Federal Republic of Germany
Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) fees
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
The Chancenkarte itself costs only €75 in government fees, but the realistic out-of-pocket for a 12-month application is €14,000–€15,000 once the blocked-account funding is included. Most of that money is yours, released back monthly after arrival.
Headline total
€14,076
Single applicant, 12-month Chancenkarte, blocked account, A1 German baseline
Currency
EUR (Euro)
Last checked
20 April 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
National D-visa (Chancenkarte) at German mission abroad Paid in local currency at the consulate cashier on the day of the biometric appointment. Non-refundable on refusal. | €75 | Yes |
Residence-title issuance at Ausländerbehörde (on conversion to Blue Card / Skilled Worker) Charged on the day the Chancenkarte is converted into an employment-based residence permit; €56–€100 depending on the Land. | €100 | Optional |
Blocked account opening (Sperrkonto) one-off setup fee Typical Expatrio / Fintiba / Coracle setup fee. Some providers waive on a multi-year package. | €89 | Yes |
Blocked account funding (12 × €1,091) 2026 figure tied to the BAföG basic-need rate (€1,091/month). Funds are released back to you after entry, not consumed by the visa fee. | €13,092 | Yes |
Anabin lookup Free. Required pre-check before applying. | €0 | Yes |
ZAB Statement of Comparability (only if degree absent from Anabin) Issued by the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen; processing 6–12 weeks. | €200 | Optional |
Goethe-Institut A1 German exam („Start Deutsch 1“) Required only if the German A1 baseline is used; €110–€150 depending on test centre. telc and ÖSD certificates are equally accepted. | €130 | Optional |
IELTS Academic / TOEFL iBT (B2 English baseline) Required if proving English B2 rather than German A1. Cambridge B2 First also accepted. | €250 | Optional |
Certified translation of qualifications (per document) Translation by a court-sworn (vereidigt) translator; needed when the issuing country’s certificates are not in German or English. | €60 | Optional |
Apostille / consular legalisation of education documents Required for documents issued in non-EU countries; cost varies by issuing authority. | €50 | Optional |
Biometric passport photos | €10 | Yes |
Health insurance for the entry day onward Statutory (TK, AOK — once eligible) costs ~14.6 % of income; private interim plans (Mawista, Care Concept, Hanse Merkur) start at €90–€130/month and cover the search period. | €110month | Yes |
Worked example
Single applicant, 12-month Chancenkarte, blocked account, A1 German baseline — €14,076
- €75 D-visa at consulate
- €89 Sperrkonto setup
- €13,092 blocked-account funding (released back monthly after entry)
- €130 Goethe A1 exam
- €120 certified translations (2 documents)
- €50 apostille
- €10 biometric photos
- €110 health insurance (first month)
- €500 contingency for travel and Anmeldung admin
Dependant fees
Family-reunion D-visa: €75 each. Spouse residence-permit issuance: €100. Children under 18: €50 visa, €50 permit. Each dependant adds ~€6,408/year of additional blocked-account proof (€534/month × 12) unless covered by family-reunification rules.
A spouse joining on Chancenkarte criteria of their own earns the joint applicant +1 point on the grid — worth submitting in parallel rather than as family reunion.
Why fees change
The €1,091/month financial-proof figure is updated annually with the BAföG basic-need rate (typically each August). The €75 visa fee is set in the Auslandskostenverordnung and has been stable since 2017. Länder fees for residence-permit issuance vary €56–€100. Always confirm with the responsible Ausländerbehörde.
Primary source
Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card
https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/opportunity-card
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) cost in government fees?
The Chancenkarte itself costs only €75 in government fees, but the realistic out-of-pocket for a 12-month application is €14,000–€15,000 once the blocked-account funding is included. Most of that money is yours, released back monthly after arrival. The worked example assumes single applicant, 12-month chancenkarte, blocked account, a1 german baseline, totalling €14,076. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.
Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?
Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.
How often do these fees change?
The €1,091/month financial-proof figure is updated annually with the BAföG basic-need rate (typically each August). The €75 visa fee is set in the Auslandskostenverordnung and has been stable since 2017. Länder fees for residence-permit issuance vary €56–€100. Always confirm with the responsible Ausländerbehörde.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
Family-reunion D-visa: €75 each. Spouse residence-permit issuance: €100. Children under 18: €50 visa, €50 permit. Each dependant adds ~€6,408/year of additional blocked-account proof (€534/month × 12) unless covered by family-reunification rules.