Do you qualify?
Short answer: as a Nigerian software engineer with a recognised B.Sc. or B.Eng. degree, you can qualify: via Route 1 if your degree is fully recognised, or the points system otherwise.
Critical note on HND: A Higher National Diploma from a Nigerian polytechnic does not qualify as a formal degree for the Chancenkarte. Route 1 is not available to HND holders. Route 2 is not available either: the points system still requires a qualifying credential (a higher-education degree of at least 3 years, a 2-year state-recognised vocational qualification, or an AHK Category A certificate) as a prerequisite under § 20a(3) AufenthG, and an HND alone does not meet that threshold.
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 a EU Blue Card or work permit.
The Chancenkarte requires a formal qualification
To apply, you must hold one of:
- A foreign higher-education degree (at least 3 years, ISCED level 6 or higher)
- A state-recognised vocational qualification of at least 2 years
- An AHK Category A certificate
HND (Higher National Diploma) does not meet this threshold in most cases. An HND is a two-year polytechnic diploma that sits below a Nigerian university bachelor's degree. Anabin and the ZAB do not publish a blanket ISCED-level classification for Nigerian HNDs, so whether a specific HND meets the ISCED/EQF level 6 threshold for Chancenkarte points depends on the individual credential. Get a ZAB Zeugnisbewertung (anabin.kmk.org) to confirm your qualification's level before relying on it for points.
Which route applies to you?
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. CS / B.Eng. CE (4–5 years) from an H+ university | Route 1: no points needed |
| Degree from H+/- university, programme not listed in anabin | Route 2: 6 points required |
| HND only | Not eligible for Chancenkarte |
| No formal qualification | Not eligible for Chancenkarte |
Check your institution at anabin.kmk.org/anabin/institutionen.
Route 2: calculating your points
| Criterion | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Partial equivalence of your qualification with a German qualification | 4 | Requires a formal "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 C1 or native (with certificate) | 1 | Additive; certificate required |
| Age under 35 at date of application | 2 | |
| Age 35–39 at date of application | 1 | Replaces under-35 (mutually exclusive) |
| Prior lawful residence in Germany ≥ 6 months in last 5 years | 1 | Tourist stays excluded |
| Spouse also qualifies and applies jointly | 1 |
Worked examples for Nigerian software engineers:
Profile A: B.Sc. CS from H+/- university (programme unlisted), 3 years post-graduation experience, age 26, English C1: 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age) + 1 (English) = 6 points ✓
Profile B: B.Eng. CE from H+/- university (unlisted), 5 years software engineering experience, age 30, English C1: 1 (shortage) + 3 (5-year exp) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English) = 7 points ✓
Profile C: B.Sc. CS, ZAB partial equivalence, 4 years experience, age 28, German A2 + English C1: 4 (partial equiv) + 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (German A2) + 1 (English C1) = 11 points ✓
Profile D: 2 years experience, age 42, no German, English B2 only: 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) = 3 points. Does not qualify. Needs language study or more experience.
English C1 note: Nigerian professionals educated in English-medium universities may have strong English proficiency. An IELTS Academic score of 7.0+ or Cambridge C1 Advanced certifies C1. The certificate is required even if English was your primary medium of instruction.
Financial requirement: the Sperrkonto
€13,092 (€1,091 × 12 months, 2026 figure under § 20a(4) AufenthG) in a Sperrkonto before your visa appointment. Providers: Fintiba, Coracle, Expatrio.
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
- Interviews and technical assessments: not regulated
Worked example: Chinedu's Chancenkarte application
Chinedu Okafor, 28, Software Engineer, Lagos to Germany
- Degree: B.Sc. Computer Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka (2019). University of Nigeria Nsukka is rated H+ in anabin; the B.Sc. Computer Science programme is listed as "entspricht einem deutschen Hochschulabschluss." Nigeria has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so his documents could not be apostilled; instead they went through Urkundenüberprüfung, a verification process that a German court or registry office initiates, not the applicant directly.
