Opportunity Card Germany: Requirements and Health Insurance

There are two routes to the Opportunity Card. Route one: your foreign degree or vocational qualification is fully recognised in Germany. In that case you get the card without needing any points at all. Route two: your qualification is not yet fully recognised, but you meet the basic requirements and collect at least 6 points in the points system.

Applicants on the points route must also meet these basic requirements: a university degree or at least two years of vocational training that is state-recognised in the country where you earned it; German at level A1 or English at level B2 (A1 is basic, B2 is confident independent use on the CEFR scale); and a valid passport. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can enter Germany freely and do not need this permit.

For the broader context of preparing your move, see our moving to Germany checklist.

If your qualification is not fully recognised in Germany, you need at least 6 points from the categories below. These figures come from the official Make it in Germany portal.

Partial recognition of your qualification in Germany earns 4 points. Working in an occupation on the German shortage list adds 1 point. Five or more years of relevant professional experience in the last 7 years gives you 3 points; two or more years in the last 5 years gives 2 points. Language skills: German B2 earns 3 points, B1 earns 2, A2 earns 1, and English C1 earns 1. Being under 35 years old adds 2 points; age 35 to 40 adds 1. A previous legal stay in Germany of at least 6 months in the last 5 years adds 1 point, as does a spouse or partner who also qualifies for the Opportunity Card.

Worked example: you are 32 years old (2 points), your qualification is partially recognised in Germany (4 points), and you have two years of relevant experience in the last five years (2 points). That gives you 8 points, well above the 6-point threshold. Use the official points calculator on the Make it in Germany website to check your score before you book your embassy appointment.

Proof of funds means showing the German authorities that you can cover your living costs while you search for work. The most common option is a blocked account (Sperrkonto): a German bank account where a set amount is deposited and can only be withdrawn in monthly instalments. The required monthly amount is reviewed annually, so check the current figure on the embassy website or the Make it in Germany portal before you apply.

Two alternatives are accepted: a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a person in Germany who officially guarantees your costs, or a part-time job contract for up to 20 hours a week.

Health insurance is a legal requirement for the visa and must be in force from the day you enter Germany. Statutory health insurance (GKV) is the public system most employed people in Germany use. The problem: GKV membership is tied to employment subject to social insurance contributions. While you are still looking for work, you have no such employment, so GKV is generally not open to you.

That means you need private cover for the job search phase. Embassies typically require a policy that is valid in Germany and throughout the Schengen Area for your entire stay. Many missions abroad ask for at least €30,000 in coverage. The exact requirements can vary by embassy, so confirm the current rules with your local German mission before you buy a policy.

Your main options are: incoming health insurance for newcomers, which is short-term private cover designed for people arriving in Germany and produces the certificate the embassy needs (explore these plans on our incoming health insurance page); International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI), a globally portable policy that covers you across borders and typically offers broader coverage than a basic incoming plan at a higher premium; or full German private health insurance (PKV), comprehensive long-term private cover in the German system, which is possible during the job search phase but is generally more expensive and harder to obtain without an employment contract.

Buy your policy before your entry date. A gap in coverage from day one can cause problems at the embassy or border. Always confirm the certificate format your specific embassy accepts before purchasing a plan.

When you accept a qualified job offer, you typically switch from the Opportunity Card to a work-related permit, such as the EU Blue Card or a skilled worker residence permit. If the job does not yet meet the criteria for those permits, a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years may be possible.

Your gross salary then determines which health insurance system you enter. Employees earning up to €77,400 gross per year in 2026 are compulsorily enrolled in GKV and cannot opt out. Employees earning above €77,400 can choose between GKV and private health insurance in Germany (PKV). From 2027 this threshold is expected to rise to €84,150, subject to Bundesrat approval.

GKV contributions are split between you and your employer. The general contribution rate is 14.6%, plus an average additional rate of 2.9%, calculated on income up to the contribution ceiling of €69,750 in 2026 (rising to €76,500 from 2027, subject to Bundesrat approval). If you choose PKV above the income threshold, your employer contributes up to €508.59 per month toward your health insurance premium in 2026, plus €104.63 per month for long-term care insurance.

Cancel your temporary cover on time and make sure there is no gap between your job search insurance and your new cover. Overlapping policies waste money; a gap leaves you uninsured.

The Opportunity Card gives non-EU skilled workers a structured, points-based path to job searching in Germany. The steps are clear: check your eligibility, calculate your points, arrange proof of funds through a blocked account or equivalent, and take out compliant private health insurance before you enter Germany.

Once you find a job, your 2026 salary determines whether GKV (up to €77,400) or a choice between GKV and PKV (above €77,400) applies. Switching without a gap in coverage is the one practical detail worth getting right from the start.

If you are unsure which insurance fits your current phase, André Disselkamp is available to advise in English and help you arrive in Germany with the right cover from day one.