Germany opens doors to skilled workers with “opportunity card” starts June

Germany will roll out a new initiative starting June 2024 to facilitate job opportunities for skilled workers abroad. The government will introduce an ‘opportunity card’ to enable qualified individuals to search for work within the country.

Under this scheme, skilled job seekers who have the necessary qualifications and skills will be eligible to obtain the opportunity card without the requirement of securing a permanent job contract beforehand.

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However, they must possess recognized overseas qualifications or German Chamber of Commerce Abroad-issued vocational qualifications, along with basic proficiency in either German (A1 level) or English (B2 level).

Points will be awarded based on various criteria such as the recognition of qualifications in Germany, language proficiency, professional experience, age, connections to Germany, and potential spousal or partner considerations. Applicants must attain a minimum of six points to qualify for the opportunity card.

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The card will be valid for up to one year, during which the holder must be able to support themselves financially. It allows for work trials or secondary employment of up to 20 hours per week.

Additionally, if an applicant is unable to secure another residency permit for work purposes but has received a job offer, the opportunity card can be extended for an additional two years.

Overall, the introduction of the Opportunity Card aims to streamline the process for skilled candidates to find employment in Germany, bypassing lengthy recognition procedures. It requires a minimum of two years of vocational tr