- Experience: 4 years post-graduation building backend services in Python and Node.js at a Lagos fintech; promoted to mid-level engineer in year 2 with ownership of the payment reconciliation service.
- Financial proof: Sperrkonto with €13,092 (12 months x €1,091, binding under § 20a(4) AufenthG), opened with Fintiba.
- Visa result: Qualifies under Route 1 (§ 20a AufenthG). The B.Sc. Computer Science from UNN is listed as "entspricht einem deutschen Hochschulabschluss," so no points calculation is required.
- After arrival: Conducts technical interviews and two-week trial employment stints (Probebeschäftigung) with companies in Berlin and Hamburg, with the aim of converting to a Blue Card once a full-time offer is confirmed.
- Processing time: Consulate General Lagos. No fixed timeline is published for this mission: the Auslandsportal states a minimum of 4 weeks from a complete application, with no published upper bound, and actual timing varies by mission, so Chinedu built in a buffer well beyond that minimum rather than plan around a specific week count.
What would change the outcome: If Chinedu held an HND from a Nigerian polytechnic instead of a B.Sc., Route 1 would be closed to him, and Route 2 would depend on whether his specific HND meets the ISCED/EQF level 6 threshold, a determination that requires a ZAB Zeugnisbewertung since anabin does not publish a blanket classification for Nigerian HNDs. Absent that, the alternative would be the Blue Card IT exception (§ 18g(2) AufenthG), which requires a job offer first.
Document checklist (Nigeria, Route 2, 2026)
- Valid passport (at least 2 empty pages)
- Biometric-format passport photograph
- Completed VIDEX application form
- Degree certificate, verified through Urkundenüberprüfung (Nigeria is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so apostille is not available)
- Academic transcript, verified through Urkundenüberprüfung
- NYSC Discharge Certificate (or exemption)
- University confirmation of regular (on-site) mode of study
- anabin printout, or ZAB Statement of Comparability if unlisted
- Language certificate: IELTS / TOEFL / Cambridge at B2+ for English, or Goethe-Institut / telc / ÖSD for German
- Experience letters (specific technologies, responsibilities, seniority) plus payslips and Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC)
- Sperrkonto certificate (€13,092) or signed Verpflichtungserklärung
- Travel health insurance
Apostille note: Nigeria has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention (per the HCCH status table). Nigerian public documents cannot be apostilled. German authorities instead use Urkundenüberprüfung, a separate verification process initiated only by a German court or registry office, not by the applicant. Confirm current requirements with the German Embassy Abuja or Consulate General Lagos.
Frequently asked questions
Does an HND qualify for the Chancenkarte?
In most cases, no. An HND is a two-year polytechnic diploma below a Nigerian university bachelor's degree, and anabin and the ZAB do not publish a blanket ISCED-level classification for Nigerian HNDs, so whether a specific HND meets the ISCED/EQF level 6 threshold depends on the individual credential. Get a ZAB Zeugnisbewertung (anabin.kmk.org) to confirm your qualification's level before relying on it for Chancenkarte points. If you have 3+ years of software engineering experience at graduate level, the EU Blue Card IT exception (§ 18g(2)) requires a job offer first.
How long does the Chancenkarte take to process for Nigerian applicants?
No fixed timeline is published for the German Embassy Abuja or Consulate General Lagos. The Auslandsportal states a minimum of 4 weeks from a complete application, with no published upper bound, and actual timing varies by mission. Apply well ahead of your planned travel date and build in a buffer well beyond that minimum.
Which German mission handles Nigerian visa applications?
The German Embassy in Abuja handles applications for most states. The Consulate General in Lagos handles applications from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states. Check which mission has jurisdiction for your state of residence before booking an appointment.
Sources
- § 20a AufenthG: Chancenkarte, Bundesministerium der Justiz
- § 20b AufenthG: Points system, Bundesministerium der Justiz
- Chancenkarte: Make it in Germany, Federal Government
- anabin database, KMK / ZAB
- German Embassy Abuja, Auswärtiges Amt
- German Consulate General Lagos, Auswärtiges Amt
We are not a law firm. This page provides general information only, not legal advice.