The Chancenkarte is aimed at Non-EU nationals who hold an academic degree or a professional qualification. It will enable holders to remain in Germany for a period of 12 months in order to find appropriate employment or to pursue additional qualifications with a view to finding employment.

Chancenkarten are issued initially for a maximum of one year. The opportunity card allows you to look for gainful employment in Germany, i.e. you can seek employment or become self-employed. While you are looking for gainful employment, you are allowed to have one or more part-time jobs totalling 20 hours a week. You can also do job trials for a maximum of two weeks per employer as part of your job search. The aim of the job trial must be either to obtain qualified employment, an apprenticeship or a qualification programme.

Who can apply?

The Chancenkarte provides two pathways to looking for a job in Germany:

Under the skilled professionals pathway, you must have a foreign professional or academic qualification that is fully recognised in Germany.

In this pathway

You must hold a German academic degree or a comparable foreign academic degree. Your degree course must have taken a minimum of 2 years to complete. In order to find out whether your foreign degree is deemed comparable, please check whether both your degree and the awarding academic institution are listed as comparable in the official Anabin database. If either is not listed you need to obtain a “Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications” issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

or

You must have undergone professional training in Germany or overseas. Your training must have taken a minimum of 2 years to complete. Any professional qualification obtained overseas must have been fully recognised by the competent body in Germany and you must be able to provide the formal recognition notice. To find out more about having your qualification recognised please refer to this database.

The points-based pathway provides a separate option for individuals holding an academic or professional qualification that is not deemed comparable or has not (yet) been fully recognised.

In this pathway

You must hold an academic degree. Your degree course must have taken a minimum of 2 years to complete and your academic degree qualification must be fully recognised in the country where it has been awarded. Additionally, your degree must have been assessed by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

or

You must have undergone professional training. Your training must have taken a minimum of 2 years to complete and your qualification must be fully recognised in the country where it has been awarded. Additionally, your qualification must have been assessed by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). If you completed a category A vocational education and training at a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) that meets the requirements of the Vocational Training Act [BBiG], this qualification may also be suitable.

Additionally

You must have at minimum basic German language proficiency (level A1 CEFR - Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) or at minimum advanced English language proficiency (level B2 CEFR). Higher proficiency levels than the minimum requirements in either language are an additional advantage in the point-based system.

and

You must score a minimum of 6 points in the points-based system. For additional information on the points-based system including a self-check, please click here.

Some regulated professions such as medical doctors, nurses, teachers, architects, auditors, tax advisors and others require a formal licence to practise their profession in Germany. Please consult the database on recognition in regulated professions here.

For further information, please also see “Make it in Germany”.

How to apply?

1. Complete the VIDEX online application form, print one copy of the form including the barcode page (page 7) and sign the form on pages 5 and 6. Separate application forms are required for each applicant; all children also require separate forms.

2. Compile your supporting documentation to bring to your appointment:

Visa applications can only be lodged in person by prior appointment with the German Embassy in Wellington. Honorary Consuls do not handle any visa applications.

Appointments have to be booked via our online appointment booking system

Printout of the online application form including barcodes (as under #1)

Valid passport signed by the holder, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least six months. The passport needs to have at least 2 consecutive blank pages (i.e. a blank double page spread).

Plus 1 photocopy of the passport biodata page

Current NZ residence permit / visa (non-NZ applicants only).

Plus: 1 photocopy of the permit/ visa

Biometric passport photo

vidence of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay, such as

German or NZ bank statements for an account in your name for a minimum of three months showing that you hold a continuous and sustainable balance equalling EUR 12,324 (2023 requirement, subject to change)

OR blocked account holding minimum EUR 1,027/ month (2023 requirement, subject to change)

OR formal obligation Verpflichtungserklärung

OR combination of the above

Confirmation of health insurance cover commensurate with the level of statutory German public health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung).

If available: any additional evidence of further preparations for finding a job in Germany (i.e. correspondence with prospective employers, job offers, agency enquiries etc.)

Professional/ academic curriculum vitae.

Additional Documents for skilled professionals:

Academic degree

We will need to see the original degree certificate or a copy either notarized by a notary public or certified by the issuing academic institution. Any original will be returned to you during your appointment. Any document in a language other than German, English or French needs to be translated into one of these languages by a certified or sworn translator

photocopy of the original/certified copy and translation (if applicable)

Print-outs from the official database showing that both the qualification and the academic institution are listed as comparable - 1 copy each

OR “Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications”, issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

Evidence of your professional qualification

We will need to see the original certificate or a copy either notarized by a notary public or certified by the issuing institution. Any original will be returned to you during your appointment. Any document in a language other than German, English or French needs to be translated into one of these languages by a certified or sworn translator.

Photocopy of the original/ certified copy and translation (if applicable).

Photocopy of the formal assessment notice by the competent body in Germany confirming that your qualification has been recognised.

Additional documents points based pathway

Academic degree or evidence of professional qualification

We will need to see the original degree certificate or a copy either notarized by notary public or certified by the issuing institution. Any original will be returned to you during your appointment. Any document in a language other than German, English or French needs to be translated into one of these languages by a certified or sworn translator.´

Photocopy of the original/certified copy and translation (if applicable).

Photocopy of the confirmation that your degree/qualification has been assessed by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

Evidence of German and/or English language proficiency

Certificates issued by any institution testing in accordance with the standards of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) are accepted for both German and English. IELTS and TOEFL are also accepted as evidence for English. The tests may not be older than one year.

Evidence of professional experience in relation to your formal qualification within the last 7 years (if applicable in the points-based system)Confirmation in writing by your previous employer/s confirming the dates of employment as well as providing a description of the responsibilities.

Evidence of previous residence in Germany within the last 5 years (if applicable in the points-based system), Confirmation of registration (Meldebescheinigung), rental agreements, employment contracts and/or similar