One-year Opportunity Card: Dh300 visa opens door to Germany, Schengen for UAE residents

Abu Dhabi: Germany has introduced a groundbreaking immigration pathway that could transform how UAE residents, particularly professionals from South Asia, such as Indians and Pakistanis, migrate and work in Europe.

The new one-year Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) offers non-EU residents a direct route to live and work in Germany without needing a job offer or employer sponsorship, according to Clint Khan, Director at Y-Axis.

During a fireside chat at Gulf News Edufair’s debut event in Abu Dhabi, Khan noted that while many young professionals previously chose higher education in Germany as a pathway to long-term settlement, the new system enables them to skip the costly study route and start working immediately.

“One of the reasons students choose to study in Germany is to eventually settle there. But now, they can bypass that and directly apply for work,” said Khan, speaking on the topic ‘Germany’s hidden door: A new route for the UAE-based talent’.

“This option is cheaper and faster than studying, which can cost upwards of $20,000.”

The Opportunity Card operates on a transparent points-based system. Applicants need a minimum of six out of 14 points to qualify. Points are awarded for factors such as age, qualifications, work experience, and language proficiency. Crucially, applicants with a bachelor’s or master’s degree equivalent to a German degree automatically qualify without the need for German or English language proof.

Unlike traditional immigration destinations such as Canada, Australia, or the UK where employer sponsorship or nomination is typically required, Germany’s system is notably more accessible.

“This is the first time a European country has introduced a work visa for non-EU nationals that allows work from day one, without needing a sponsor,” Khan noted.

For professionals and students exploring overseas opportunities, Khan said that Germany’s Opportunity Card offers a low-cost, low-risk path to European employment, with long-term benefits including access to the entire Schengen area and potential EU citizenship.
“The Germany option is foolproof. You're spending Dh300. It's a national visa. You're allowed to travel across the Schengen areas.”

The visa is cost-effective, with an application fee of just Dh313 (75 euros). The main financial requirement is proof of sufficient funds at 13,092 euros (about Dh55,000) held in a blocked German bank account. This amount is released monthly to the visa holder. UAE residents can join the interview waitlist before transferring the funds, giving them time to arrange finances.

Processing times vary by location, but once the visa interview is completed, approvals are typically granted within 5 to 15 days. In the UAE, the wait for an interview is currently about 5.5 months, reflecting growing interest in the programme.
“You can’t even get a Schengen visa that fast,” Khan highlighted.

While German language skills aren’t mandatory, Khan strongly recommends learning it to boost employability.

“Those who learn German, even if not required, are the smarter ones,” he said.