Opportunity Card document checklist (2026)
What German missions ask for, where they differ, and a list you can work from.
Checked: October 2026 · We re-check this page every January.
There is no single world-wide list. Each German mission publishes its own checklist, and the details differ. We compared the official lists of the German missions in India, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria, plus the insurance rules in Bangladesh. Below you find what they share, where they differ, and a working checklist. Always download your own mission’s latest checklist before you apply.
Which documents do you need for the Opportunity Card?
Short answer: Every mission asks for a passport, the national visa form, biometric photos, proof of funds (€1,091 a month), health insurance, your degree or vocational certificate with recognition proof (anabin printouts or a ZAB statement), a language certificate (German A1 or English B2 on the points route), a CV and a motivation letter. Points claims need extra proof. Your mission’s checklist is final.
Which mission checklists did we compare?
Short answer: We used the official Opportunity Card pages and checklists of the German missions in India, Cairo, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Accra and Nigeria, and the Dhaka embassy’s 2026 health insurance notice. Some are recent, such as Cairo (April 2026) and Nigeria (January 2026). Others carry older dates, so check for updates before you print anything.
| Mission | How you apply | Date shown |
|---|---|---|
| India (New Delhi and consulates) | Appointment booking through VFS | Checklist updated Sept 2024 |
| Cairo | VIDEX form online, then in person at TLScontact | April 2026 |
| Nairobi | Online only, via the Consular Services Portal | Page dated 4 June 2024 |
| Addis Ababa | Consular Services Portal; appointments free | Page dated 4 Dec 2024 |
| Accra | Consular Services Portal, then appointment link | No date shown |
| Nigeria (Lagos/Abuja) | Consular Services Portal, then appointment | Checklist Jan 2026 |
| Dhaka | Insurance notice only | 15 Jan 2026 |
How does the Consular Services Portal work?
Short answer: The Consular Services Portal of the Federal Foreign Office (in German: Auslandsportal) lets you apply online at digital.diplo.de. You fill in the form, upload your documents and get a completeness check. Then the mission sends a link to book your appointment, where it checks your identity and originals, takes fingerprints and collects the fee.
Make it in Germany says that in many countries you can only apply online. Nairobi no longer accepts paper applications. The steps, as Nairobi describes them:
- Apply online at digital.diplo.de/visa and complete the national visa form.
- Upload your documents as scans.
- Wait for the completeness check.
- Book your appointment through the invitation link.
- Attend: identity check, fingerprints, fee payment and original documents. Nigeria also holds a short interview.
Nigeria’s page also says documents sent in advance cannot be considered, so bring the complete paper set, sorted, even if you uploaded everything. If online applications are not yet active in your country, contact your mission.
Where do the mission checklists differ?
Short answer: The core documents are the same, but the details change: how many copies, how many photos, how long your passport must stay valid, how long insurance must last, how old your language certificate may be, and which documents need translation or legalisation. Nigeria wants black-and-white copies in list order; Addis Ababa rejects stapled or laminated papers.
| Point | What we found | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Copies | India: 2 identical A4 sets. Cairo, Addis Ababa: original + 1 copy. Nigeria: black-and-white, unstapled, in list order. | Follow your mission exactly |
| Photos | India, Nairobi, Nigeria, Cairo: 2. Addis Ababa: 1 (35 × 45 mm). Cairo and Nigeria: not older than 6 months. | Background colour differs |
| Passport | Issued within the last 10 years with 2 blank pages (India, Cairo, Nigeria). Valid 3 months after your stay (Cairo, Addis Ababa) or 6 more months (Nigeria). | Renew early if close |
| Insurance | Full card validity, €30,000 (Cairo, Addis Ababa); entire stay (Nairobi); 90 days (Dhaka). | See our health insurance guide |
| Language certificate | Not older than 12 months (Nairobi) or 1 year (Accra). TOEFL accepted in Nairobi, Cairo, Accra. | Do not test too early |
| Funds | Bank confirmation must show the amount paid in and the monthly amount (Cairo, Addis Ababa, Nairobi). Accra: obligation letter not older than 6 months on entry. | €1,091 a month, not €1,027 |
| Extras | India: proof of accommodation with full address; declaration on retirement provision if 45+. Nigeria: prepaid courier envelope. Addis Ababa: no flight booking needed. | Read the last page of your list |
What are the translation and certification rules?
Short answer: Documents not in German or English need a certified translation into German or English (Nairobi, Addis Ababa). Degrees in English need no translation in Cairo, but Egyptian public documents must be translated, certified and legalised. In India, the birth certificate and Aadhaar need an English translation. Bring originals to your appointment; missions keep copies.
- Keep originals for the appointment. Missions check originals and keep copies.
- Legalisation and verification depend on your country. Egypt requires legalisation of public documents. For Pakistan, we saw HEC-attested degree documents on the embassy’s national-visa checklists, so confirm this on the current Opportunity Card checklist.
- Recognition authorities in Germany are stricter. They want translations by publicly appointed or authorised translators, may refuse translators appointed abroad, and say: never send originals (Anerkennung in Deutschland).
- Work experience documents must be in German or English, or translated (Make it in Germany).
What goes in your application folder?
Short answer: Use the table below as a working list. Tick each document as you collect it, then compare it line by line with your own mission’s checklist, because your mission may add or remove items. Points claims (work experience, higher language levels, stays in Germany, partner) need their own proof. Keep everything unstapled and in the order your mission gives.
