gets 2 points for age and 2 for experience. She has worked four years in the last five, so she fits the band of 2 or more years. Her IELTS score shows English C1, which adds 1 point. Software development is a shortage occupation, so she gets 1 more.

That makes 6. She passes, with no spare points. Her IELTS certificate does two jobs. It meets the language requirement, and it earns her a point.

Rahul: engineering diploma holder

Rahul is 37. He has a mechanical engineering diploma and 12 years of work in a factory. He is in the 35 to 39 age group, so he gets only 1 point for age. His long experience helps. He has more than 5 years of matching work in the last 7, so he gets 3 points.

He holds a Goethe certificate at A2. That meets the A1 requirement and adds 1 point. Engineering is a shortage occupation, so he gets 1 more. His total is 6.

He can also give himself a safety margin. German B1 gives 2 points instead of 1. If he passes B1 before he applies, he moves to 7.

Neha: accountant

Neha is 36. She has a B.Com and 8 years of work in accounting. She gets 1 point for age and 3 for experience. Her English is B2 on IELTS. That meets the language requirement, but B2 English earns no points. Only C1 does.

I scored accounting as 0 for shortage occupation, because it is not one of the examples (IT, engineering, healthcare). Check the official FAQ for your own job. Neha's total is 4, so she doesn't qualify yet.

The fix is German. B1 gives 2 points, which takes her to 6. German A2 gives only 1 point, so she would stay at 5. A spouse who applies with her adds 1 point, but only if the spouse is also eligible for the card.

My view: if you are one or two points short, German is usually the cheapest fix. You can't change your age or your past work. You can change your language level.

How much money do you need to show for the Chancenkarte?

You must show €1,091 net per month. Net means the money you keep after tax. For a 12-month card, that comes to €13,092.

Most people use a blocked account (Sperrkonto). It is a special German bank account, and you put the money in before you apply. Providers include Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle.

There are two other ways to show the money.

• A Verpflichtungserklärung. This is a formal letter where a person living in Germany promises to cover your costs.
• A part-time job contract that you signed in advance and that covers the amount.

For most of us, the blocked account is the simplest. The letter needs someone in Germany who is ready to make that promise. A job contract before you arrive is hard to get.

Can you work part-time on the Chancenkarte?

Yes. This is the biggest change from the old jobseeker visa. That visa lasted six months and did not allow any part-time work.

With the Chancenkarte, you can work up to 20 hours a week in any job. Delivery, retail and hospitality are all fine. The job does not need to match your degree.

You can also do Probearbeit (trial work) for employers. There is no limit on how many two-week trials you can do. They help both sides. A company sees how you work, and you see if you want the job.

Use the 20 hours to support yourself, not to replace your job search. Keep the other days for applications and interviews.

What happens when you find a job?

There are two possible paths.

First, the job may qualify for a standard work visa, like the EU Blue Card or the Skilled Worker Visa. Then you switch your permit at your local Ausländerbehörde (the foreigners' office). You don't need to go back to India. Our post on the 2026 Blue Card salary thresholds shows which pay level applies to you.

Second, the job may be a qualified one that doesn't meet the standard visa thresholds yet. Then you can apply for a Folge-Chancenkarte. This extends the card for up to 2 more years.

What should you do first?

1. Search your university and degree on Anabin. See if you are H+ and fully equivalent. If yes, you may skip the points.
2. Count your points with the table above. Then compare with the official Make it in Germany FAQ.
3. Book an official language test, IELTS or Goethe, before you apply.
4. Open a blocked account with Expatrio, Fintiba or Coracle. Deposit €13,092.
5. Apply through the Consular Services Portal or VFS Global (the visa application centre) for the German missions in India. Read the visa checklist first. The main overview is on the Make it in Germany Opportunity Card page.

Do step 1 this week. It costs nothing, and it tells you whether you need the points system at all.

Cover photo: Christina Morillo on Pexels