Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) vs Skilled Worker Visa (Qualified)

Maintained by Senne Bels, Founder, Transita

If you're choosing between these two, the question usually comes down to whether you already have a job offer lined up. Germany's Job Seeker Visa gives you a year to find employment without needing an employer sponsor first, while the Skilled Worker Visa fast-tracks you into a role you've already secured. Your situation determines which path makes sense.

1. 01

   You have a job offer

   Pick §20 AufenthG

   Job Seeker Visa if you want flexibility to negotiate or explore other roles first.

   Pick §18a AufenthG

   Skilled Worker Visa if your offer is confirmed and you're ready to commit immediately.

2. 02

   Path to permanent residency

   Pick §20 AufenthG

   Job Seeker Visa offers no direct PR pathway after the visa expires.

   Pick §18a AufenthG

   Skilled Worker Visa leads to PR in roughly 4 years of continuous employment.

3. 03

   Time to start working

   Pick §20 AufenthG

   Job Seeker Visa gives you 1 year to find and secure a position.

   Pick §18a AufenthG

   Skilled Worker Visa is valid for 4 years once you're in the job.

4. 04

   Employer sponsorship needed

   Pick §20 AufenthG

   Job Seeker Visa requires no employer sponsor to apply.

   Pick §18a AufenthG

   Skilled Worker Visa requires employer sponsorship and commitment.

Is the Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) or the Skilled Worker Visa (Qualified) faster to get?

They are similar: the §20 AufenthG takes about 2–4 months and the §18a AufenthG about 2–5 months. Neither has a decisive speed advantage, the completeness of your application matters more than the visa you pick.

How much do the §20 AufenthG and §18a AufenthG cost?

Both carry roughly $100 in official government fees. That figure excludes legal help, document translation, skills assessment, and relocation, which often dwarf the visa fee itself.

Can I get permanent residency with the Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) or the Skilled Worker Visa (Qualified)?

The §20 AufenthG does not lead directly to permanent residency, while the §18a AufenthG leads to permanent residency in roughly 4 years. If long-term settlement is the goal, weight the route with the clearer PR pathway more heavily.

Does the §20 AufenthG or the §18a AufenthG need a job offer?

The Skilled Worker Visa (Qualified) (§18a AufenthG) requires a job offer or employer sponsor, while the Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) (§20 AufenthG) does not, you can apply on your own profile. That makes the §20 AufenthG more accessible if you don't yet have an employer lined up.