Do you qualify?
The Chancenkarte lets you move to Germany without a job offer and search for software engineering roles for up to 12 months, then convert to an EU Blue Card or work permit once you have an offer.
Two routes exist. Route 1 applies if your degree is fully recognised in Germany: no points calculation needed. Route 2 applies if your degree is not fully recognised or if you want to apply without going through anabin first: you need at least 6 points from the points table.
To apply, you must hold at minimum one of the following:
- A foreign higher-education degree of at least 3 years (ISCED level 6 or higher)
- A state-recognised vocational qualification of at least 2 years
- An AHK Category A certificate
A Diplôme d'Ingénieur (5-year, ISCED 7) or a recognised 3-year Licence (LMD, ISCED 6) from a Moroccan university meets the degree requirement. OFPPT vocational diplomas are classified below ISCED level 6 and do not meet the basic eligibility threshold.
Which route applies to you?
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| Diplôme d'Ingénieur from an H+ Grande École, programme listed as "entspricht" | Route 1: no points needed |
| Diplôme d'Ingénieur from H+ school, programme not listed in anabin | Route 2: 6 points required |
| 3-year Licence from H+ institution, programme listed as "entspricht" | Route 1: no points needed |
| 3-year Licence, programme not individually listed | Route 2: 6 points required (ZAB recommended) |
| OFPPT vocational diploma (Technicien Spécialisé / BTS) | Not eligible as the base qualification |
Check your institution at anabin.kmk.org. The institution must be H+ and your specific programme must be listed as "entspricht" in the comments.
Route 2: calculating your points
| Criterion | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Partial equivalence of your qualification with a German qualification | 4 | Requires a formal ZAB partial equivalence decision |
| Shortage occupation (software engineering qualifies) | 1 | ISCO-08 groups 133 and 25 |
| At least 2 years qualifying experience in last 5 years | 2 | Post-graduation, in your field |
| At least 5 years qualifying experience in last 7 years | 3 | Replaces 2-year tier (mutually exclusive) |
| German at A2 | 1 | |
| German at B1 | 2 | Replaces A2 (mutually exclusive) |
| German at B2 or higher | 3 | Replaces B1 (mutually exclusive) |
| English at B2 or higher (with certificate) | 1 | Certificate required |
| Age under 35 at date of application | 2 | |
| Age 35 to 39 at date of application | 1 | Replaces under-35 (mutually exclusive) |
| Prior lawful residence in Germany, at least 6 months in last 5 years | 1 | Tourist stays excluded |
| Spouse also qualifies and applies jointly | 1 |
Important note on French and Arabic: Neither French nor Arabic awards points under the Chancenkarte points table. Only German and English language certifications are recognised in the points system. If you are a French speaker with no English certificate, German language study is the fastest way to add language points.
Worked points examples for Moroccan software engineers:
Profile A: Diplôme d'Ingénieur from ENSIAS (programme unlisted), 3 years post-graduation experience, age 27, TOEFL iBT 87 (B2): 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English B2) = 6 points ✓
Profile B: Diplôme d'Ingénieur, 5 years experience, age 31, IELTS 7.5 (C1), German A2: 1 (shortage) + 3 (5-year exp) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English) + 1 (German A2) = 8 points ✓
Profile C: 3-year Licence LMD, 2 years experience, age 38, no German, no English certificate: 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 1 (age 35–39) = 4 points. Does not qualify. An IELTS or TOEFL certificate at B2 or higher adds 1 point, bringing it to 5. German at A2 adds another 1 point to reach 6.
Financial requirement: the Sperrkonto
Before your visa appointment you must hold €13,092 (§ 20a(4) AufenthG) in a Sperrkonto, a blocked account that releases monthly instalments after you arrive. Providers include Fintiba, Coracle, and Expatrio. Open the account early: most providers take one to two weeks.
The figure German missions apply in 2025–2026 is €1,091/month (€13,092/year), derived from the BAföG framework. Verify the current amount with your mission before opening an account.
What you can do on the Opportunity Card
- Part-time employment: up to 20 hours per week on average
- Trial employment (Probebeschäftigung): up to 2 weeks per employer
- Freelancing: not permitted
- Job interviews and technical assessments: not regulated
Worked example: Samira's Chancenkarte application
Samira El Fassi, 28, software engineer, Rabat to Germany
Samira holds a Diplôme d'Ingénieur from INPT (Institut National des Postes et Télécommunications), 5-year programme completed in 2020. She checks INPT and her programme in anabin — the institution appears with an H+ classification, but her specific programme is not listed individually in the comments. She is on Route 2 and needs 6 points.
Her profile: 4 years post-graduation experience in backend development at a Rabat-based software company. Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Redis, AWS (EC2, RDS). 27 at application date. TOEFL iBT 90 (B2 level). No German.
Points: 1 (shortage occupation) + 2 (2 years qualifying experience) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English B2) = 6 points exactly.
An important note on French: despite Samira's advanced French proficiency, French language skills do not award points under the Chancenkarte points table. Only English and German certificates count. Her TOEFL certificate is the language document she submits.
