One (1) fully completed and signed application form including declaration pursuant to Section 54 Residence Act

Cover letter: This should outline what fields and jobs you are interested in in Germany, where you want to apply and where you want to live in Germany (including details of accommodation and how you will support yourself). And, if applicable, what additional training you plan to complete to have your foreign professional qualification recognised.

Covering your costs: You can cover your living costs in Germany through your own means or a formal declaration of commitment. In addition, if you have concrete plans, income from secondary employment that is permitted with an opportunity card can be taken into account.

To stay in Germany, each individual applicant must have at their disposal at least 1027 euro per month, which for the standard 12-month stay with an opportunity card totals 12,324 euro. Please provide the following proof depending on your individual case:

• Blocked account: Please open the blocked account in good time before you apply for a visa. When applying for a visa, only the official confirmation of the opening of the account issued by the bank, including information on the amount paid in and the amount available per month, will be accepted. Confirmation which does not cite these amounts is not sufficient, nor is proof of lodgement or transfer of funds without confirmation from the bank.
• Secondary employment: If you have a concrete opportunity for secondary employment in Germany, you can present an employment contract or a binding job offer detailing the weekly working hours and your monthly wage.
• Declaration of commitment: Proof in the form of a formal declaration of commitment pursuant to Sections 66 and 68 Residence Act to the German foreigners authority in which a third person undertakes to cover all costs (original document + copy)

Have you completed German vocational training or a degree from a German university?

Or foreign vocational training or a degree from a foreign university which are recognized in Germany?

Then you are considered a skilled worker pursuant to Section 18 III Residence Act and you do not need to collect points to get the opportunity card. Please provide proof of your qualification as a skilled worker in the form of:

• Certificate of vocational training in Germany (original + copy)

  OR

• Certificate of degree from a university in Germany (original + copy)

  OR

• Recognition of the equivalence of the foreign vocational qualification from the respective agency responsible for recognition (original + copy)

  OR

• Recognition of equivalence of the foreign university degree (printout from the anabin-Database for your university degree)

  OR

  (if the qualification is not assessed as „entspricht“ (comparable) or „gleichwertig“ (equivalent) and/or the institution is not classified as „H+“)

• Statement of comparability by the 'Central Office for Foreign Education' ZAB (original + copy)

  (in the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the profession, for example, doctors, engineers; complete list is available from the Federal Employment Agency) or the EU Commission).

• Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications, or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (for example, for medical professions: decision of the licensing authority in the federal territory, i.e. assurance of permission to exercise a profession or issuing of medical licence (original + copy)

Information on the topic of recognition can be found at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

Completed form signed by your employer: Declaration of employment (original with one copy)

There is a minimum salary requirement for the EU Blue Card which is set once a year by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. In 2024, the minimum gross annual salary requirements are:

• € 43 759.80 for scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and IT specialists (so-called STEM occupations) and
• € 48 300 for all other occupations.

Proof of recognition of the qualification:

• One printout from the anabin database on the qualification and on the institution

  or (if the qualification is not assessed as „entspricht“ (comparable) or „gleichwertig“ (equivalent) and/or the institution is not classified as „H+“)

• Statement of Comparability by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) (original with one copy)

  or in the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the profession, for example, doctors, engineers; complete list is available from the Federal Employment Agency or the European Commission

  Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (original and one copy) (for example, for medical professions: decision of the licensing authority in the federal territory, i.e. assurance of permission to exercise a profession and/or issuing of medical licence)

More information on recognition here.

If as an employee you are subject to mandatory statutory health insurance, you must bear in mind that this insurance can only begin when you take up residence in Germany and enter into employment. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out for the period prior to employment beginning and prior to being eligible for statutory health insurance. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurance can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned. So-called incoming travel insurance can also contain such exclusions.

Signed information pursuant to section 82 (1) sentence 6 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) (Requirement to inform of any change of employer and employment status).