What are the requirements for a visa for professionally experienced workers?

• Qualification: You have a vocational qualification or higher education degree that is recognised by the government of the country in which it was obtained. It is important that your vocational qualification required at least two years of vocational training. To support your visa application, you will need a positive result for this qualification, which you can apply for online at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). If your qualification is a higher education degree, you can also apply to the ZAB for confirmation of state recognition in the country in which it was obtained.

• Professional experience: You can provide evidence of at least two years of qualified professional experience within the last five years. Your professional experience must qualify you adequately for the job you want to do in Germany. In other words, it must be related to the profession you wish to pursue in Germany.

• Job offer: You have a concrete job offer in a non-regulated profession in Germany. In contrast to regulated professions, non-regulated professions are those whose practice is not protected by law. Most vocational training occupations in Germany are non-regulated. To find out which professions are regulated, visit the Federal Employment Agency (BA) website. You can prove that you have a job offer by presenting an employment contract with an employer in Germany. In addition, your employer’s “Declaration of Employment” will usually be required as part of the visa process.

• Minimum salary: Your potential job in Germany guarantees you a gross annual salary of at least €40,770 (in 2024). Your contract should include details of your future salary. Alternatively, it is sufficient if your employer is bound by a collective agreement and pays you in accordance with that agreement.

• Approval of employment: The Federal Employment Agency (BA) has approved your employment. In this context, the Federal Employment Agency will assess whether your conditions of employment (salary, working hours etc.) correspond to those of domestic employees. BA approval is usually obtained from the visa section during the visa process; no action is required on your part. For this, the Federal Employment Agency requires the form “Declaration of Employment”, which needs to be completed by your employer.

What are the requirements for an opportunity card?

Are you from a country outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and would like to apply for an opportunity card under Section 20a of the Residence Act [AufenthG]? The following options are open to you: 

Option 1: You have a foreign professional or academic qualification that is fully recognised in Germany. Alternatively, you obtained your university degree or professional qualification in Germany.

Option 2: You score a minimum of six points in the points system in addition to meeting the following requirements: 

• You have successfully completed vocational or academic training. It is important that the qualification is recognised by the country in which you obtained it. In addition, your vocational qualification must have required at least two years of vocational training. To support your visa application, you will need a positive result for this qualification, which you can apply for online at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

• Proof of language proficiency: You either have German language skills of at least level A1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or English language skills of at least level B2 (CEFR). 

Ability to cover living costs:

For both Option 1 and Option 2, you must have sufficient financial resources to fund your job search in Germany. During the visa process, you can demonstrate this ability with a blocked bank account(containing a minimum of €1,027 net per month, amount applicable in 2024) or a declaration of commitment. 

How does the points system for opportunity cards work? 

The points system is only relevant if Option 2 applies to you, i.e. if you are unable to demonstrate that you have a German qualification or that your foreign qualification has been fully recognised. To apply for an opportunity card visa, you must also provide evidence of formal qualifications and the necessary language skills. You can score points for the following criteria:

• Equivalence of qualification: If you have already applied for recognition of your foreign qualification and it has been found to be partially equivalent, you will receive four points. You will still receive the four points if, in the case of a regulated profession, you are required to participate in compensatory measures before obtaining a licence to practise your profession.

• Qualification in a shortage occupation: If your formal qualification is in a shortage occupation, you will get one point. To find out which occupations are considered to be in short supply, consult the List of shortage occupations.

• Professional experience: You will also be awarded points for your previous professional experience in relation to your formal qualification. Two points will be awarded if you can demonstrate that you have at least two years’ post-qualification professional experience within the last five years. If you have at least five years’ professional experience within the last seven years, you will get three points.

• Language skills: You will also earn points if your German language skills are above level A1 (CEFR). One point is awarded at level A2, two points at level B1 and three points at level B2 or above. An additional point will be awarded if you have English at level C1 or above, or if you are a native speaker. 

• Age: You also receive points if you are a certain age. People who are no older than 35 get two points until the day they turn 35. All those aged between 35 and 40 are awarded one point. 

• Previous stays in Germany: Have you already lived in Germany? If you can prove that you have resided legally in Germany for a continuous period of at least six months in the last five years, you will receive one point. Examples of such stays include study, language and work stays. Stays for the purpose of tourism or visiting people do not count. Copies of old passports and the visas and entry stamps they contain can be submitted as evidence. 

• Skilled worker potential of spouses or life partners: Are you married or in a partnership and would like to come to Germany with your partner on an opportunity card? If your partner already meets the requirements for an opportunity card, you will be awarded one point in the points system. With this in mind, he or she can also do the self-check: opportunity card. 

Please note that all information you provide in the above categories must be supported by appropriate evidence or certificates for the visa application.