Do you qualify?
Short answer: as a Filipino DevOps engineer with a recognised degree, you can qualify: via Route 1 if your degree is fully recognised, or the points system otherwise.
The Chancenkarte lets you move to Germany without a job offer and search for DevOps roles for up to 12 months. Convert to a EU Blue Card once you have an offer.
Which route applies to you?
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| BS CS / BS IT (4 years) from H+ university | Route 1: no points needed |
| Degree from H+/- university, programme not listed | Route 2: 6 points required |
| 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 | 4 | Requires formal decision |
| Shortage occupation (DevOps engineering qualifies) | 1 | ISCO-08 groups 133 and 25 |
| At least 2 years qualifying experience in last 5 years | 2 | Post-graduation |
| At least 5 years qualifying experience in last 7 years | 3 | Replaces 2-year tier |
| German at A2 / B1 / B2+ | 1 / 2 / 3 | Mutually exclusive |
| English at C1 (with certificate) | 1 | Additive |
| Age under 35 / 35–39 | 2 / 1 | Mutually exclusive |
| Prior lawful residence in Germany ≥ 6 months | 1 | |
| Spouse also qualifies and applies jointly | 1 |
Worked examples for Filipino DevOps engineers:
Profile A: BS CS from H+/- university (unlisted), 3 years Kubernetes/Terraform experience, age 27, English C1: 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 2 (age) + 1 (English) = 6 points ✓
Profile B: BS IT, 5 years cloud/DevOps experience, age 30, English C1: 1 (shortage) + 3 (5-year exp) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English) = 7 points ✓
Profile C: BS CE, 4 years experience, age 36, German A2 + English C1: 1 (shortage) + 2 (experience) + 1 (age 35–39) + 1 (German A2) + 1 (English C1) = 6 points ✓
Financial requirement: the Sperrkonto
€13,092 (€1,091 × 12 months, 2026 figure) in a Sperrkonto before your visa appointment.
Worked example: Maria's Chancenkarte application
Maria Cruz, 25, DevOps Engineer, Manila to Germany
- Degree: BS Computer Science, Ateneo de Manila University (2021). Ateneo de Manila University is rated H+ in anabin; the BS Computer Science programme is listed as "entspricht einem deutschen Hochschulabschluss." Apostille obtained from the DFA.
- Experience: 4 years post-graduation as a DevOps engineer specialising in Kubernetes, Terraform, and GitLab CI on AWS at a Manila-based SaaS company.
- Financial proof: Sperrkonto with €13,092 (12 months x €1,091, binding under § 20a(4) AufenthG), opened with Expatrio.
- Visa result: Qualifies under Route 1 (§ 20a AufenthG). Ateneo de Manila University is H+ and the BS Computer Science programme is listed as "entspricht", so no points calculation is required; the degree is fully recognised.
- After arrival: Maria takes on part-time DevOps consulting work (20 hours per week, permitted under the Chancenkarte); at month 3 she accepts a full-time DevOps engineer role in Hamburg at €48,000 and converts to an EU Blue Card at the Hamburg Ausländerbehörde.
- Processing time: German Embassy Manila. Typically 4 to 10 weeks from appointment to visa.
What would change the outcome: If Maria's degree were from an H+/- university whose BS Computer Science programme was not listed in the anabin comments, she would need Route 2. Her points would be: 1 (shortage occupation) + 2 (at least 2 years experience) + 2 (age under 35) + 1 (English C1) = 6, exactly the minimum. Losing any single criterion (for example, lacking a valid English C1 certificate) would drop the total to 5 and disqualify the application. There would be no backup unless she could add German language study, a qualifying German residence period, or a jointly applying spouse.
Document checklist (Philippines, Route 2, 2026)
- Valid passport (at least 2 empty pages)
- Biometric-format passport photograph
- Completed VIDEX application form
- Degree certificate (with DFA apostille)
- Transcript of records, all semesters (with DFA apostille)
- 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 (Kubernetes, Docker, Helm, Terraform, Ansible, AWS/GCP/Azure, Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, Prometheus, Grafana, etc.) plus payslips and BIR Form 2316
- Sperrkonto certificate (€13,092) or Verpflichtungserklärung
- Travel health insurance
Apostille note: Philippine academic documents require DFA apostille. The Philippines joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 14 May 2019.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Chancenkarte take to process at the German Embassy Manila?
Processing at the German Embassy Manila typically ranges from 4 to 10 weeks. Apply well ahead of your planned travel date.
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 Manila, Auswärtiges Amt
We are not a law firm. This page provides general information only, not legal advice.