The Chancenkarte 2026 — Germany’s job-seeker Opportunity Card — remains a pathway of great interest to Vietnamese workers in the skilled migration category. This visa allows foreigners to travel to Germany to look for work under a points-based system, rather than requiring a job contract in advance.
Chancenkarte 2026 là gì và dành cho ai
The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) was introduced under Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act. The programme has two parallel entry paths for you to choose from depending on your profile.
- The direct path: for those who already hold a university degree or vocational qualification recognised as equivalent by Germany.
- The points-based path: for those whose qualifications from their home country do not yet need formal recognition, provided they have at least German A1 or English B2.
Under the points-based path, an application needs to reach a minimum of 6 points by combining several different criteria.
Chancenkarte 2026 points requirements
The points system awards points across several factors to assess your ability to integrate into the German labour market. The main criteria groups include:
- Work experience in the relevant field;
- German and English proficiency;
- The applicant’s age;
- Ties to Germany (having previously studied, worked, or lived in Germany);
- An accompanying spouse who also meets the eligibility requirements.
Theo the official Make it in Germany portal of the German Government, applicants who reach the required 6 points will be considered for the job-seeker opportunity card.
Proof of funds and length of stay
To be granted the Chancenkarte, you must prove sufficient financial means to support yourself while job hunting. In 2026, the reference amount is around €1,091 EUR per month, typically shown through a blocked account (Sperrkonto) or a valid part-time work contract.
The card is valid for a maximum of 1 year. During this period, cardholders may work part-time up to 20 hours per week and take trial jobs to connect with employers.
Once you find a job matching your qualifications, you can switch to a work visa or the EU Blue Card to progress toward long-term settlement.
Advice for Vietnamese workers interested in Chancenkarte 2026
The key to this programme is preparing your language skills and qualification documents early. A German A2 or B1 certificate not only adds points but also helps you get hired faster once you arrive in Germany.
Theo the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany (BMI), the Opportunity Card is designed to attract skilled workers that the German economy is currently short of. The M2W team will continue to update the latest adjustments to the programme.
Read more: Overview of migrating to Germany · The EU Long-Term Residence Permit in Germany: Settlement Across the EU
