Federal Republic of Germany
Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card): government fee breakdown
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.
These are the fees paid to the Federal Republic of Germany government. You pay these directly as part of your application. Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.
How much does the Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) cost in Germany?
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.
Verified against Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card on 1 June 2026.
Headline total
€14,076
Single applicant, 12-month Chancenkarte, blocked account, A1 German baseline
Currency
EUR (Euro)
Last checked
1 June 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
How to read these fees
The €14,076 headline covers single applicant, 12-month Chancenkarte, blocked account, A1 German baseline. Of the 12 components listed above, 6 are mandatory and 6 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Blocked account funding (12 × €1,091) at €13,092.
Bringing family changes the total — see the dependant section below. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.
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/questions-and-answers-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.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card).
Processing time
How long the Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) takes from application to decision.
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Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.