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Enter Germany to search for skilled work, no job offer required. MALIROSA assesses your points, prepares your documents, and guides your application from Colombo.
The Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a points-based job-seeking visa introduced in June 2024 under the German Skilled Immigration Act. It allows qualified non-EU nationals to live in Germany for up to one year and search for employment, without needing a job offer in advance. All information on this page follows current regulations published by the German Federal Government (make-it-in-germany.com).
MALIROSA provides consulting, preparation and support services. Visa decisions are made exclusively by the responsible embassy, consulate or authority.
Read our complete 2026 Chancenkarte guide for Sri Lankans · Read Chancenkarte client testimonials
The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) is a points-based job-seeking visa introduced by Germany in June 2024 as part of the Skilled Immigration Act reform (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz). It is the first German visa that allows qualified professionals from non-EU countries to enter Germany and search for employment without holding a job offer at the time of application.
The initial Opportunity Card may be issued for up to 12 months. In certain cases, a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two additional years may be possible where a qualified job offer exists and the legal requirements are met. Please note that this is not an automatic extension of the job-search period and depends on the individual case and the competent authority. During this period, cardholders may live in Germany, attend interviews, and complete short trial work periods of up to 20 hours per week. Once a qualified job is secured, the card converts directly to a full skilled worker residence permit without the need to return to Sri Lanka.
For Sri Lankan professionals with a recognised university degree or vocational qualification, and particularly those with German language skills, Chancenkarte represents one of the most accessible pathways to working life in Germany. A basic German language level helps both in the points calculation and on the ground. MALIROSA's German language courses are designed to take you to the level your application requires.
The Chancenkarte uses a points system defined in §49a of the German Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz). You need a minimum of 6 points to qualify, or 4 points if you hold a German-recognised university degree.
| Criterion | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| University degree (German-recognised) | 4 | Degree must be assessed as equivalent to a German university degree via anabin/KMK |
| Vocational qualification (German-recognised) | 2 | Completed vocational training assessed as equivalent in Germany via BIBB |
| German language: A1 or A2 | 1 | Goethe-Institut, telc, TestDaF, or ÖSD certificate accepted |
The following list reflects current requirements for a Chancenkarte application submitted at the German Embassy in Colombo. Requirements may be updated. MALIROSA verifies the current checklist before every application. German Embassy Colombo, Visa Service.
The full Chancenkarte process from Sri Lanka takes approximately 4–7 months. Here is what to expect at each stage.
Check your points against the current threshold (6 points, or 4 if degree-qualified). A MALIROSA advisor reviews your profile against §49a AufenthG and advises on whether you qualify now, or what you need to reach the threshold.
1–2 daysCollect your degree certificates, work experience letters, language certificates, passport, and financial proof. Most documents require certified German translations and apostilles from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Colombo.
4–8 weeksChancenkarte visa applications are submitted at the German Embassy in Colombo. Appointment slots are currently 8–14 weeks ahead. MALIROSA helps you prepare your complete application file before the appointment date.
We evaluate your exact qualifications, language certificates, and work experience against the current §49a points table. You get a clear answer on whether you qualify now, or what you need to reach the threshold.
We verify every document in your application file before submission: certified translations, apostilles, financial proof, qualification equivalency, and the Embassy Colombo checklist. Nothing is submitted unless it is correct.
We build your individual timeline: from language course to qualification recognition to Embassy appointment. For many Sri Lankan candidates the Chancenkarte is most effective when combined with B1 or B2 German language preparation. We plan both in parallel.
You need at least 6 points to qualify for the Chancenkarte, or 4 points if you hold a recognised German or comparable foreign university degree. Points are awarded across four criteria: educational qualifications (up to 4 points), German or English language proficiency (up to 4 points), professional experience (up to 2 points), and age (under 35 earns an additional weighting). The points system is defined in §49a of the German Residence Act (AufenthG). Source: make-it-in-germany.com.