Document authentication: Morocco joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 26 December 2016. Samira obtains an apostille on her degree certificate and academic transcripts from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No further legalisation is required.
Her registered address is in Rabat, so she applies at the German Embassy Rabat. She opens a Sperrkonto with Coracle (€13,092) two weeks before her appointment.
After arriving in Munich, she works 20 hours per week as a Python developer at an agency while interviewing for full-time roles. She converts to a Blue Card five months after arrival.
Document checklist (Morocco, Chancenkarte, 2026)
- Valid passport (at least 2 empty pages)
- Biometric passport photograph
- Completed VIDEX application form
- Degree certificate with apostille from Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Academic transcript with apostille from Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- anabin printout for your institution and degree, or ZAB Statement of Comparability
- Language certificate: IELTS Academic, TOEFL, or Cambridge for English at B2 or higher; Goethe-Institut, telc, or ÖSD for German
- Experience letters (specific technologies, responsibilities, seniority) and payslips
- Sperrkonto certificate (€13,092) or proof of equivalent financial means
- Travel health insurance for the visa period
Apostille note: Morocco joined the Hague Convention on 26 December 2016. The apostille must be issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A notarisation by a Moroccan notaire or adoul is a different document formality and does not substitute for the MFA apostille.
Which German mission handles your application
Germany operates two missions in Morocco: the Embassy in Rabat and the Consulate General in Casablanca. Jurisdiction generally follows your registered address. Contact the mission nearest your area to confirm which handles your file before booking via the Consular Services Portal at digital.diplo.de.
Common mistakes
Treating French language proficiency as a language certificate for the points table. French is not in the Chancenkarte points table. Only German and English certifications (from Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD for German; IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge for English) award points. If you speak only French and Arabic, German language study is the fastest way to add language points.
Confusing an OFPPT Technicien Spécialisé diploma with a higher education degree. OFPPT diplomas are vocational qualifications and are classified below ISCED level 6. They do not satisfy the basic degree requirement for the Chancenkarte.
Not having an English or German language certificate at all. Without a verifiable language certificate, you cannot claim the 1 language point. This single point is often the difference between 5 and 6. Book an IELTS or TOEFL exam 6–8 weeks before your planned application.
Opening the Sperrkonto too late. Providers take 1–2 weeks. You need the certificate before your visa appointment. Apply at least 4 weeks early.
Confusing the apostille with Moroccan notarisation. The MFA apostille and a notaire/adoul attestation are different instruments. Only the MFA apostille satisfies the Hague Convention requirement. Submit the apostilled original or apostilled certified copy, not a notarised one.
When you need a lawyer
Consider one if your anabin check is unclear (H+/- or unlisted programme), if you are right at the 6-point borderline and need certainty before spending on a Sperrkonto and travel, or if you are applying jointly with a spouse and need to establish joint eligibility. A ZAB Zeugnisbewertung before applying removes most uncertainty for Route 2 applicants with unlisted programmes.
We are not a law firm and this page does not constitute legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does French count as a language for the Chancenkarte points table?
No. Only German and English are recognised in the Chancenkarte points system. French and Arabic are not included. A French speaker who also holds an IELTS B2 or TOEFL B2 certificate can claim 1 point for English. A French speaker who has studied German to A2 can claim 1 point for German, or 2 points at B1.
My Diplôme d'Ingénieur is from a prestigious school. Can I go to Route 1 automatically?
Route 1 requires that both your institution and your specific programme appear in anabin with the corresponding "entspricht" notation. The school's reputation or ranking does not determine Route 1 eligibility — the anabin listing does. Check at anabin.kmk.org for your exact school and your exact programme before assuming Route 1 applies.
Do I need an apostille on my Moroccan degree?
Yes. Morocco joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 26 December 2016. The apostille must come from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No further legalisation is required. Bring the apostilled original or apostilled certified copy to your visa appointment.
Can I work while on the Chancenkarte?
You can work up to 20 hours per week on average and do trial employment (Probebeschäftigung) for up to 2 weeks per employer. Freelancing is not permitted. Full-time employment requires converting to a Blue Card or work permit through your local Ausländerbehörde after you receive a qualifying job offer.
How many points do I need?
6 points under Route 2. Route 1 applies if your degree is fully recognised in anabin, in which case no points calculation is required. If you are on Route 2 and unsure, list your criteria against the table above. Shortage occupation (1) + 2 years experience (2) + age under 35 (2) + English B2 certificate (1) = 6 points, which is a realistic profile for most Moroccan engineering graduates with 2–4 years of experience.
Sources
- § 20a AufenthG: Chancenkarte, Bundesministerium der Justiz
- Opportunity Card: Make it in Germany, Federal Government
- anabin database, KMK / ZAB
- German Embassy Rabat, Auswärtiges Amt
- German Consulate General Casablanca, Auswärtiges Amt
- HCCH: Morocco and the Apostille Convention, Hague Conference on Private International Law
We are not a law firm. This page provides general information only, not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the relevant German mission before applying.
See also
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