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Job search opportunity card visa for non-Turkish citizens

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What documents do I need?

NOTE: Please do not staple or fold any documents. The submission of complete documents does not constitute a claim to the issue of a visa, but enables the visa office to check the legal requirements. In individual cases, further documents not mentioned here may also be required. You will be informed about this after the application has been submitted and will be given a reasonable period of time to submit them.

For foreign civil status certificates and other public certificates please check on the website of the German mission in the issuing state whether any formal steps must be taken in order for the document to be accepted by German authorities (i.e. legalization, apostille). The legalization can generally only be done by the German mission in the country where the document was issued.

In general:

Please fill in the online application form for each applicant and print it out from here: https://videx-national.diplo.de/ From the age of 18 you sign the form yourself; in the case of children the parent or legal guardian sign it.

You pay the visa fee at the visa section in cash (change cannot be given!) or by credit or debit card. Only MasterCard or VISA cards are accepted. The fee is usually 75,00 Euro; for children from 0 to 17 years: usually 40,00 Euro.

Please submit a passport for each applicant. The passport(s) must be valid and there have to be at least two empty pages. Please also submit a copy of the passport data page(s) (page with photo and validity dates) for each family member.

One passport photo for each applicant. The photo must be biometric and not older than 6 months. They must be 35 x 45 millimetres. You can find more information on biometric photos here.

If available: Turkish residence permit or visa. Please submit the original document and one copy. If you have a residence permit, please copy front and back side.

Please fill in, print out and sign the address confirmation and e-mail consent.

After your application has been processed, we will send your passport and other original documents via UPS to the indicated address.

WARNING: If your (e-mail-)addresses change during the application procedure, please inform us immediately. Otherwise, we can not ensure that your documents or important information with regard to your application reach you.

Additional documents:

Your university diploma. Please bring German translations of all foreign language documents. Only English language documents do not need to be translated. Please submit the original document and one copy. ​​​​​​​

In order to check whether your foreign academic degree is assessed as equivalent or corresponding to a German academic degree in the visa application process, you have two options:

Option 1: Assessment of your degree(s) in the ANABIN database
Many degrees and the issuing universities can be found in the ANABIN database. In order to be seen as equivalent / corresponding in the visa application, both your degree and your university must be listed and assessed in ANABIN. Please submit therefore one print-out of each; your university and your degree.

If your university is assessed as „H+“, it is sufficient for the purposes of the visa application process if your degree is assessed either as „equivalent“ (gleichwertig) or „corresponding“ (entspricht) to a German academic degree.

If your university is assessed as „H+/-“, your degree must be assessed either as „equivalent“ (gleichwertig) or „corresponding“ (entspricht) to a German academic degree and additionally must be listed in the degrees awarded by your specific university.

In all other cases or if only your university but not your degree are found in ANABIN, your degree cannot be recognized solely based on the information in the ANABIN database. You need to turn to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for an individual „Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications“ (see option 2).

Option 2: Individual „Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications“ (ZAB-letter)
You can have your degree checked for equivalency to a German academic degree by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). In that case you will receive a written confirmation after the review is finished. Please submit the original document and one copy.

Some regulated professions such as medical doctors, nurses, teachers, architects, auditors, tax advisors and others require a formal license to practice their profession in Germany (Berufsausübungserlaubnis). Please consult the database on recognition in regulated professions. If needed, please submit the original document and one copy.

Proof of German or foreign vocational training. Please bring German translations of all foreign language documents. Only English language documents do not need to be translated. Please submit the original document and one copy.

In case of a completed vocational training abroad, recognition letter by the German authority responsible for the recognition of vocational training stating equivalency with German vocational training; this authority can be found at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. Please submit the original document and one copy.

Some regulated professions such as medical doctors, nurses, teachers, architects, auditors, tax advisors and others require a formal license to practise their profession in Germany (Berufsausübungserlaubnis). Please consult the database on recognition in regulated professions. If needed, please submit the original document and one copy.

If you are unable to demonstrate that your foreign qualification has been fully recognised (OPTIONS A or B):

1. You must have successfully completed vocational or academic training.

  • Please submit your diploma/certificate. Please bring German translations of all foreign language documents. Only English language documents do not need to be translated. Please submit the original document and one copy. ​​​​​​​
  • It is important that the qualification is recognised by the country in which you obtained it. Your vocational qualification must have required at least two years of vocational training. To support your visa application, you will EITHER need a positive result for this qualification (ZAB-letter), which you can apply for online at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) OR submit the (partial) recognition letter mentioning missing qualifications (Defizitbescheid), which you can apply for with the authority responsible for the recognition (depending on your type and field of qualification or the place you would like to work). This authority can be found at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. Please submit the original document and one copy.

