The Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is what most people now mean by a Germany job seeker visa: it lets a skilled worker from Pakistan live in Germany for up to one year to look for a job, without a job offer. You qualify either with a fully recognised qualification or by scoring at least 6 points, and in 2026 you must show €1,091 a month in a blocked account (€13,092 for a year). The visa fee at the German Embassy in Islamabad is €75, paid in rupees.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Germany Opportunity Card vs the old job seeker visa
Germany replaced its old six-month job seeker visa with the Opportunity Card in June 2024 under the Skilled Immigration Act. The older route survives only in narrow cases, mostly for people who studied or trained in Germany. For applicants in Pakistan, the Germany job seeker visa in practice means the Opportunity Card, according to Make it in Germany, the federal government’s official portal.
| Feature | Opportunity Card (2026) |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to 1 year |
| Job offer needed | No |
| Work allowed while searching | Part-time up to 20 hours a week, plus trial work of up to 2 weeks per employer |
| Proof of funds | €1,091 per month, blocked account or formal commitment |
| Visa fee | €75 (category D long-stay visa), cash in PKR |
| Follow-up | Can be extended up to 2 years if you find qualified work and no other residence title fits |
Eligibility: two ways to qualify
Route 1: recognised skilled worker (no points)
If your foreign degree or vocational qualification is fully recognised in Germany, or you earned a degree or vocational qualification in Germany, you get the card without the points test. In Pakistan this usually means a university degree listed as “H+” in the Anabin database or confirmed by a ZAB Statement of Comparability.
Route 2: the Chancenkarte points system
Everyone else needs three basics plus at least 6 points:
- A university degree or vocational training of at least two years, recognised by the state where it was awarded (Pakistan) and assessed by ZAB.
- Language: at least basic German (A1) or English at B2, as set out by German missions such as the German Embassy in Wellington’s Opportunity Card page.
- Proof you can support yourself.
Opportunity Card points table
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification partly recognised in Germany (including regulated professions that need compensatory measures) | 4 |
| At least 5 years of relevant experience in the last 7 years | 3 |
| At least 2 years of relevant experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| German B2 or above | 3 |
| German B1 | 2 |
| German A2 | 1 |
| English C1 or above, or native speaker | 1 |
| Age up to 35 | 2 |
| Age over 35 up to 40 | 1 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation | 1 |
| Legal stay in Germany of 6 months or more in the last 5 years (not tourism) | 1 |
| Spouse or partner also meets Opportunity Card requirements and applies with you | 1 |
Source: Make it in Germany.
Worked example: a 29-year-old software engineer from Lahore with a BS in Computer Science (assessed by ZAB), 3 years’ experience, IELTS 7.5 (C1) and German A2 scores 2 (age) + 2 (experience) + 1 (English C1) + 1 (German A2) = 6 points. That is exactly the minimum, so every claimed point needs paper proof.
Run the official Opportunity Card self-check before paying for anything.
Blocked account amount for 2026
For 2026, proof of funds means €1,091 net per month. For a one-year card, that is €13,092. Accepted forms:
- A blocked account (Sperrkonto) with a provider such as Fintiba, Expatrio or Coracle, holding the full amount.
- A formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor in Germany, signed at the local foreigners authority.
Some German missions also accept a three-month continuous balance of €13,092, but check the Pakistan mission’s checklist before relying on a normal bank statement. The amount is reviewed each year, usually in line with the BAföG student rate.
Documents checklist
- Passport issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages, plus a copy of the bio page.
- Online application from the Consular Services Portal, printed and signed.
- Biometric photo, 35 x 45 mm.
- Degree and transcripts, with HEC attestation. See our HEC degree verification guide for the new online e-attestation.
- Anabin printout (H+) or ZAB Statement of Comparability, or a partial recognition notice if you are claiming 4 points.
- Language certificates (Goethe, telc, ÖSD, IELTS or TOEFL). Certificates used for points should be recent; German missions generally accept tests no older than one year.
- Experience letters on company letterhead showing role, dates and hours.
- Proof of funds: blocked account confirmation or Verpflichtungserklärung.
- Health insurance: travel insurance for entry, then cover meeting German requirements during the stay.
- CV and a short cover letter explaining your job-search plan.
- Translations: documents not in German or English need a certified translation.
How to apply from Pakistan: Islamabad or Karachi
Where you apply depends on where you live. The German Consulate General in Karachi covers residents of Sindh and Balochistan; the German Embassy in Islamabad covers all other provinces and areas, according to the German mission in Pakistan.
- Start on the Consular Services Portal at digital.diplo.de/visa. Since June 2025, the Islamabad embassy takes all employment visa types, including the Opportunity Card, through this portal (Pakistan Observer).
- Fill in the form and upload documents for a preliminary check. The embassy flags missing items through the portal.
- Wait for an appointment invitation. Once the file is complete, you are called in person for identity checks and fingerprints.
- Attend the appointment with originals and two sets of copies, and pay the €75 fee in cash in rupees at the counter (fee page).
- Wait for a decision. The embassy says processing times for long-stay visas “highly vary” by purpose and file quality.
Be realistic about waiting times. In August 2025, APP reported that Islamabad applicants had waited more than a year after applying through the portal, while the Karachi consulate was operating normally.
There is also no appeal if you are refused. The remonstration procedure for visa rejections was cancelled from 1 July 2025, so a refused applicant must file a fresh application. That makes a complete, consistent file the most important thing you control.
Common mistakes
- Claiming points you cannot document, such as experience without proper letters.
- Using an old blocked account amount from 2024 or 2025.
- Applying in Islamabad while living in Karachi, or the reverse.
- Assuming an HEC stamp equals German recognition. Anabin or ZAB is a separate step.
- Paying agents for “guaranteed appointments”. Appointments come through the official portal only.
Already have a job offer? Then the Germany work visa from Pakistan is the faster route. You will also need a Wise account or similar to move money for your blocked account deposit.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I need for the Germany Opportunity Card?
At least 6 points, plus a recognised two-year qualification, German A1 or English B2, and proof of funds. Fully recognised skilled workers do not need points.
What is the blocked account amount for 2026?
€1,091 per month, which is €13,092 for a one-year Opportunity Card.
Is the Germany job seeker visa still available?
The old job seeker visa was replaced by the Opportunity Card in June 2024. Most Pakistani applicants should apply for the Opportunity Card.
Can I work on the Opportunity Card?
Yes, part-time up to 20 hours a week, and trial work of up to two weeks per employer.
Where do I apply in Pakistan?
Residents of Sindh and Balochistan apply to the Consulate General in Karachi; everyone else applies to the Embassy in Islamabad, starting on the Consular Services Portal.
What is the Opportunity Card visa fee?
€75 for the long-stay (D) visa, paid in cash in Pakistani rupees at the current exchange rate.
Can I appeal if my Opportunity Card is refused?
No. The German missions in Pakistan stopped the remonstration procedure from 1 July 2025, so you would need to reapply.
Sources
- Make it in Germany: Opportunity Card
- German missions in Pakistan: Visa general information and fees
- German missions in Pakistan: Islamabad and Karachi jurisdiction
- German Embassy Wellington: Opportunity Card requirements
- Federal Foreign Office: Visa service
- Pakistan Observer: German embassy online portal
- APP: Opportunity Card demand and embassy delays
