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 a 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 4-year B.Sc. CS from a Pakistani university meets the degree requirement. A 2-year degree does not.
Which route applies to you?
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| 4-year B.Sc. CS / B.Eng. from an H+ university, programme listed as "entspricht" | Route 1: no points needed |
| 4-year degree from H+ university, programme not listed in anabin | Route 2: 6 points required |
| 3-year BCS or B.Sc. (Hons), classification uncertain | Route 2: 6 points required (ZAB recommended first) |
| No degree or degree below ISCED level 6 | Not eligible |
Check your institution at anabin.kmk.org. The same two-step check applies here as for the Blue Card: 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 C1 or native (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 |
Worked points examples for Pakistani software engineers:
Profile A: 4-year B.Sc. CS from H+ university (programme unlisted), 3 years post-graduation experience, age 26, English C1: 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English C1) = 6 points ✓
Profile B: 4-year B.Sc. CS, 5 years experience, age 31, IELTS 7.5 (C1), German A2: 1 (shortage) + 3 (5-year exp) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English C1) + 1 (German A2) = 8 points ✓
Profile C: 3-year BCS, 2 years experience, age 38, no German, IELTS 6.5 (B2): 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 1 (age 35–39) = 4 points. Does not qualify. German language study or more experience closes the gap.
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.
Additionally, the Embassy Islamabad page lists a return ticket reserve of €500. Budget for this on top of the Sperrkonto.
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: Aqib's Chancenkarte application
Aqib Shah, 27, software engineer, Faisalabad to Germany
Aqib holds a 4-year B.Sc. Computer Science from COMSATS Faisalabad (2020). COMSATS is referenced as H+ in secondary sources, but Aqib checks anabin directly and finds his specific programme is not individually listed in the comments. He is on Route 2 and needs 6 points.
His profile: 3 years post-graduation experience in Python and Django at a Faisalabad textile ERP company, age 24, IELTS Academic 7.0 (C1 English), no German. That gives him 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English C1) = 6 points exactly.
Document authentication: HEC attestation on his degree and transcript, then MOFA attestation. No apostille. Germany formally objected to Pakistan's Hague accession on 24 October 2022.
His registered address is in Faisalabad, Punjab, so he applies to Embassy Islamabad via the Consular Services Portal at digital.diplo.de. He opens a Sperrkonto with Fintiba (€13,092) two weeks before his appointment.
After arriving in Munich, he works 18 hours per week as a part-time developer at a startup while conducting full-time interviews. Converts to a Blue Card three months after arrival.
Document checklist (Pakistan, Chancenkarte, 2026)
- Valid passport (at least 2 empty pages)
- Biometric passport photograph
- Completed VIDEX application form
- Degree certificate with HEC attestation and MOFA attestation (no apostille)
- Academic transcript, all years and semesters, with HEC attestation and MOFA attestation
- anabin printout for your institution and degree, or ZAB Statement of Comparability
- Language certificate: IELTS Academic / TOEFL / Cambridge for English at B2 or higher; Goethe-Institut / telc / 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
No apostille. Germany formally objected to Pakistan's Hague accession. Do not add one. Authentication chain: HEC attestation, then MOFA attestation. For Matric and HSSC certificates, IBCC attestation replaces HEC.
Which German mission handles your application
Jurisdiction follows your registered home address.
| 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 for employment categories |
| Honorary Consul Lahore | Lahore and Sargodha | No visas. Certified document copies only. |
Long-term visa applications go through the Consular Services Portal. VFS Global is not the route for employment visas here.
Common mistakes
Adding a Pakistani apostille. Germany objected to Pakistan's Hague accession. It has 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. Cross-jurisdiction applications are rejected.
Paying for APS. APS is mandatory only for student visas and degree programme applications in Germany. Not required for the Chancenkarte.
Opening the Sperrkonto after booking the appointment. Most providers take one to two weeks to confirm the account. Open it before you book, not after.
When you need a lawyer
Consider one if your degree is below 4 years and the German classification is unclear, if you are close to the 6-point threshold and unsure whether your experience or language certificates will be accepted, or if Urkundenüberprüfung has been triggered after your appointment.
We are not a law firm and this page does not constitute legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need APS for the Chancenkarte?
No. APS is mandatory for student visas and university admission in Germany. It plays no part in the Chancenkarte or any employment-based visa process for Pakistani applicants.
How long can I stay in Germany on the Opportunity Card?
Up to 12 months to search for a qualifying job. If you receive a job offer that meets Blue Card or work permit requirements, you convert without leaving Germany.
Which German mission do I apply to from Pakistan?
Registered home address determines it. Embassy Islamabad: ICT, Punjab, KPK, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK. Consulate General Karachi: Sindh, Balochistan. Honorary Consul Lahore: no visas.
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 Islamabad, Auswärtiges Amt
- German Consulate General Karachi, 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.