The basic requirement is one:

• A university degree recognized in Anabin.
• If your diploma and specialization are listed in the system, you qualify and can begin preparing the rest of the visa documents. If not:

👉 The program uses a points-based system. You must score at least 6 points, which are awarded based on the following criteria:

• Recognition of your profession and qualifications in Germany
• Work experience
• Age
• Language skills
• Ties to Germany or previous residence in Germany
• Potential of your partner/spouse (age, education, language skills, work experience, etc.)

Thus, you either qualify directly through a relevant recognized degree or through the points system.

💡 Highly recommended: knowledge of the language — German (A1) or English (B2) — and the ability to present any certificate proving study or proficiency.

If you don’t have a university degree, you can still prove your professional skills through work experience. Previous or current employment contracts, diplomas from additional training, completed courses, certificates, awards, and other achievements are suitable. All documents must be collected from the last three years.
To obtain the Opportunity Card, you must collect a certain number of points. This requires meeting several conditions, including:

• Having a certain level of education (university degree)
• Having relevant work experience
• Having a certain level of German language proficiency
• Having specific ties to Germany

By fulfilling these conditions, you can reach the minimum score required for the Opportunity Card.
You can also earn points for additional criteria, such as:

• Work experience in certain sectors (e.g., IT, healthcare)
• Knowledge of certain languages (e.g., English, French)
• Participation in specific programs (e.g., student exchange programs)

📊 Points System 4 points for:
A recognized or partially recognized professional qualification
3 points for:

• At least five years of work experience (within the past seven years) after completing a qualification of at least two years
• German language proficiency at B2 level

2 points for:

• German language proficiency at B1 level
• Two years of work experience (within the past five years) after completing a qualification
• Being under 35 years old

1 point for:

• German language proficiency at A2 level
• Having lived in Germany for at least six months within the last five years (not for tourism)
• Being 35–40 years old
• Excellent English proficiency (C1 level)
• Having a partner/spouse who also meets the Opportunity Card criteria and applies together with you

You must provide confirmation of opening a blocked account in Germany with the amount of €1,027 per month. The funds are blocked, meaning you can only withdraw a fixed monthly amount of €1,027 for living expenses in Germany.
The total amount must cover the entire year: €13,902.
Alternative Option – Sponsorship Letter
If you have a relative or friend in Germany with a stable income, they can issue a sponsorship letter (Verpflichtungserklärung). This document is a legally binding commitment to cover all of your living expenses in Germany, including rent, insurance, and other costs.
Important for Visa Application
When submitting your visa application, only an official confirmation of account opening will be accepted, showing:

• the total amount deposited, and
• the monthly withdrawal limit.

Confirmations that do not clearly indicate these amounts are not sufficient.

Go to the ANABIN website
https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html

Select the “Hochschulabschlüsse” (Higher Education Degrees) section
Here you can search by the name of your university or by the name of your degree.

Check your university (Institutionen)

Find your university in the list.

You will see a status:

H+ — university is recognized in Germany ✅

H- — university is not recognized ❌

H+/- — some programs are recognized, others are not ⚠️

Check your degree (Abschlüsse)

Enter the name of your specialization or qualification.

You will also see a status:

entspricht — fully corresponds to a German degree ✅

gleichwertig — considered equivalent ✅

bedingt vergleichbar — partially comparable ⚠️ (may require additional confirmation)

Save proof

Make screenshots or save the page — this evidence is often required for your visa application.

The Opportunity Card is issued for up to one year. During this time, you can look for a job in Germany and sign employment contracts with German employers. If you find a job and conclude an employment contract, you can apply for another type of residence permit in Germany – for employment or a Blue Card. In some cases, you may be granted a temporary work permit.

✅If you do not find a job within a year, you can apply for an extension of the Opportunity Card, but only if you can prove that you actively searched for a job and achieved some progress in this regard. The Opportunity Card can only be extended once, and after that, you must leave Germany for one year before applying for it again.

✅During the validity of the Opportunity Card, you may work part-time for up to 20 hours per week to support yourself. However, if you find permanent employment, you must apply for another type of residence permit in Germany – for employment. This allows you not only to look for a job but also to adapt to life in Germany, thereby improving your chances of successful employment.

If you plan to move to Germany with family members under the Opportunity Card, you can initially only bring minor children with you. In order for a child to obtain a German visa and travel with you, you must provide proof of additional savings — an extra €500 per month per child.

✅If you have received the Opportunity Card and successfully found a job in Germany, you can obtain a German residence permit on the basis of employment. To do this, you must meet a number of conditions, including:

• Receiving a job offer from a German employer
• Obtaining approval for employment from the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit)
• Fulfilling the requirements for a residence permit for skilled workers (in accordance with §§18 ff of the German Residence Act)

✅Relocation of spouses under the German Opportunity Card is not possible, meaning that each adult applicant must apply for a visa individually, based on their own case.

Once the main applicant has found employment in Germany and obtained a German residence permit for work or a Blue Card, spouses can then join them under family reunification.