Do you qualify?
The Chancenkarte lets you move to Germany without a job offer and search for SAP consulting roles for up to 12 months. Whether you qualify and which route applies depends on your degree and your SAP specialisation.
To apply, you need a qualifying higher-education degree of at least 3 years (ISCED level 6). For SAP roles, this means:
- B.Sc. Computer Science or B.Eng. (for technical SAP: ABAP, Basis, architecture)
- 4-year B.Com (Honours), B.Sc. Accounting, or B.Sc. Business Administration (for functional SAP: FI/CO, MM, SD, HR)
All must be 4-year programmes from H+ institutions in anabin. Shorter programmes or programmes not listed as "entspricht" require Route 2 (6 points) or a ZAB assessment.
Which route applies to you?
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| 4-year degree 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 degree | Route 2: 6 points required (ZAB recommended) |
| No degree or degree below ISCED level 6 | Not eligible |
SAP certifications (SAP Certified Application Associate, SAP Certified Development Associate) are supporting documents, not the qualifying credential for the Chancenkarte.
Route 2: calculating your points
| Criterion | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ZAB partial equivalence decision | 4 | Formal ZAB assessment required |
| Shortage occupation (technical SAP qualifies) | 1 | ISCO-08 group 25. Functional SAP may be group 242 |
| At least 2 years qualifying experience in last 5 years | 2 | SAP consulting at professional level |
| 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 |
Note on the shortage occupation point: technical SAP (ABAP, Basis, SAP BTP) sits under ISCO-08 group 25 and earns the shortage point. Functional SAP consulting (FI/CO, MM, SD without ABAP) may sit under ISCO-08 group 242 (business and administration professionals), which may not earn the shortage point in the same way. If your role is purely functional, confirm the ISCO classification before calculating your points.
Points example:
Profile: 4-year B.Sc. CS (programme unlisted), 5 years ABAP development and S/4HANA technical consulting, age 32, IELTS 7.0 (C1): 1 (shortage) + 3 (5-year exp) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English C1) = 7 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. Budget €500 for the return ticket reserve.
Worked example: Kamran's Chancenkarte application
Kamran Javed, 36, SAP FI/CO consultant, Karachi to Germany
Kamran holds a 4-year B.Com (Honours) from the University of Karachi (2011). He checks the University of Karachi in anabin and his B.Com programme is not individually listed in the comments. Route 2.
Profile: 11 years SAP FI/CO consulting across telecoms, retail, and manufacturing clients in Pakistan and the UAE. No ABAP. Age 36 (35 to 39 band). IELTS 7.0 (C1 English). No German yet. Points: 2 (experience, 5-year tier) + 1 (age 35 to 39) + 1 (English C1) = 4 points. Not yet qualifying.
He starts German lessons, reaches A2 within four months: 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 (German A2) = 5 points. Still one short. He continues to B1: 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 (German B1) = 6 points ✓.
HEC attests his degree and transcript; MOFA attests on top. No apostille: Germany formally objected to Pakistan's Hague accession. His registered address is in Karachi, Sindh, so he applies to Consulate General Karachi. He opens a Sperrkonto (€13,092) with Fintiba.
After arriving in Düsseldorf, he conducts two-week Probebeschäftigung trials at three SAP consultancies before receiving a full-time offer.
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 (Goethe-Institut B1 or higher for German; IELTS/TOEFL for English)
- Experience letters (SAP modules, project scope, client type, implementation vs support, seniority) and payslips
- SAP 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
Counting the shortage occupation point when your role is purely functional SAP. The shortage point under the Chancenkarte points table applies to ISCO-08 group 25. Functional SAP consulting without ABAP may be classified as group 242. Confirm before building your points case.
Adding a Pakistani apostille. No legal effect. Use HEC and MOFA attestation.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does a B.Com qualify for the Chancenkarte as an SAP FI/CO consultant?
Only the 4-year B.Com (Honours) qualifies for Route 1. The standard 2-year B.Com is rated "Bedingt vergleichbar" in anabin, which does not meet the Route 1 threshold. If your B.Com (Honours) institution is H+ and the programme is listed as "entspricht," you are on Route 1. If not listed, check whether 6 points are achievable under Route 2. The shortage occupation point may not apply to purely functional roles under ISCO-08 group 242; confirm before building your points case.
Can I use the Probebeschäftigung to trial SAP project roles?
Yes. The Chancenkarte allows up to 2 weeks of trial employment per employer. This is useful for SAP consultancies that want to assess your module knowledge before making a full offer.
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.