Looking for a Job in Germany: § 20 AufenthG and the Opportunity Card (§ 20a AufenthG)

Germany allows qualified non-EU nationals to live in the country while looking for work — but the legal path depends on where you are starting from. Since the 2023/2024 skilled-immigration reform, the law distinguishes between those who are already in Germany after studying or training here (§ 20 AufenthG) and those coming from abroad to search (the Opportunity Card, § 20a AufenthG). The old stand-alone "job seeker visa" for applicants abroad has effectively been absorbed into the Opportunity Card.

After Studying or Training in Germany (§ 20 AufenthG)

If you have completed a German university degree, qualified vocational training, a research stay or a recognition procedure in Germany, § 20 AufenthG gives you a residence permit to look for a position that matches your qualification:

• Up to 18 months for graduates and most other categories.
• You must be able to support yourself during the search (Lebensunterhaltssicherung, § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG).
• During the search you may take up employment.

This is one of the most valuable permits in the system: it bridges the gap between graduation and the skilled-worker permit or EU Blue Card without pressure to leave.

Coming from Abroad: The Opportunity Card (§ 20a AufenthG)

The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets you move to Germany for up to twelve months to look for skilled work. Two doors in:

• Without points, if your foreign qualification is fully recognized in Germany or you hold a German degree.
• Via the points system (at least six points) based on partial recognition, work experience, language skills, age, connection to Germany and accompanying spouse — with a baseline of German at A1 or English at B2.

You must show sufficient funds, typically through a blocked account in the region of €13,092 for twelve months (2026 figure) or an employment contract for permitted part-time work. While searching you may work part-time up to 20 hours per week and take trial jobs of up to two weeks per employer. If you find a qualifying job, you switch to a skilled-worker permit or Blue Card; if you have an offer but need more time, a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years is possible.

Which Path Fits You?

The practical questions are always the same: is your qualification recognized, can you fund the search, and what happens on day one of a job offer? Planning the switch — not just the search — is what makes these permits work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my family on a job-seeker permit? Family reunification is legally possible during the search phase if the marriage already existed when your permit was issued and you can support the family, but in practice it usually only opens up once you switch to a skilled-worker permit or Blue Card. Plan the sequence accordingly.

Do I need German to get the Opportunity Card? Not necessarily German: the baseline is German at A1 or English at B2. Stronger German earns additional points.

I am in Germany on a student permit and about to graduate — when should I apply? Before your current permit expires. The switch to the § 20 search permit is routine if your livelihood is secured, and it protects your ability to change status inside Germany.

What if I find a job that does not match my degree? The follow-on permits (§§ 18a, 18b, 18g AufenthG) generally require a qualified position, which does not always have to match your degree; roles below skilled level usually do not qualify. Whether a particular offer works is often a question of how the role is framed — take advice before declining.

The search permit is only as good as the exit from it. Book a consultation and we will plan the search phase and the switch to a work permit together. Book a consultation →

From the blog

• The § 20 AufenthG job-search permit: how it really works
• The 18-month post-study job-search permit, step by step
• The Chancenkarte points system explained

Last reviewed: August 2026 — RAin Fiona Macdonald

This article reflects information available at the review date above and may not remain current as rules and practice change. It is general information only, not legal advice, and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Liability for reliance on its contents is excluded to the extent permitted by law.