Career advice · Updated November 2026
Germany Opportunity Card for Kenyans: Points, Money and How to Apply
The Germany Opportunity Card for Kenyans (Chancenkarte) is a residence title that lets you move to Germany for up to one year to look for a skilled job, without having a job offer first. It was created under section 20a of Germany’s Residence Act. You qualify either with a qualification that Germany fully recognises, or by scoring at least six points in a points system for qualifications, experience, language, age and past stays in Germany. You must also show you can support yourself, with at least €1,091 a month in a blocked account in 2026. This guide explains the rules, the points, the money you need and how to apply from Kenya.
Checked on 9 November 2026 against the German government’s official Make it in Germany opportunity card page. Visa fees and appointment rules are set by the German Embassy in Nairobi and can change, so confirm them on the embassy and Consular Services Portal pages before you pay anything.
What the Germany Opportunity Card allows you to do
The card is first issued as a “job search opportunity card” for a maximum of one year. During that year you can:
- look for qualified employment or plan to become self-employed;
- work in one or more part-time jobs, up to a total of 20 hours a week, while you search;
- do trial work of up to two weeks per employer, if the aim is a qualified job, an apprenticeship or a qualification programme.
Once you find a suitable job, you apply to the local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany for the right residence permit, such as one for qualified employment or for recognition of your qualifications. If the job counts as qualified employment but you do not qualify for any other residence title, the opportunity card can be extended for up to two more years.
The card does not guarantee a job. It only gives you legal time in Germany to find one. Many Kenyans will find it easier to job-hunt from Nairobi and apply for a work visa once they have an offer. The official page says plainly that the opportunity card is not a requirement for coming to Germany.
Option 1: a qualification recognised in Germany
If your diploma or degree is fully recognised in Germany, you count as a “skilled worker” and you skip the points system. For this route you do not have to prove language skills, although German will help you find work. People who studied or trained in Germany also fall under this option.
Full recognition is not automatic. For academic degrees, check your university and degree on the anabin database or get a Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung). For regulated professions such as nursing, you need professional recognition from the responsible German state authority.
Option 2: the points system
Most Kenyan applicants will use the points route. You need all of these basic requirements first:
- A completed qualification that is recognised by the government in the country where you earned it. A non-academic vocational qualification must have needed at least two years of training. A TVET diploma from an accredited Kenyan institution may meet this if the course ran for two years or more.
- Proof that the qualification is valid at home: a positive anabin result or Statement of Comparability for degrees, or a positive “Digital Statement on Professional Qualification” for vocational qualifications.
- Language proof: German at level A1 or higher, or English at level B2 or higher (CEFR).
- At least six points from the table below.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification found partially equivalent in a German recognition procedure | 4 |
| Qualification in a German shortage occupation | 1 |
| At least 2 years’ relevant experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| At least 5 years’ relevant experience in the last 7 years | 3 |
| German A2 / B1 / B2 or higher | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| English C1 or higher, or native speaker | 1 |
| Age up to 35 / over 35 up to 40 | 2 / 1 |
| Legal stay in Germany of 6+ months in the last 5 years (not tourism) | 1 |
| Spouse or partner who also qualifies for the card | 1 |
Worked example for a Kenyan applicant
Take a 29-year-old with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from a Kenyan university, four years of engineering work since graduating, and English at C1 level. She scores 2 points for age, 2 for experience and 1 for English C1, which is 5 points. If engineering counts as a shortage occupation on Germany’s list, she gets 1 more and reaches 6. A German A2 certificate would add another point and give her a safety margin. Every point needs documents, such as work certificates, payslips or contracts, and language certificates.
Money you need: the blocked account
The basic requirement for every applicant is enough money to pay for your job search. In the visa process you can show this with a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) holding at least €1,091 net per month (the 2026 amount), or with a formal declaration of commitment from someone in Germany. For a full year, that is €13,092 in the blocked account, before flights, insurance and visa fees. Plan this money early, because it is often the hardest part for Kenyan applicants.
How to apply for the Germany Opportunity Card from Kenya
- Do the official “Self-Check: opportunity card” on Make it in Germany and choose Kenya as your nationality.
- Collect your evidence: certificates and transcripts, anabin or recognition results, experience letters, language certificates and passport.
- Open the blocked account or arrange a declaration of commitment.
- Apply online through the Federal Foreign Office’s Consular Services Portal, which the official page links to, and follow the German Embassy Nairobi instructions for your appointment.
- After you arrive, register your address and plan your job search. Use your 20 hours of part-time work to cover costs if you need to.
Red flags and practical tips
- No agent can sell you an opportunity card. Only the German mission decides. Be wary of anyone who promises a guaranteed card or a job “after you pay”.
- Do not buy fake language certificates or experience letters. Forged documents can lead to refusal and a ban.
- Learn German anyway. Even when English is enough for the card, most jobs still need German.
- Prepare a German-style CV. Our CV writing guide is a good starting point, but adapt it to German norms.
If you are comparing countries, see our Canada jobs and visa sponsorship guide, and read our recruitment agency vs direct hiring guide before you pay any agent. Our fake job adverts guide lists other warning signs.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I need for the Germany Opportunity Card?
At least six points, unless your qualification is fully recognised in Germany, in which case you do not need points.
How much money do I need for the opportunity card?
You must show at least €1,091 net per month in 2026, usually through a blocked account, or a declaration of commitment from someone in Germany.
Can I work in Germany with an opportunity card?
Yes, part-time jobs of up to 20 hours a week in total, plus trial work of up to two weeks per employer.
How long does the Germany Opportunity Card last?
It is issued for up to one year to look for work. It can be extended for up to two years if you find qualified work but do not qualify for another permit.