Looking for work in Germany with the Opportunity Card: requirements, costs, pay and visa
Open Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Open. The Opportunity Card is governed by section 20a of Germany's Residence Act (AufenthG) and applied for as a national visa through the Auslandsportal.
Status as of 7 October 2026 Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de)
Summary
- The Opportunity Card is a residence permit to look for work or complete recognition steps in Germany, not an employment contract.
- The first Opportunity Card is valid for up to one year.
- The points route requires a professional qualification of at least two years' training or a degree recognised in its country, plus at least A1 German or B2 English.
- While looking for work you may only work on average up to 20 hours a week.
- Your living costs must be covered while you stay in Germany.
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On this page
| Route | Run by | Official link | Who pays placement costs | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) Chancenkarte · Opportunity Card | Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer | Official source | There is no placement agency; the applicant pays the visa fee and other requirements unless the employer covers them. Do not pay a placement fee to any middleman. See the cost rules | Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) |
See this route in the comparison table
What do you need to work in Germany through Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)?
Placement channels from Indonesia for working in Germany through Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer. Language tests asked for: German: At least basic (einfache Kenntnisse); Or English: At least B2.
- Placement channels from Indonesia
- Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer An independent migrant worker goes without an agency, only to a legal-entity employer, and must report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission. This is not the same as an individual employer (a household), or an individual who places migrant workers, which is banned.
- Job types
- Part-time work averaging up to 20 hours a week and trial work of up to two weeks at a time, while looking for qualified work
| Test | Level | CEFR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| German | At least basic (einfache Kenntnisse) | A1 |
| Or English | At least B2 | B2 |
What does working in Germany through Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) cost, and who pays?
The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) route to Germany uses no placement agency: you pay the visa fee and other requirements unless the employer covers them, and no middleman is owed a placement fee.
- Law 18/2017 Article 30(1): Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
- Ministerial Regulation P2MI 17/2025: the employer bears placement costs. A worker may be charged only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
- Any request for money outside that document, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.
Cost rules for this route
- Visa fee: According to the German Embassy in Jakarta, the only payment is the visa fee charged by the embassy; forms, checklists and appointment booking cost nothing. Deutsche Botschaft Jakarta (Auswärtiges Amt)
- Living costs: The card is only issued if your living costs are covered (AufenthG section 20a(4)). The accepted amount and proof are on the embassy's official document list. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Confirmation of qualifications: On the points route, a competent body in Germany must confirm your foreign qualification (section 20a(4)). Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de)
What is the minimum pay for working in Germany through Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)?
The official pay floor for the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) route in Germany is EUR 13.90 per hour, in force from 1 January 2026 (Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de)). This is the legal minimum in Germany, not an offered wage.
| Area or group | Official floor | Approximate rupiah value |
|---|---|---|
| Germany, from 2026 Applies to: Statutory hourly minimum wage for employees in Germany | EUR 13.90 per hour In force from | about IDR 278,107 rate as of 8 October 2026 |
| Germany, from 2027 Applies to: Statutory hourly minimum wage in Germany, in force from 1 January 2027 | EUR 14.60 per hour In force from | about IDR 292,113 rate as of 8 October 2026 |
Which visa do you need to work in Germany through Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)?
Visum Chancenkarte: National visa to enter with an Opportunity Card, applied for online through the German Embassy's Auslandsportal. Official source
What are the steps to work in Germany through Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)?
- Make sure you have a professional qualification with at least two years of training or a university degree recognised by the country that issued it, or a qualification fully recognised in Germany.
- Get proof of at least A1 German or B2 English, then count your points; the points route needs at least six points.
- Have a competent body in Germany confirm your qualification, and prepare proof of living costs as listed by the embassy.
- Apply for the Opportunity Card visa through the Auslandsportal, then attend the embassy appointment with original documents for fingerprints, photo and the visa fee.
- In Germany, look for qualified work; once you find it, apply for a work residence permit. The first card is valid for up to one year.
- As an independent migrant worker, report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission under Law 18/2017 Article 63.
The order and timings are editor estimates, not promises.
Which schools or training lead to Germany?
The education and training routes linked to working in Germany through Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia, D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia, Vocational high school (SMK) in Indonesia, Language tests for working abroad.
- Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia: when jobs require one and how to check a university
- D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia: how it differs from a degree and how to check a campus
- Vocational high school (SMK) in Indonesia: route to work, certificates and job centres
- Language tests for working abroad: JFT-Basic, JLPT, EPS-TOPIK, IELTS, OET and telc
How is the Opportunity Card different from a work visa?
The Opportunity Card is a residence permit to look for a job or complete recognition steps, not a full work permit (AufenthG section 20a(1)). While searching you may only work on average up to 20 hours a week and do trial work of up to two weeks at a time (section 20a(2)). Once you find qualified work, you apply for a work residence permit, such as the EU Blue Card if you meet its conditions.
What are the warning signs of offers to Germany through this route?
- An agent sells an 'Opportunity Card with a guaranteed job'. The card is a permit to look for work, not an employment contract.
- You are offered full-time work on an Opportunity Card. It only allows work averaging up to 20 hours a week and trial work of up to two weeks.Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- An agent promises a faster German embassy appointment for a fee. The embassy says it does not work with intermediaries and agents have no special access to appointments.Deutsche Botschaft Jakarta (Auswärtiges Amt)
- An individual recruiter claims they can send or place you. Law 18/2017 Article 69 bars individuals from placing Indonesian migrant workers.Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
How to check a P3MI agency in 5 steps Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers
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Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)
Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection
-
Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad
+62-812-9007-0027WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027 peduliwni.kemlu.go.id
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Not legal advice. Always check SISKOP2MI before you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Opportunity Card be extended?
The first card is valid for up to one year. Under AufenthG section 20a(5), it can be extended for up to two years as a follow-up card if you have an employment contract or binding offer for qualified work and the Federal Employment Agency approves, and you do not yet qualify for another work permit.
How are Opportunity Card points counted?
Under AufenthG section 20b, points are given for things such as partial recognition of your qualification, German at certain levels, English at C1, relevant work experience, and qualifications in shortage occupation groups. The annex to the Act sets the minimum at six points.
What does the German requirement 'einfache Kenntnisse' mean?
AufenthG section 2(9) equates einfache deutsche Sprachkenntnisse with level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). A2 is called hinreichend, B1 ausreichend and B2 gut.
Who wrote and reviewed this page?
Sources
The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.
- § 20a Aufenthaltsgesetz: Chancenkarte Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · AufenthG § 20a · accessed
- § 20b Aufenthaltsgesetz: Punktevergabe für die Chancenkarte Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · AufenthG § 20b · accessed
- Anlage zum Aufenthaltsgesetz (zu § 20a Absatz 3 Nummer 2, § 20b): Punktetabelle Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · AufenthG Anlage · accessed
- § 2 Aufenthaltsgesetz: Begriffsbestimmungen (Sprachniveaus) Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · AufenthG § 2 · accessed
- Nationale Visa (Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Jakarta) Deutsche Botschaft Jakarta (Auswärtiges Amt) · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
- Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed
- Fünfte Mindestlohnanpassungsverordnung (MiLoV5) Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) · MiLoV5 · accessed
How to cite
KarirAman (2026). Looking for work in Germany with the Opportunity Card: requirements, costs, pay and visa. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/germany/opportunity-card/
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