The Dark Side of the German Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
If you are planning to come to Germany in 2025 on the new Opportunity Card visa, wait a minute. This visa is not for everyone and just because you’re eligible to apply for one, doesn’t mean you should. Here’s the truth—not everyone who comes here on an opportunity card finds a job. The success rate is around 70%, and it’s actually dropping. This is something you need to hear before you pack your bags.
Job Search is Hard
Living in a foreign country is hard, but do you know what is even harder? Finding a job. It takes time. It takes effort. And most importantly it takes serious dedication. And all this under high pressure. The pressure of finding a job. The pressure of watching your savings go down every month. The pressure of knowing that you’ve only got one year to make it work.
You should also be ready to face a lot of rejection. Not one or two—I’m talking about rejections almost every single day. What really hurts is when you spend weeks into the interview process, make it to round three or four, and then suddenly get that rejection email. Still, the very next morning, you have to pick yourself up and keep applying. Again. And again.
So if you’re someone who gets distracted by the charm of a new place—the nightlife, the cute cafes and, the cobblestone streets—then honestly, don’t come. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy all of that after you get a job. You have to be clear on why you’re coming to Germany on this visa. Your only job for the next 12 months is to get a job. That means researching companies, sending applications, attending interviews, following up, and, doing it every single day. So if you are someone who can’t handle pressure, who gets distracted easily, and who gives up when things don’t go your way, then honestly, this visa is not for you.
Language
Let’s talk about something really important but a lot of people ignore—German language proficiency.
Here’s the issue: technically, under the point system, you only need A1-level German to get an opportunity card. So a lot are getting their visas approved based on their strong qualifications and good work experience. But in reality? These people aren’t getting jobs.
I'll be truly honest here. In Germany, employers will always prefer someone who speaks German. It doesn’t matter if the company is international, or based in a big city like Berlin or Munich. Germany is not like some other countries where you can survive on English alone. Here, German will be the priority—always.
If a job post says “German required,” they’re not talking about basic A1 or A2 level. They usually mean at least B1 or B2, and to be very honest, a lot of companies are looking for C1 level. You should be able to speak fluently, understand what others are saying, write professional emails, and confidently attend job interviews in German.
And if you are thinking, I will learn the language once you get here, then you are making a big mistake. German is not an easy language. Once you arrive here, you’ll have to cook your own food, do laundry and dishes, run between appointments, and maybe even do a part-time job. Do you think in the middle of all this, you’ll have time to learn a new language? No chance. You only have one year to find a job. Use that valuable time to apply for jobs, network, prepare for interviews, and not sit in a classroom learning A B C D.
So if you’re serious about moving to Germany and building a career here, do yourself a favor: learn German. Get to at least B1 before coming. Otherwise, you’ll struggle—not just with finding a job, but with everything.
Limited Time
You only have a very limited time to find a job.
Technically, the Opportunity Card visa can be extended for up to two more years—but that doesn’t apply to everyone. This is only the case if you manage to find a job during your one-year stay and that job comes with extra requirements that take time to fulfill. For example, a regulated field like medicine where you need to pass additional exams. But even then, the extension is not guaranteed. The final decision lies with the Federal Employment Agency.
So for the majority of people, this visa will not be extended. You get one year and that’s it.
Limited Jobs
Now let’s talk about something most people don’t want to hear. The German job market is in a really bad situation right now. I’m not saying this to scare you—this is just the reality. A lot of companies are cutting salaries, putting employees on reduced working hours, or straight up firing people. And if you’re from the IT sector, things are especially rough.
And I get it—you hear these reports about huge worker shortages in Germany from the media and the government. And you think, this is the right time. Although it's technically true, the shortages are not everywhere, and not in every field. Most of these so-called “shortages” are in very specific areas, also called “bottleneck professions.” We’re talking about nurses, construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and other similar jobs here. These professions are always in demand—even in a recession. Because no matter how bad the economy gets, people still need healthcare, transport, and basic infrastructure.
So if you’re planning to come to Germany in 2025, and you’re not in one of those high-demand fields then you really need to understand that the competition is intense and your chances of getting a job are not very high.
Expensive
And what makes everything even harder is the cost of living.
Germany is expensive—especially if you’re coming from a developing country. Your monthly expenses will easily be 3 to 4 times higher than what you’re used to.
Rent alone can take up half your monthly budget. And what makes it more difficult is that landlords normally prefer tenants with stable jobs. And if you don’t have one, it becomes almost impossible to find an apartment. So you’ll often have to pay higher rent just to get someplace to stay.
Then add groceries, transport, health insurance, mobile bills, and other day-to-day expenses.
Don’t move to Germany without a solid financial plan. It’s not just about getting here—it’s about surviving here until you find a job.
Limited Part-time Jobs
One of the attractive things about the Opportunity Card is that it officially allows you to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week while you’re looking for a job.
On paper, that sounds like a great way to support yourself while you’re in Germany. But it’s not always that simple.
Most employers are not looking for someone to work exactly 20 hours. Let’s say an employer is looking for someone to work three full shifts a week—that’s 3 days × 8 hours = 24 hours. In that case, you don’t make the cut.
On top of that, this opportunity card is a relatively new concept. Most employers don’t fully understand the visa rules. So instead of dealing with the confusion or paperwork, they just avoid hiring people with the Opportunity Card for part-time work altogether.
Wrong Expectations
You also need to understand that job titles and designations work very differently in Germany.
Let’s say in your home country, you’ve been working for 5 or 6 years and you’re already a Project Manager. But in Germany, that exact same job title might require 10+ years of experience. So even if you have solid experience and great skills, you might not be considered “senior” enough here. But naturally, you’d expect a better salary than someone just starting out.
What happens then? You apply for roles that match your title from your previous jobs, but in Germany, those roles go to people with a lot more experience. Then you try applying for entry-level positions, but now you’re seen as overqualified or too expensive. It’s frustrating. And if you’re not prepared for this and don’t adjust your expectations early on, you will be in for a big disappointment.
Wrap-up: A Better Way
Opportunity Card is definitely a great path to enter Germany, live here, and eventually find work. But still, the honest suggestion would be to start applying from your home country first.
Whether you’re applying from India or Germany, the process is exactly the same. You’re doing it online. You’re not walking into offices and handing out resumes. You don’t need to physically be in Germany just to attend interviews.
How can we be so sure? Because I did it that way. I learned German from India, applied for jobs in Germany through online job portals, attended interviews over Skype, and once I got the offer, I came here directly on a job visa.
So keep your current job. Keep that financial stability. And in parallel, start applying for jobs in Germany. Test the market and your skills. Once you start getting good responses—and you’ve got a few interviews lined up or at least interest from companies—then apply for the Opportunity Card. Not before.
Because now, you’re coming with a plan. Else all you’ll end up doing is coming here, wasting time, and burning through your money.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Disclaimer: The Content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal or other advice. It is important to do your own analysis before making any decision.
