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EU Blue Card vs Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte)

Germany · §18g AufenthGvs Germany · §§20a, 20b AufenthG

Quick answerUpdated 2026-05-02

The §§20a, 20b AufenthG is cheaper on official fees ($100), only the §18g AufenthG leads directly to permanent residency. Which fits depends on your nationality, profession, and whether you already have a job offer, the breakdown below maps each visa to a profile.

Maintained by Senne Bels, Founder, Transita

Germany's EU Blue Card is for skilled workers who already have a German job offer at the qualifying salary; the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card / Job Seeker visa) lets you enter Germany to look for work without an offer. They're sequential, not alternatives, most Chancenkarte holders convert to Blue Card once they secure an offer. The decision is mostly about timing: do you have an offer already, or do you need to physically be in Germany to land one?

Section 01

§18g AufenthG vs §§20a, 20b AufenthG: what are the key differences?

§18g AufenthG
§§20a, 20b AufenthG
Processing time
2–4 months
2–4 months
Application fee
$120
$100
Initial validity
4 yrs
1 yr
Path to PR
Yes, ~2 yrs
No
Points-based
No
Yes
Employer sponsor
Required
Not required
Minimum salary
$50,000/yr
—
Language test
Not required
Not required
Verified
2026-05-02
2026-05-02

official sources: §18g AufenthG · bamf.de·§§20a, 20b AufenthG · auswaertiges-amt.de

Section 02

Which visa should you choose: §18g AufenthG or §§20a, 20b AufenthG?

  1. 01

    Job offer status

    Pick §18g AufenthG

    You have a qualifying German job offer in hand

    Pick §§20a, 20b AufenthG

    You don't have an offer yet but want to job-search in Germany

  2. 02

    Salary requirements

    Pick §18g AufenthG

    Offer is at or above the Blue Card threshold

    Pick §§20a, 20b AufenthG

    No salary threshold, but you must support yourself for ~12 months

  3. 03

    Path to permanent residency

    Pick §18g AufenthG

    21-33 months to PR with B1 German

    Pick §§20a, 20b AufenthG

    Convert to Blue Card or work permit first; PR clock starts then

Section 03

Common questions

Is the EU Blue Card or the Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) faster to get?
They are similar: the §18g AufenthG takes about 2–4 months and the §§20a, 20b AufenthG about 2–4 months. Neither has a decisive speed advantage, the completeness of your application matters more than the visa you pick.
Which costs more, the §18g AufenthG or the §§20a, 20b AufenthG?
The EU Blue Card (§18g AufenthG) costs more, about $120 in official fees, versus $100 for the Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) (§§20a, 20b AufenthG). Both figures are government fees only and exclude legal, translation, and relocation costs.
Can I get permanent residency with the EU Blue Card or the Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte)?
The §18g AufenthG leads to permanent residency in roughly 2 years, while the §§20a, 20b AufenthG does not lead directly to permanent residency. If long-term settlement is the goal, weight the route with the clearer PR pathway more heavily.
Does the §18g AufenthG or the §§20a, 20b AufenthG need a job offer?
The EU Blue Card (§18g AufenthG) requires a job offer or employer sponsor, while the Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) (§§20a, 20b AufenthG) does not, you can apply on your own profile. That makes the §§20a, 20b AufenthG more accessible if you don't yet have an employer lined up.
Section 04

Read the full pathway

EU Blue Card

Germany's premium skilled worker visa for university graduates with a job offer. Fast track to permanent residency in 21-33 months.

Full §18g AufenthG guide

Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte)

Germany's new Opportunity Card lets qualified professionals enter Germany to look for a job for up to 1 year.

Full §§20a, 20b AufenthG guide
Official §18g AufenthG source Official §§20a, 20b AufenthG source

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