Opportunity card (Chancenkarte)

• You would like to look for gainful employment in Germany The stay with an Opportunity card for job searches is primarily used to find (new) qualified employment. However, it can also be used to prepare for setting up a business. • Legal residence with a residence title • You have either entered the country with a national D visa for the purpose of seeking employment or already hold a residence permit for employment or an EU Blue Card in accordance with sections 18a, 18b, 18d, 18f or 18g of the Residence Act. • No Opportunity card for job searches can be issued after visa-free entry. • Secured livelihood The costs for housing, food, clothing, personal needs and health insurance can be covered by your own income, sufficient reserves or financial support from third parties. • Adequate health insurance www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/merkblatt_zur_krankenvers You have health insurance in Germany, either in the statutory health insurance system or a comparable private health insurance. Foreign health insurance is not sufficient. For more information, please read the leaflet. • No indications of a threat to public safety or order • Fines alone can prevent the granting of a residence permit. • An application for a residence permit may not be processed while investigation proceedings are ongoing. • You pose no threat to the free democratic basic order or the security of the Federal Republic of Germany. • You are not involved in acts of violence in pursuit of political or religious goals, do not publicly call for the use of violence and do not threaten to do so. • Main residence in Berlin You live in Berlin. A second residence in Berlin is not sufficient. • Current email adress The Berlin Immigration Office will contact you via your current email address. Please also check your spam folder regularly. • For the online application: Consent to the electronic payment process The following methods of payment are available to you: • Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) • Paypal

• Application for a residence permit as an Opportunity card for job searches • only possible online • You will receive a PDF document to confirm your application. This document will certify that your current residence title (national D visa, residence permit or EU Blue Card) remains valid in the federal territory beyond the previous validity date. (This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay or if your current residence title has already expired on the day you apply.) • Please therefore make sure to save this document and print a copy if possible. • In the case of an application being filed by an authorised representative: power of attorney stating the subject matter of the procedure • Passport copies (in color) • Copies of the data pages (with your photo and personal data) are required: • Additionally, if you have entered the country with a national D visa to look for a job: Page with entry stamp • Copy of your current residence permit (visa, residence permit or EU Blue Card) • Proof of your residence • Certificate of registration at the main residence (Melde-Bestätigung) or • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord (Wohnungsgeber-Bestätigung) • Proof of the size and cost of the living space • Tenancy agreement (without house rules or other annexes) and • Proof of the current monthly costs (rent with utility costs included – “Warmmiete”), e.g. bank statements • Proof of livelihood For example: informative bank statement, certificates of earnings, scholarship • Proof of your health insurance • If you have statutory health insurance: electronic health card (copy front and back) or a current confirmation from the health insurance company • In the case of private health insurance: certificate from the insurer regarding the scope and costs of the insurance in accordance with § 257 Para. 2a SGB V. V. Please point out to your insurer that you need the certificate for a residence permit for gainful employment.

The fee must be paid before you send off the online application (by credit card or PayPal). • 56.00 euros: for the initial issue of the residence permit as a sticker label after entry with a national D visa • 100.00 euros: for the initial issue of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit (eAT) after entry with a national D visa • 54.00 Euro: for issuance as a sticker label when changing from an EU Blue Card or another residence title for the purpose of employment • 98.00 euro for issuance as an electronic residence permit (eAT) when changing from an EU Blue Card or another residence title for the purpose of employment • 27.60 euros: for Turkish nationals up to the age of 24 for issuance after entry or when changing from an EU Blue Card or another residence title for the purpose of employment • 46.00 euros: for Turkish nationals aged 24 and over for issuance after entry or when changing from an EU Blue Card or another residence title for the purpose of employment • 6.00 euros extra: for creating a digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site A refund is not possible in the event that the application is withdrawn if we have already begun to process the application (by examining the documents you sent or sending you an appointment for an in-person interview).

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) [Residence Act] § 20a Abs. 3 Nr. 1 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__20a.html

• You will receive an appointment if your application is reviewed positively. • A residence permit in the form of a sticker label can be issued directly on site during the appointment. • If issued as an electronic residence permit (eAT), it takes 4 to 6 weeks before it can be collected.

• Residence permit to seek for a job following a stay in Germany (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324661/en/ • General information on the Opportunity card on “Make it in Germany” (portal of the Federal Government) www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/opportunity-car

The service can only be used at the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA, State Office for Immigration) at the Keplerstraße location.