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Search for work while legally living in Germany.
You can attend interviews, build a local network and onboard faster because the search happens from inside the country, not from abroad.
Germany · one-year job search
Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Live in Germany for up to a year while you find qualifying employment, work part time during the search, then convert to a Blue Card or skilled-worker permit when the offer lands.
- €13,092blocked account
- 12 monthsto search from Germany
- 20 hourspart-time work each week
What the Opportunity Card gives you
Benefits of the Chancenkarte
The route moves the job search into Germany and gives you a defined year to turn a profile into qualifying employment.
Up to one year in Germany
The initial residence period gives you up to 12 months to find qualifying work.
Part-time work is allowed
Work up to 20 hours a week and use two-week full-time probation periods with potential employers.
A points route is available
Use a recognised qualification or reach at least six points from your profile.
Convert without leaving Germany
Once a qualifying offer is signed, move into the Blue Card or skilled-worker route in-country.
Choose by your starting position
Job search, employment or your own clients?
All three German routes can lead to residence. The right one depends on what you can prove today.
Best forEmployment on day oneMoney or salaryWork during the routeNext residence step
Opportunity CardBest forQualified people without an offerEmployment on day oneNot requiredMoney or salary€13,092 or €1,091 a monthWork during the routeUp to 20 hours a weekNext residence stepConvert when the offer is signed
EU Blue CardBest forQualified employeesEmployment on day oneGerman contract or payrollMoney or salary€50,700 or €45,934.20Work during the routeFull qualifying employmentNext residence stepPermanent residence from 21 months
Freelance VisaBest forRecognised freelance professionsEmployment on day oneNo employerMoney or salary€11,904 blocked accountWork during the routeWork for your own clientsNext residence stepPermanent residence from 3 years
We score the profile, test recognition and identify the quickest honest conversion route before the blocked account is funded.
How the points route works
Six points can come from the profile you already have.
We map the qualification, age, languages and German connection before deciding whether the points route or direct recognition is cleaner.
Start with your education or trade
A recognised degree or vocational qualification can open the direct route; the points route uses the qualification inside the score.
Age under 35 adds two points
Age is one factor, not a route by itself. We calculate it alongside the rest of the profile.
German and English add points
The live score uses German from A2 and English at C1, with the exact evidence checked before filing.
Previous residence or family can help
Prior German residence and a qualifying family connection each appear in the live points summary.
Searching from inside Germany
Why Germany is worth the year-long search
The live page pairs the Opportunity Card with a large skilled job market, established qualification checks and international business hubs.
A large skilled-job market
The live page highlights shortages in engineering, IT, healthcare and skilled trades.
A defined recognition process
Formal qualification matching gives the file a specific evidence path instead of a vague profile review.
Healthcare while resident
Residents enter the German health-insurance system, with the correct setup chosen for their situation.
International business hubs
Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg have international employers and English-speaking business communities.
Use the year to convert, not only to search. Every interview, qualification check and part-time role should move the file toward a qualifying work permit.
Fit check
The Opportunity Card fits a qualified profile without the job offer yet.
Use this first filter before paying for recognition, translations or the blocked account.
The Opportunity Card is worth checking if
- You have a recognised qualification or can reach at least six points
- You can show €13,092 in a blocked account or €1,091 a month
- You want to interview and onboard from inside Germany
- You expect to convert into a Blue Card or skilled-worker permit
Check another route if
- You already have a qualifying German employment contract
- Your own freelance clients are the real basis of the move
- The qualification cannot support either recognition or the points route
- You cannot fund the full one-year residence period
Evidence file
What your Opportunity Card file must prove
The score, the qualification and the money must all be documented before the consular file is assembled.
-
Qualification
Degree or vocational evidence and the formal recognition result where required
-
Points
Age, language, previous German residence and family-connection evidence used in the score
-
Funds
€13,092 in a blocked account, or the accepted €1,091 monthly alternative
-
Identity and background
Passport, civil documents, criminal-record certificate and required translations
-
Health insurance
Cover that meets the German requirement for the residence period
-
Arrival plan
Address registration and local residence-card steps after entering Germany
From points test to Blue Card conversion
How to get the Germany Chancenkartewith one case manager.
The six live-page stages move from the first score to the residence card, then into the Blue Card when the qualifying offer is signed.
- 1Relovisa
Score the profile
Before engagementWe map the qualification, age, languages and German connection and confirm whether six points are realistic.
- 2Relovisa + authority
Complete qualification recognition
Often 4 to 8 weeksWe prepare the recognition application and guide the applicant through the relevant German authority process.
- 3Relovisa + client
Prepare translations and funds
Before the consulateWe organise educational documents, translations, criminal-record, insurance and blocked-account evidence.
- 4Case team
Build the consular dossier
Before appointmentWe complete the forms, prepare the filing and support consulate booking where the jurisdiction allows it.
- 5Client + local authority
Register after arrival
Inside GermanyAddress registration and the local immigration appointment lead to the physical Opportunity Card.
