The Germany job seeker visa is an option for people who already hold a recognized university degree and want to go to Germany to look for a job matching their field. This is a path that runs parallel to the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), but with important differences you need to understand clearly before choosing.
What is the Germany job seeker visa
The job seeker visa allows you to stay in Germany for up to 6 months to look for a job matching your qualifications. This visa cannot be extended, so you need to prepare your job search plan carefully before going.
During this period, you are not allowed to take paid work, only to search for jobs and attend interviews. This is a point to note when budgeting for your time in Germany.
Basic conditions
Theo the official Make it in Germany portal of the German government, your degree must be recognized or deemed equivalent to a German qualification.
You must also prove sufficient financial means to support yourself, usually through a blocked account (Sperrkonto), since you are not allowed to work yet. The 2026 reference living cost is about €1,091/month. The degree recognition step should be completed early — see more in the article on qualification recognition in Germany.
How is the Germany job seeker visa different from the Chancenkarte
Both options let you go to Germany to look for a job, but the mechanisms differ. The table below summarizes the key differences.
| Tiêu chí | Job seeker visa | Chancenkarte |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 6 months | Up to 12 months |
| Allowed to work part-time? | None | Up to 20 hours/week |
| Main requirement | Already have a recognized/equivalent degree | Recognized degree, or at least 6 points under the point system |
| Suitable for | People with a university degree and an already-recognized qualification | People who need flexibility, earning points to offset their qualification |
Compared with Chancenkarte, the job seeker visa is more compact but less flexible since it does not allow part-time work and has a shorter duration. Which path to choose depends on whether your degree has already been recognized.
After finding a job
Once you find a suitable job, you switch from the job seeker visa to a formal work permit to begin working. Depending on salary and qualification level, this could be a skilled worker visa or an EU Blue Card.
You can learn about the high-salary category in the article EU Blue Card Germany. This is an important transition from job seeking to formal employment and toward settlement.
Advice for Vietnamese workers
If your degree has already been recognized, the job seeker visa is a compact, clear path. If not, the points-based Chancenkarte may be more flexible for your case.
Whichever path you choose, complete your degree recognition early and prepare finances for the job search period. To understand the overall picture of the different paths, you should read further in the article skilled migration to Germany. The M2W team will advise on the path suited to your profile.
Information compiled from the Make it in Germany portal (German Government). Duration, financial requirements and regulations may change — please check official sources before applying.
Read more: Overview of migrating to Germany · What is a Sperrkonto? Blocked account for Germany, what you need to know 2026