2. In addition, you must submit a language certificate proving that you either have German language skills of at least level A1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or English language skills of at least level B2 (CEFR). Only language certificates based on standardised language tests in accordance with the standards of the Association of Language Testers (ALTE) can be accepted. For German A1 level in Türkiye these are the Goethe-Institut „Start Deutsch 1“ (www.goethe.de) and the Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD) „Grundstufe Deutsch 1“ (www.osd.at). Please submit the original document and one copy.

3. Only if you are able to submit your qualification accompanied by the ZAB- or a partial recognition letter and to fulfil the German/English language requirements, you can score points for the following criteria. You must score at least six points.

  • Partial equivalence of qualification: If you have already applied for recognition of your foreign qualification and it has been found to be partially equivalent (you must provide a formal letter (Defizitbescheid), see also 1.), you will directly receive four points. You will still receive the four points if, in the case of a regulated profession, you are required to participate in compensatory measures before obtaining a licence to prtactice your profession. For the (partial) recognition procedure see: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de Please submit the original document and one copy.
  • Qualification in a shortage occupation: If your formal qualification is in a shortage occupation, you will get one point. To find out which occupations are considered to be in short supply, consult the List of shortage occupations.
  • Professional experience: You will also be awarded points for your previous professional experience in relation to your formal qualification that you gained after graduating (e.g. SGK history, employer confirmations). Two points will be awarded if you can prove that you have at least two years’professional experience within the last five years . If you have at least five years’ professional experience within the last seven years, you will get three points. Please submit the original document(s) and one copy.
  • Language skills: You will also earn points if your German language skills are above level A1 (CEFR). One point is awarded at level A2, two points at level B1 and three points at level B2 or above. An additional point will be awarded if you have English at level C1 or above, or if you are a native speaker. Please bring the original document and one copy. Only language certificates based on standardised language tests in accordance with the standards of the Association of Language Testers (ALTE) can be accepted. This currently applies to German language certificates from the following providers - irrespectively of the place where you did the exam.
  • Age: You also receive points if you are a certain age. People who are no older than 35 get two points until the day they turn 35. All those aged between 35 and 40 are awarded one point.
  • Previous stays in Germany: If you can prove that you have resided legally in Germany for a continuous period of at least six months in the last five years, you will receive one point. Examples of such stays include study, language and work stays. Stays for the purpose of tourism or visiting people do not count. Copies of old passports and the visas as well as entry stamps they contain can be submitted as evidence.
  • Skilled worker potential of spouses: If your spouse already meets the requirements for an opportunity card, you will be awarded one point in the points system. With this in mind, he or she can also do the self-check: opportunity card.

You must currently be able to prove that you have 1.027 Euros per month at your disposal for one year. The following options are all equally available:

  • Payment of a security deposit into a blocked account in Germany. Please submit one copy of the blocked bank account confirmation.
  • Formal obligation („Verpflichtungserklärung“) in accordance with §§ 66-68 of the Residence Act which has been submitted to a German aliens' authority. The declaration of commitment must contain the note „solvency proven“ (Bonität nachgewiesen) and the indication of the purpose of stay (language classes or studies). Please submit the original document and one copy.

If not already submitted following OPTION C: Proof of professional history, e.g. employer certificates, references, SGK (social insurance) history with barcode. Please bring German translations of all foreign language documents. Only English language documents do not need to be translated. Please submit the original document and one copy.

If available and if not already submitted following OPTION C: proof of language skills (German or English). Please submit the original document and one copy. As part of the plausibility check, proof of language skills may be requested subsequently.

Only German language certificates based on standardised language tests in accordance with the standards of the Association of Language Testers (ALTE) can be accepted. This currently applies to certificates from the following providers - irrespectively of the place where you did the exam.

One copy of a self-written letter of motivation and one copy of your curriculum vitae (complete and listed in tabular form).

Please also provide copies of job applications and/or e-mail correspondence with possible employers in Germany.

One copy of the insurance confirmation. The health insurance is considered adequate if it
corresponds in terms of type and scope to that of the statutory health insurance, i.e. in particular it must not provide for any more substantial exclusions of benefits or include any limitation of the costs to be refunded in the event of sickness or any termination or expiry clause due to a particular age being reached, work being discontinued, a change in the purpose of residence or the loss of legal residence status.

IMPORTANT: Being uninsured may have serious consequences as in the worst case no adequate medical treatment can be provided. We strongly recommend that you apply (if applicable) for statutory or other private long-term health insurance as soon as possible after entering Germany.

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