There is no strict minimum German language requirement to apply. The card can be obtained without any German. However, language proficiency earns you points in the system: A1/A2 German earns 1 point, B1/B2 German earns 2 points, and C1 or above earns 3 points. English proficiency at B2 or above also earns 1 point. A higher German level significantly increases your chances of qualifying and of finding employment once in Germany. MALIROSA recommends at least B1 German before applying.
Many Chancenkarte holders who want to earn while building German work experience find that our Ausbildung placement programme is the ideal next step.
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Book a free consultation. We assess your points, review your qualifications, and tell you exactly where you stand, before you spend a single rupee on documents.
MALIROSA provides consulting, preparation and support services. Visa decisions are made exclusively by the responsible embassy, consulate or authority.
| German language: B1 or B2 | 2 | B1+ significantly improves employment prospects in Germany |
| German language: C1 or above | 3 | Near-native level; highest language points band |
| English language: B2 or above | 1 | IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge or equivalent certificate required |
| Professional work experience: 2 to 5 years | 1 | In the field related to your qualification |
| Professional work experience: 5 years or more | 2 | In the field related to your qualification |
| Age under 35 | +1 | Applied as a bonus; reduces the effective minimum threshold |
| Prior legal residence in Germany (6+ months) | 1 | Demonstrates existing connection to Germany |
Points are cumulative. A candidate with a recognised university degree (4 pts) + B2 German (2 pts) + 3 years work experience (1 pt) scores 7 points, well above the threshold. A MALIROSA advisor can review your exact profile against the current points requirements before you begin the application.
You must demonstrate sufficient funds for your stay. The German government guideline is approximately €1,091 per month (the standard financial self-sufficiency threshold required by German embassies for the Chancenkarte, as of 2026). For a 12-month card this means showing approximately €13,000–14,000 in a blocked account (Sperrkonto), a bank guarantee, or documented personal savings. MALIROSA advises on the most practical option for Sri Lankan applicants.
Sri Lankan university degrees must be assessed against German equivalency standards via the anabin database or a Statement of Comparability from the KMK. For vocational qualifications the assessment is handled by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education (BIBB). MALIROSA helps navigate this step early. It can take 4–12 weeks.
The embassy reviews your application and supporting documents. Processing typically takes 4–10 weeks after your appointment. You may be contacted for biometrics. The visa is typically issued for 12 months.
4–10 weeksUpon arrival, register your address at the local Einwohnermeldeamt (resident registration office) within 14 days. Open a German bank account and begin your job search immediately. Trial work periods of up to 20 hours per week are permitted.
Week 1–2 in GermanyOnce you secure a job offer matching your qualifications, apply at the local Ausländerbehörde (foreigners authority) to convert your Chancenkarte to a skilled worker residence permit (§18a or §18b AufenthG). No need to return to Sri Lanka.
Within your 12-month windowIn general, family members (spouse and minor children) cannot accompany the Chancenkarte holder during the initial job-seeking period. The Chancenkarte is a personal visa for the individual applicant. Once the holder finds a job, receives a work permit, and meets the standard income and housing requirements, family reunion becomes possible through the standard family reunion visa process. MALIROSA advises Chancenkarte clients on planning the family reunion pathway from day one.
The initial Opportunity Card may be issued for up to 12 months. In certain cases, a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two additional years may be possible where a qualified job offer exists and the legal requirements are met. Please note that this is not an automatic extension of the job-search period and depends on the individual case and the competent authority. During the job search period, cardholders may complete short trial periods of up to 20 hours per week.
Once you secure a qualified job offer in Germany while holding the Chancenkarte, you apply to convert it to a regular work residence permit, specifically the Skilled Worker Visa (Fachkräftezulassung) under §18a or §18b AufenthG, depending on whether your qualification is vocational or university-level. This switch happens in Germany without the need to return to Sri Lanka. After 4 years on a skilled worker permit you become eligible for permanent residency (Niederlassungserlaubnis), or as soon as 33 months with exceptional performance.
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