Germany · Europe
Work & Skilled
Official name: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Up to a year in Germany to look for a skilled job, with a points system.
Path to residency
Possible · conditions apply
- Ratings (process and pet paperwork): = fewest requirements= most requirements An estimate based on official requirements, not an approval rate. No visa or pet move is easy.
- Visa application fee: National visa fee (€37.50 for children). Qualification checks (€150–€208 if needed) and the residence permit in Germany (€100) are separate. Not your moving budget. See below.
- Decision time after filing: The Federal Foreign Office says national visas can take several months; there is no single processing time. Appointment waits come on top. See below.
- Money you must show (2026): Usually in a blocked account; a sponsor's formal obligation or a part-time job contract can also count. Money you live on, not a fee. See below.
- Moving with family: This card is not a family visa: a spouse normally needs their own permit during the job search. Family can follow once you switch to a work permit or EU Blue Card. See below.
- Moving with pets (dogs & cats): Dogs/cats: EU rules; allow at least 21 days after a first rabies vaccine; vet paperwork about $350–$550+ per pet*. Germany bans importing 4 dog breeds and their crosses. See below.
Costs and timelines are estimates. Fees, exchange rates and processing times change; always confirm with the official government source. Disclaimer
* These are scoped planning figures, not an all-in family relocation quote or a promise of approval. All prices are estimates; confirm current fees with the issuing authority and service costs with providers. See the breakdown and decision rules below.
Who this visa is for
Up to a year in Germany to look for a skilled job, with a points system. Permanent residence and citizenship have separate eligibility requirements; neither is guaranteed.
- No job offer needed
- Part-time work up to 20 hrs/week
- Switch to a work permit or Blue Card
What to expect
Document preparation, appointment availability and the authority's decision are separate stages. Don't quit your job, sell or give up your home, take children out of school, ship your belongings or pets, or book non-refundable travel until the visa is approved and in your passport. A visa can be refused or delayed.
Below: professional recognition, separate family applications, insurance eligibility, housing, shipping, schools and pets, with source links and questions to confirm.
Family rules
- ✗ Spouse
- ✗ Children
- ✗ Domestic partner
- ✗ Dependent parents
Not a family visa: a spouse needs their own permit during the job search. Family can follow once you switch to a work permit or EU Blue Card.
Pets (dogs and cats)
Entry paperwork: fewest requirementsEU Animal Health Certificate on arrival, then an EU pet passport from a local vet.
Quarantine: None if the paperwork is in order.
A relative comparison of entry paperwork for dogs and cats travelling from the continental US: shown with the same stars as the visa process rating, from 5 stars (fewest requirements) to 1 star (most). It does not rate cost, animal welfare, airline availability or breed acceptance; no pet move is effortless.
Not every animal or breed can automatically travel. Other species, destination breed restrictions and transit rules need separate checks; airlines may reject breeds the destination permits.
Preparation: weeks to months* depending on records and travel arrangements. From the continental US, allow at least 21 days after a first rabies vaccination given after microchipping. The final health certificate has a separate entry window. These periods overlap, not a guaranteed total schedule. From an unlisted country, a rabies antibody test and a three-month wait can make preparation take four months or longer.
Vet exam/certificate service: approximately $350–$550+ per pet* based on published prices from 2 US veterinary clinics, checked October 2026; not a Germany-route quote. USDA endorsement for a certificate not requiring tests is $38. Transport, crate, courier and handling are extra: request a route-specific written quote.
For private travel with pet dogs and cats, not sale or transfer of ownership. Germany prohibits importing Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers and their crosses, subject to narrow legal exceptions. States can restrict more breeds. Do not assume a short-visit exemption covers relocation. Check the destination state's rules and the airline before paying for travel.
EU pet rules; 4 dog breeds banned from import.
Learn more about bringing your pet (incl. EU pet passport) →* All prices and preparation times are estimates, not a quote or guaranteed departure date. Confirm exact prices and timing with a veterinarian experienced in pet relocation, the official veterinary authority, and your airline or pet transport provider. Vet visits, vaccines, microchips, certificates, endorsement, crates, flights, transit and onward travel may be charged separately.
Other visas in Germany
3 more pathways in Germany.
remote
Digital Nomad / Remote
Freiberufler (Freelance Visa)
Berlin's classic visa for freelancers in liberal professions.
work
Work & Skilled
EU Blue Card
Fast-track residency for highly qualified professionals.
family
Family Reunification
Citizenship Restoration (StAG §15 / §116)
For descendants of Germans persecuted 1933–1945, or denied citizenship.