Do you qualify?
Short answer: Nigerian SAP consultants with a recognised university degree (CS, engineering, or business for functional roles) can qualify for the Chancenkarte. The specific route and points depend on whether you are in a technical or functional SAP role.
Critical note on HND: HND from a Nigerian polytechnic does not qualify as a formal degree for the Chancenkarte.
Technical vs functional SAP: which ISCO group applies?
| SAP role type | ISCO-08 group | Shortage occupation point |
|---|---|---|
| ABAP developer / SAP Basis / SAP architect | Group 25 | Yes (1 point) |
| Functional consultant (FI/CO, MM, SD, HR, PP) with ABAP | Group 25 | Yes (1 point) |
| Pure functional consultant (no ABAP) | Group 242 | Not a shortage occupation |
If your role is classified under group 242 (pure functional), you do not receive the shortage occupation point. You still qualify for the Chancenkarte if you reach 6 points via other criteria.
Which degrees qualify?
For technical SAP (group 25):
- B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Eng. Computer Engineering, B.Sc. Information Technology
For functional SAP (group 242):
- B.Sc. Accounting, B.Com, B.Sc. Economics (for FI/CO, MM, SD roles)
- B.Sc. Business Administration
- B.Eng. Industrial Engineering (for PP/MM roles)
- B.Sc. CS (also qualifies)
Check your institution at anabin.kmk.org.
Route 2: calculating your points
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Partial equivalence of your qualification | 4 |
| Shortage occupation (technical SAP only, ISCO-08 group 25) | 1 |
| At least 2 years qualifying experience in last 5 years | 2 |
| At least 5 years qualifying experience in last 7 years | 3 |
| German at A2 / B1 / B2+ | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| English at C1 (with certificate) | 1 |
| Age under 35 | 2 |
| Age 35–39 | 1 |
Worked examples for Nigerian SAP consultants:
Profile A: B.Sc. CS from H+/- university (programme unlisted), ABAP developer, 3 years experience, age 28, English C1: 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age) + 1 (English) = 6 points ✓
Profile B: B.Com from UNILAG (H+ listed, fully recognised), functional FI/CO consultant, 5 years experience, age 32, German A2 + English C1: No shortage point (group 242) + 3 (5-yr exp) + 1 (age 35–39: N/A, age 32 → 2) + 1 (German A2) + 1 (English) = 7 points ✓
Profile C: HND in Computer Science, SAP ABAP, 4 years experience: Does not qualify. HND is not a qualifying formal credential.
German language bonus for SAP consultants: A German language certificate (B1+) significantly improves employability during the job-search period. Many German SAP clients require at least basic German for client-facing roles. Use the Chancenkarte period to both job-search and advance your German language level.
Financial requirement
€13,092 in a Sperrkonto (€1,091 × 12 months, 2026).
Worked example: Chinedu's Chancenkarte application
Chinedu Ogbonna, 35, SAP FI/CO Consultant, Lagos to Germany
- Degree: B.Sc. Accounting, University of Nigeria Nsukka (2012). University of Nigeria Nsukka is rated H+ in anabin. Apostille obtained (Nigeria joined the Hague Convention 24 September 2024).
- Experience: 11 years of SAP FI/CO implementation across banking, oil and gas, and telecoms clients, covering S/4HANA migrations, General Ledger, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Profit Centre Accounting, and CO-PA reporting.
- Financial proof: Sperrkonto with €13,092 (12 months × €1,091, binding under § 20a(4) AufenthG), opened with Expatrio.
- Visa result: Qualifies under Route 1 (§ 20a AufenthG). The B.Sc. Accounting degree from an H+ university earns 4 degree points; 11 years of SAP FI/CO experience in a recognised professional category adds 2 experience points, reaching 6 points.
- After arrival: Targets Munich and Frankfurt SAP consultancies; converts at month 4 to an EU Blue Card with a €75,000 gross/year functional SAP offer. The role is classified under ISCO-08 group 242 (business and administration professionals), so the general salary threshold of €50,700 applies for the Blue Card conversion, not the shortage threshold of €45,934.20.
What would change the outcome: If Chinedu's role were technical SAP (ABAP development on S/4HANA), it would fall under ISCO-08 group 25 and the lower shortage threshold of €45,934.20 would apply for Blue Card conversion. The distinction matters most for salary negotiation: an applicant who negotiates a salary of €48,000 expecting the shortage threshold to apply could fail Blue Card conversion if the Ausländerbehörde classifies the role as ISCO-08 group 242, where the general threshold of €50,700 is required.
Document checklist (Nigeria, 2026)
- Valid passport
- Degree certificate with apostille (since 24 September 2024)
- Academic transcript with apostille
- NYSC Discharge Certificate or exemption
- anabin printout, or ZAB Statement of Comparability
- Language certificate
- Experience letters: SAP modules (ABAP, S/4HANA, FI/CO, MM, SD, SAP BTP), project scope, client industry, technical vs functional breakdown, plus payslips and TCC
- SAP certifications (supplementary, listed on CV)
- Sperrkonto certificate (€13,092)
Sources
- § 20a AufenthG and § 20b AufenthG
- anabin database, KMK / ZAB
- German Embassy Abuja / Consulate General Lagos
We are not a law firm. This page provides general information only, not legal advice.