- 6Relovisa + employer
Convert after the offer
When qualifying work is signedWe prepare the in-country move to the Blue Card or skilled-worker permit without a new consular entry route.
The goal is not only to enter Germany. It is to leave the year with the right work permit.
Service scope
One package, from points review to visa issuance
The package covers eligibility, recognition guidance, the full consular file and case management through visa issuance.
Germany Chancenkarte
from €3,990 + €1,900 per family member
- Eligibility review and personal strategy
- Initial consultation and ongoing advisor chat
- Points-test assessment
- Step-by-step qualification-recognition guidance
- All required forms completed
- Pre-submission document double-check
- Consulate booking where the jurisdiction allows it
- Case management through visa issuance
For qualified people seeking employment from inside Germany.
Check my case for free
GermanyJOB SEARCH - €13,092 in a blocked account
- Or €1,091 a month through the accepted alternative
Government, recognition, translation, insurance and blocked-account costs are separate. The signed engagement confirms scope and payment terms.
Other German routes
If the job or the clients already exist
The Blue Card starts with employment. The Freelance Visa starts with your own client work.
For qualified employees with a German contract or a payroll-company setup.
Germany Blue Card
Clear the 2026 salary floor and use the 21-month permanent-residence route with B1 German.
- Salary
- €50,700 or €45,934.20
- Employer
- German employer or payroll company
- IT degree
- Experience can replace it
- EU mobility
- After 12 months
- Permanent residence
- 21 months with B1
01 DE · EMPLOYMENT For recognised freelance professions with their own clients.
Germany Freelance Visa (Freiberufler)
Your own clients carry the case. Show €11,904 in a blocked account and at least one German client letter.
- Funds
- €11,904 blocked account
- Clients
- One German letter minimum
- Employer
- Not required
- Initial permit
- 3 years
- Permanent residence
- 3 years
02 DE · OWN CLIENTS Relovisa in numbers
99.2% of our clients get their visa or residence permit.
Residence, work, founder and family cases.
Clients across Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS.
Immigration, tax and in-country specialists in the wider network.
The maximum initial Opportunity Card job-search period.
Global Relovisa results across every country and route. The 12-month figure is specific to the Opportunity Card.
People behind your case
The people who move your case forward.
Every case is led and coordinated by Relovisa. We bring in the immigration consultants, lawyers, payroll and tax specialists the route needs, while Relovisa remains your single point of contact.
One coordinated case team, built around the route you actually need.
Vlad Shipilov
FounderLeads strategy for founder, business and non-standard cases, connecting the route with the client's business, family and long-term plan.
Olia Nemirovski
COO & Chief Case ManagerLeads client and partner operations so case teams, local specialists and next steps stay coordinated from assessment to completion.
Evgenia
UK Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports UK immigration and Talent Visa case management where licensed legal input is required.
Vladimir
Germany Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports German work immigration cases across process planning, local requirements and case coordination.
Daniela
Portugal Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports Portuguese residence matters that require legal review, representation or procedural escalation.
Petra
Portugal Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports Portugal D2, D3, D7 and D8 cases, including clients with different income structures.
Marilia
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports global mobility for self-employed, founder and highly skilled cases through Portugal D8, D2 and D3 routes.
Thiago
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports highly qualified professionals and procedural cases involving residence delays and AIMA proceedings.
Vladislav
International Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerAdvises on international tax structures and non-standard cross-border situations across Europe, Asia and the United States.
Thomas
Crypto & Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerSupports clients whose move intersects with crypto assets, international business and tax planning.
Our wider specialist network60+
immigration consultants and lawyers
Local coverage for routes and services that require authorised in-country specialists.
Opportunity Card questions
Germany Chancenkarte questions
The live-page questions that decide the score, the work allowance and the conversion plan.
How does the points system work?
You need at least six points. The live score includes qualification, age under 35, German from A2, English at C1, previous German residence and a qualifying German family connection. We calculate the current score before filing.
What counts as qualification recognition?
A German authority evaluates the foreign degree or vocational qualification and decides whether it is comparable to the German equivalent. The live planning range is four to eight weeks for many cases.
Can I work full time during the year?
Not as regular work. The route allows up to 20 hours a week plus two-week full-time probation periods. A full qualifying job requires conversion to the Blue Card or skilled-worker permit.
What job qualifies for Blue Card conversion?
For the 2026 Blue Card, the salary is €50,700 for standard roles or €45,934.20 for shortage roles. The role and qualification also have to fit.
What happens if I do not find a job in 12 months?
The Opportunity Card is not automatically renewable. You need another lawful German residence category or you must leave when the status ends.
How is this different from the Blue Card or Freelance Visa?
The Blue Card starts with qualifying employment. The Opportunity Card lets you search from inside Germany. The Freelance Visa is for recognised self-employed work with your own clients.
Can my family come?
A spouse and minor children can join. The spouse receives work rights, and the family must show enough funds for the whole household.
Your Germany job search
Bring the profile. We will score the route before you fund it.
We review the qualification, points, funds and target work, then name the cleanest filing path and the conversion plan.
Check my case for freeFree written check first · €40 live session, credited to your package