All you need to know about the Germany  Opportunity Card

People who want to work but are not from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland can get an Opportunity Card. They are called "third-country nationals," and they have a college degree or a professional qualification. The card lets skilled workers connect with employers in Germany, find suitable work, take part in activities that will help them get recognised, find training opportunities, or even think about starting their own business in the country. Gift cards called Opportunity Cards make it easier for smart people from other countries to work in Germany. These cards let them legally look for work before they start working.

What are the advantages of the Germany Opportunity Card?

Some of the advantages of the Germany Opportunity Card are - 

• Being able to meet skilled workers from other countries in person is one of the best things about the Opportunity Card. 
• It's now easier to hire people and connect with other people. 
• You can work up to 20 hours a week as a part-time worker, and while you have the card, you can do up to two weeks of job trials related to the job you want. 
• This lets people learn more about possible jobs and companies while they are still looking for full-time work. 
• People in Germany with an Opportunity Card can also move right to a different residence title once they find work. This makes it easy to stay for a long time. 
• It's also easier to get a SIM card, register a place of residence, and open a bank account if you are in Germany before you start working. 
• In turn, this helps applicants fit in better with German society and the job market.

The old jobseeker visa was only good for six months, but the Opportunity Card is good for twelve months. A skilled worker can get an extra two years if they find work but haven't met the requirements for a new home title yet. This gives them enough time to make changes to their work and the way things are run.

How to get the Germany Opportunity Card?

To get the Opportunity Card, there are two main ways. You have to be a good worker to get to the first one. Skilled workers are people who have credentials from outside of Germany that are fully recognised in Germany. For example, a college degree or a professional qualification that is seen as equivalent to a German qualification. People who have finished a college degree or vocational training programme in Germany are also in this group. This group of people can apply for the Opportunity Card without having to meet any other goals based on points.

You can also use points to get in the second way. Some requirements must be met before someone can look for work even if they don't meet the direct skilled worker requirements. The country where the degree or professional qualification was earned must recognise it. For professional credentials, you need to have trained for at least two years. You can also use credentials that have been rated Category A by the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK). You must also show that you can speak and write at least a level B2 (CEFR) of English or German.

Overall, the Opportunity Card is a smart move by Germany to get qualified workers from other countries. It gives people looking for work a structured, helpful way to find meaningful work, get back into the job market, and become permanent residents.