Germany Job Seeker Visa for Indians: Who Can Apply

If you have been searching for the Germany job seeker visa, this is the route you are looking for. Below is who can apply from India and how, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For Schengen visits and other long-stay categories, see our Germany visa guide for Indians.

Is the Opportunity Card Germany's job seeker visa?

It is the job-search category. The national visa categories that German Missions in India accept through the Consular Services Portal include the Opportunity Card alongside the EU Blue Card, skilled-worker employment, studies and family reunion. None of the categories is named 'job seeker visa'. The Opportunity Card checklist describes it as a visa for skilled people who want to look for work in Germany before having a job offer.

That last point is what separates it from every other German work visa. The Blue Card and the skilled-worker visa both start with a German employer; the Opportunity Card does not need one.

Who can apply: option 1 or option 2?

When you start the application on the Consular Services Portal, a 'score counter' questionnaire decides which option applies to you.

The German Missions' checklist does not set out the points table or the minimum score; the portal's questionnaire tells you whether you reach it. For option 1, check your university on anabin before you start. If your degree is not listed with the right rating, a ZAB statement is the documented route to recognition.

How much money must you show, and in what form?

The checklist requires proof of funds of at least EUR 1,091 per month for living expenses. It names two ways to show this:

• A blocked account (Sperrkonto) in Germany, or
• A formal declaration of support from someone residing in Germany.

The checklist gives these two as examples, so follow the document list the portal generates for your application. You also need German health insurance valid from the date of entry. This is a different standard from an Indian tourist file, where salary slips and bank statements carry the financial proof; for the Opportunity Card, the checklist sets a fixed monthly amount.

Which language certificates count when you apply from India?

For option 2, language points are documented with recognised certificates:

• German: Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖSD or telc.
• English: a certificate to ALTE standard, or TOEFL.
• Not accepted in India: Pearson PTE, Duolingo and TOEFL online results.

If your only English score is from an online or at-home test, book a centre-based exam before you file.

How do you apply from India, and which mission handles you?

1. Complete the Opportunity Card application on the Consular Services Portal, including the score counter, and upload your documents.
2. At the end, use the link you receive to book the on-site appointment. Booking without a completed portal pre-check is not accepted.
3. Attend the appointment at VFS or the mission, always within the jurisdiction of your place of residence.

Bring originals or copies certified by a German authority. Indian notarised copies are not accepted, though attestation or apostille is not required.

What does it cost, and how long will you wait?

The national visa fee for applicants over 18 is 75 EUR / 8300 INR, payable in INR at the exchange rate on the day of the appointment and not reimbursed if the visa is refused. VFS lists the same fee as INR 7600. If your appointment is at VFS, VFS also charges a service fee of INR 1024 and a D-visa logistic fee of INR 1420.

German Missions in India publish no fixed processing time. National visas may take several months depending on the category, there is no online tracking, and status inquiries are not answered within the first three months after filing. National visas are usually issued for 90 days up to one year; after entering Germany you register with the residents' registration office immediately and book an appointment with the foreigners' authority for a residence permit.

Should you apply for a job-offer visa instead?

If you already have a German offer, a job-based visa is usually the more direct route.

• EU Blue Card: a recognised degree and a minimum gross salary of EUR 50,700 a year, or EUR 45,934.20 for MINT and other shortage professions (from 1 January 2026).
• Skilled worker with work experience: at least two years of relevant experience within the last five years, recognised training or a degree, and a salary of at least EUR 45,630 a year. Work experience alone without formal training is not enough.
• Fast track: with an employer's pre-approval under Section 81a of the Residence Act, the mission offers an appointment within three weeks and as a rule decides within three weeks of a complete application.

Applicants aged 45 or older earning below EUR 55,770 a year must show adequate pension provision on these employment routes. For a short business trip to meet employers in person, the Schengen visa route applies instead; a flight reservation is enough for that file until the visa is issued.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer for Germany's Opportunity Card?

No. German Missions in India describe the Opportunity Card as a visa for skilled people who want to look for work in Germany before having a job offer. You need a recognised qualification or the minimum points score, plus funds and health insurance.

Can I submit an Opportunity Card application at any VFS centre?

No. National visa appointments are always within the jurisdiction of your place of residence, at VFS or at the mission itself depending on the category. You book through the link you receive after completing the Consular Services Portal application.

Can I track my Opportunity Card application online?

German Missions in India say there is no online tracking for national visas and status inquiries are not answered within the first three months after filing. Processing may take several months depending on the category.

Is the Germany visa fee refunded if my Opportunity Card is refused?

No. The national visa fee of 75 EUR / 8300 INR is a processing fee and is not reimbursed if the application is refused.