Do you qualify?
The Chancenkarte lets you move to Germany without a job offer and search for cybersecurity roles for up to 12 months. To apply, you need a qualifying higher-education degree of at least 3 years. A 4-year B.Sc. CS or B.Eng. from a Pakistani university meets the requirement.
Route 1 applies if your degree is fully recognised in anabin. Route 2 if not: you need at least 6 points.
Which route applies to you?
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| 4-year B.Sc. CS / B.Eng. from H+ university, programme listed as "entspricht" | Route 1: no points needed |
| 4-year degree from H+ university, programme not listed | Route 2: 6 points required |
| 3-year BCS or B.Sc. (Hons) | Route 2: 6 points required |
| No degree or degree below ISCED level 6 | Not eligible |
Security certifications (CISSP, CEH, OSCP, CISM) do not substitute for the degree requirement. They belong in your file as supporting documents, not as the qualifying credential.
Route 2: calculating your points
| Criterion | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ZAB partial equivalence decision | 4 | Formal ZAB assessment required |
| Shortage occupation (cybersecurity qualifies) | 1 | ISCO-08 group 25 |
| At least 2 years qualifying experience in last 5 years | 2 | Technical security engineering |
| At least 5 years qualifying experience in last 7 years | 3 | Replaces 2-year tier |
| German at A2 | 1 | |
| German at B1 | 2 | Replaces A2 |
| English at C1 (with certificate) | 1 | Certificate required |
| Age under 35 | 2 | |
| Age 35 to 39 | 1 | Replaces under-35 |
| Prior lawful residence in Germany, at least 6 months in last 5 years | 1 | |
| Spouse applies jointly | 1 |
Points example:
Profile: 4-year B.Sc. CS (programme unlisted), 3 years penetration testing and incident response, age 28, IELTS 7.5 (C1): 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English C1) = 6 points ✓
Financial requirement
€13,092 in a Sperrkonto before your visa appointment (§ 20a(4) AufenthG). The figure German missions apply in 2025-2026 is €1,091/month. Verify the current amount with your mission before opening an account. Also budget €500 for the return ticket reserve.
Worked example: Saad's Chancenkarte application
Saad Mirza, 31, cybersecurity engineer, Rawalpindi to Germany
Saad holds a 4-year B.Sc. Computer Science from FAST-NUCES Rawalpindi (2016). He checks FAST-NUCES in anabin and his programme is listed as "entspricht." Route 1 applies.
HEC attests his degree and transcript; MOFA attests on top. No apostille: Germany objected to Pakistan's Hague accession. His registered address is in Rawalpindi, Punjab, so he applies to Embassy Islamabad via the CSP portal.
He opens a Sperrkonto (€13,092) with Fintiba and pays €75 in PKR at the Embassy rate for the visa fee.
After arriving in Cologne, he does 20 hours per week of part-time security testing while interviewing at German banks and insurers. Converts to a Blue Card at a Cologne financial institution three months later.
Document checklist
- Valid passport (at least 2 empty pages)
- Biometric passport photograph
- VIDEX application form
- Degree certificate with HEC attestation and MOFA attestation (no apostille)
- Academic transcript with HEC attestation and MOFA attestation
- anabin printout or ZAB Statement of Comparability
- Language certificate
- Experience letters (technical security scope: pen testing, SIEM, incident response, security architecture) and payslips
- Security certification copies (supporting only)
- Sperrkonto certificate (€13,092)
- Travel health insurance
Which German mission handles your application
| Mission | Jurisdiction | Visa applications |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy Islamabad | ICT, Punjab, KPK, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK | Yes, via CSP portal (digital.diplo.de) |
| Consulate General Karachi | Sindh, Balochistan | Yes, via CSP portal |
| Honorary Consul Lahore | Lahore and Sargodha | No visas. Certified document copies only. |
Common mistakes
Treating security certifications as the qualifying credential. They are not. CISSP, CEH, and OSCP support your profile but do not replace the degree or experience requirements.
Applying to the wrong mission. Punjab, KPK, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, and ICT: Embassy Islamabad. Sindh and Balochistan: Consulate General Karachi.
Paying for APS. APS is for student visas only.
Sources
- § 20a AufenthG: Chancenkarte, Bundesministerium der Justiz
- Chancenkarte: Make it in Germany, Federal Government
- anabin database, KMK / ZAB
- German Embassy Islamabad, Auswärtiges Amt
- HCCH: Pakistan accession and German objection, 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.