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport + copy of data page | Everyone | Issued within 10 years, 2 blank pages; some missions want copies of all stamped pages |
| National visa application form (online/VIDEX), signed | Everyone | India asks for 2 printed copies |
| Declaration under § 54 Residence Act + data protection form | Most missions | Signed, with place and date |
| Biometric photos | Everyone | 1 or 2, by mission |
| Proof of funds: blocked account confirmation, formal obligation letter, part-time job contract or binding job offer, or a combination | Everyone | €1,091 a month for each month of your stay |
| Declaration of employment form | If funds come from a job | Filled in by the employer (form) |
| Health insurance confirmation | Everyone | Incoming cover for the period your mission asks |
| Degree or vocational certificate + transcripts | Everyone | Legalised where your country requires it |
| anabin printouts (degree and university) or ZAB Statement of Comparability | Degree holders | See anabin H+ explained; ZAB fee €208 |
| ZAB statement on a vocational qualification or recognition notice | Vocational route | ZAB fee €150 |
| Partial recognition notice or permission to practise | If you have one; regulated professions | Partial recognition = 4 points |
| Language certificate: German A1 or English B2 | Points route | Approved provider or TOEFL; watch the age limit |
| Higher language certificates (German A2–B2, English C1) | If claiming points | Original + copy |
| Work experience proof (contracts, references) | If claiming points | Must relate to your qualification |
| Proof of 6+ months of legal stay in Germany | If claiming the point | Not as a tourist |
| Partner’s documents + marriage certificate | If claiming the partner point | Partner applies at the same time |
| CV in German or English | Everyone | Tabular, no gaps (Nairobi) |
| Signed motivation letter | Everyone | See the next section |
| Proof of job search (applications, interview invitations) | If available | Nairobi, India, Nigeria |
| Proof of accommodation | India; others may ask | Full address |
| Birth certificate (and national ID where asked) | Many missions | Translated if needed |
| Residence permit for your country of residence | If you are not a national of that country | Nairobi, Nigeria |
| Declaration on retirement provision | Age 45+ (India) | Signed |
| Visa fee | Everyone | €75 in local currency |
Not sure which points you can document? Score yourself with the free Points Self-Check.
What do people most often get wrong?
Short answer: The most common problems are small and fixable: an old funds amount (€1,027 instead of €1,091), a bank letter without the monthly amount, an expired language certificate, insurance that ends too early, an anabin printout of the degree but not the university, untranslated papers, and a generic motivation letter. Missions say incomplete files may be refused.
- Old funds figure. €1,027 was the 2024 amount; since January 2025 it has been €1,091, still in 2026.
- Weak bank letter. It must show the amount paid in and the monthly amount.
- Expired certificate. Nairobi and Accra want language certificates less than a year old.
- Short insurance. Check the period your mission asks for.
- Half the anabin proof. Print both the degree and the university pages.
- Untranslated papers. Certified translations into German or English.
- Messy file. Stapled, laminated, colour copies or unsorted papers can cause problems.
- Generic letter. Missions want specific answers, not a template.
GOC has no refusal statistics; this list comes from the official checklists.
What should your motivation letter cover?
Short answer: Write it yourself, sign it, and answer the questions missions list: what work you will look for, where in Germany you want to apply and live, how you will support yourself, whether you are learning German, which jobs you have applied for, any recognition steps you plan, and why Germany rather than another EU country. Attach proof where you can.
Nairobi says the letter must be written by you. India asks you to name companies you applied to and any interviews. Addis Ababa asks where you plan to live and how you will support yourself. A letter that answers these points in plain English is stronger than a long, general text.
Our Application Readiness package includes a document checklist built around your profile and a German-format CV and cover letter.
Opportunity Card documents: frequently asked questions
Is there one official checklist for all countries?
No. Each German mission publishes its own checklist, and the details differ, such as the number of copies, photo rules, insurance period and translation rules. The core documents are similar everywhere. Always download the latest checklist from the mission responsible for where you live.
Can I apply for the Opportunity Card online?
In many countries, yes. Make it in Germany says many missions accept Opportunity Card applications only online, through the Consular Services Portal. You still attend an appointment for your identity check, fingerprints, fee payment and originals. If online applications are not active in your country, contact your mission.
Do I need to translate my documents?
Only documents that are not in German or English. Missions such as Nairobi and Addis Ababa ask for a certified translation into German or English. Cairo says degrees in English need no translation. Some countries also require legalisation first, for example Egyptian public documents.
How old can my language certificate be?
Nairobi says it must not be older than 12 months when you apply, and Accra says not older than one year. Other missions may set their own rule. Plan your test so the certificate is still valid on the day you apply.
Do I need a flight booking?
Not to apply, according to the German Embassy in Addis Ababa. You do need health insurance that starts on your planned travel date, and some missions, such as India, ask for proof of accommodation. Check your mission’s list.
Do I need anabin printouts for both the degree and the university?
Yes, where you use anabin as proof. Missions such as Nairobi and India ask for printouts of the degree and of the university. If your university is not rated H+ or your degree is not rated “entspricht” or “gleichwertig”, they ask for a ZAB Statement of Comparability instead.
Can GOC check my documents?
GOC can help you prepare. The Application Readiness package includes a document checklist built around your profile. We explain the rules and help you plan; you submit your own application, and the German mission decides.
Your next step
Start free
Get The German Opportunity Card Starter Guide: a free 11-page PDF in plain English, with the rules, the points and the funds explained.
Plan it with our lead consultant
Book a Success Session ($99): 60 minutes 1:1 on Google Meet, The German Opportunity Card Success Playbook (32 pages) right away, and a written action plan within 24 hours. We explain the rules and help you plan; the German mission decides. The $99 is credited toward a package if you book one within 7 days.
Checked: October 2026. Rules and amounts can change. Always confirm on Make it in Germany and on the website of the German mission that handles your application.