If you finish a degree in Germany, you can stay to look for a job, and there are two different permits that people mix up. This guide compares the job-search permit for graduates with the Opportunity Card, using the English translation of Germany's Residence Act on the official legal portal, read on 21 October 2026.
- Under Section 20 of the Residence Act, a graduate of a German course of study can get a residence permit to look for a job for up to 18 months, if their subsistence is secured
- Under Section 20a, the Opportunity Card is first granted for up to one year and allows up to 20 hours of work a week
- A follow-up card can run up to two years.
What Are the Two Options for Looking for a Job in Germany?
One is the job-search permit for people who completed a course of study in Germany, which can last up to 18 months. The other is the Opportunity Card, a permit for seeking work that is granted for up to one year. You must have enough money to support yourself for either permit.
| Germany job-search options 2026 | Length | Work allowed while searching |
|---|---|---|
| Job-search permit after a German degree (Section 20) | Up to 18 months | Check with your foreigners' office |
| Opportunity Card for job search (Section 20a) | Up to 1 year | Up to 20 hours a week, plus up to 2 weeks of trial work |
| Follow-up Opportunity Card | Up to 2 years | Only the future job, with a job offer and agency consent |
The two permits are separate, and both depend on your subsistence being secured. Which one fits depends on where you studied.
Study in Germany: Universities, Costs and VisaRead →How Long Is the Job-Search Permit After a German Degree?
The law grants a temporary residence permit to look for a job to foreigners who successfully completed a course of study in Germany, for up to 18 months. Your subsistence must be secured. The permit cannot be extended beyond that maximum period, so plan your search and your applications from your final semester.
The same section covers other people who finished research or vocational training in Germany. The 18 months is the legal maximum, and your foreigners' office decides the exact period it grants.
What Is the Opportunity Card?
It is a temporary residence permit for seeking work or for completing steps to recognise a foreign qualification. Holders may work up to 20 hours a week and take trial work of up to two weeks. You qualify as a skilled worker or by scoring enough points, and you need basic German or English at B2.
For the points route you also need an officially recognised foreign qualification, and the law sets a points table. Confirmation from a German authority is required for the qualification. Check the points table in the law and with the German mission handling your application.
Which Option Suits a Graduate of a German University?
A graduate of a German course of study has the job-search permit of up to 18 months, which is longer than the Opportunity Card's first year. The Opportunity Card is mainly for people who did not study in Germany. Ask your foreigners' office which permit you can use and what work it allows.
How Many Points Do You Need for the Opportunity Card?
You need at least six points if you do not qualify as a skilled worker. Points come from German or English language level, work experience, age, a link to Germany and your spouse. Age 35 or under gives 2 points, and five years of recent work experience gives 3. The table shows every feature and its points.
| Feature 2026 | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification that needs recognition or adaptation measures | 4 |
| Good command of German | 3 |
| Sufficient command of German | 2 |
| Elementary command of German | 1 |
| English at level C1 | 1 |
| 5 years of work experience in the last 7 years | 3 |
| 2 years of work experience in the last 5 years | 2 |
| Qualification in a shortage occupation | 1 |
| Aged 35 or under | 2 |
| Aged 35 to 40 | 1 |
| 6 months of lawful residence in Germany in the last 5 years | 1 |
| Spouse also qualifies and applies with you | 1 |
Only one German language level counts, and only the higher work experience band. The government can change the points table by regulation, so check the annex to the Residence Act before you apply. The points route also needs a recognised foreign qualification and German at a basic level or English at B2.
How Much Money Must You Show for the Opportunity Card?
The German missions in India say you must show at least 1,091 euros per month for living costs, which is 13,092 euros for 12 months. You can prove it with a blocked account or a formal declaration of support from someone living in Germany. You also need health insurance valid from your entry date.
Figures change, and older pages quote lower amounts. Check the Federal Foreign Office page on the day you apply. The permit is granted only if your subsistence is secured.
What Documents Do Indian Applicants Need for the Opportunity Card?
You apply through the Consular Service Portal with a valid passport, proof of funds, health insurance and either a recognised degree or enough points. For an Indian degree, your university must be rated H+ in the anabin database, and distance-learning degrees need extra confirmation. English tests must follow ALTE or TOEFL standards.
The Federal Foreign Office page for India says PTE, Duolingo and TOEFL online results are not accepted there. A skilled-professional application also needs mark sheets for every semester, and your degree must be rated as equivalent in anabin or backed by a ZAB comparability statement.
Can You Extend an Opportunity Card?
The first card lasts up to a year. A follow-up card of up to two years is possible if you have an employment contract or a binding job offer for skilled work and the Federal Employment Agency consents. A new job-search card needs a stay abroad as long as the previous stay.
A follow-up card is not granted if you meet the conditions of other residence permits for skilled work. The card's work allowance does not apply to the follow-up card, which covers the future employment.