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 route 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 recognised 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 Route Fits You?

The practical questions are always the same: is your qualification recognised, 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 generally not available during the search phase itself; it 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 →

Last reviewed: August 2026 — RAin Fiona Macdonald