Short answer: As of September 2026, Germany's Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) points route requires at least 6 points plus a language minimum of German A1 or English B2 (CEFR).
English is usually proven with an IELTS or TOEFL certificate; a band that maps to B2 (commonly around IELTS 5.5–6.5) is the entry threshold — confirm on the official site.
The Chancenkarte lets qualified non-EU professionals move to Germany for up to a year to look for work. There are two ways in.
If your foreign qualification is already recognised as equivalent to a German one, you enter as a skilled worker (Fachkraft) with no points and no language certificate needed for the card itself.
Otherwise you use the points route (Section 20a of the Residence Act): you need a completed academic degree or a vocational qualification of at least two years that is recognised in the country you earned it, the minimum language level, and a total of at least six points.
Language levels, points and IELTS mapping
| Language level (CEFR) | Points on the Chancenkarte (as of 2026) | Typical IELTS mapping (English only) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum to qualify: English B2 or German A1 | Prerequisite (0 points) | English B2 ≈ IELTS 5.5–6.5 |
| English C1 or native speaker | +1 point (added on top of any German points) | English C1 ≈ IELTS 7.0–8.0 |
| German A2 | 1 point | — |
| German B1 | 2 points | — |
| German B2 or higher | 3 points | — |
What this means for you
The language certificate is a prerequisite, not the whole score.
To reach six points you combine language with the other criteria: partial recognition of your qualification (up to 4 points), a shortage occupation (1 point), professional experience (2 points for at least two years in the last five, or 3 points for at least five years in the last seven), age (2 points if under 35, 1 point from 35 to under 40), prior lawful residence in Germany of at least six months in the last five years (1 point), and a spouse or partner who also qualifies and applies with you (1 point).
For English, German missions accept certificates from ALTE-recognised providers such as IELTS or TOEFL; several missions state they do not accept Pearson or Duolingo, so check what your local mission recognises.
Note that even native English speakers are generally asked to submit a recognised language certificate for the card.
Can English alone get you to six points? Three worked examples
English B2 is the entry ticket and scores nothing. English C1 scores one point. So an English-only applicant has to find most of the six points elsewhere. These examples use the points values on Make it in Germany as of September 2026:
| Applicant | Points | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 30, degree, 3 years' experience, IELTS 6.5 (B2), no German | Age 2 + experience 2 + English 0 | 4 | Not eligible yet |
| Same person with IELTS 7.5 (C1) and a qualification in a shortage occupation | Age 2 + experience 2 + English C1 1 + shortage occupation 1 | 6 | Eligible |
| Age 37, 6 years' experience, German B1, no English certificate | Age 1 + experience 3 + German B1 2 | 6 | Eligible, and German B1 also meets the language minimum |
The pattern is clear. For most applicants, raising IELTS from B2 to C1 is worth one point, and a partial recognition decision is worth four. If you are two or more points short, look at recognition, experience or German before you pay for another IELTS attempt.
Step by step: applying with an IELTS certificate
- Check your qualification. A university degree needs a positive entry in the anabin database or a Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung). A vocational qualification needs a positive Digital Statement on Professional Qualification. If your qualification is fully recognised in Germany, you apply as a skilled worker and skip the points and language rules.
- Get the language proof. Either German A1 or English B2 (CEFR). For English, book an in-person IELTS test. It is computer-delivered since paper ended in mid-2026. Check first that your German mission accepts IELTS.
- Count your points with the official calculator on the Consular Services Portal. You need at least six.
- Show the money. For 2026 that is a blocked account holding at least €1,091 net per month of your stay, or a formal declaration of commitment from a sponsor.
- Apply through your German mission or the Consular Services Portal with the certificate, the qualification evidence and the funds proof.
What if your IELTS is below B2?
You have three ways forward. First, the language minimum can also be met with German A1, the entry level of German, so a basic German certificate unlocks the points route with no English certificate at all. Second, you can retake IELTS.
If you are one skill short, an IELTS One Skill Retake may help, but ask your mission whether it accepts one. Third, if your qualification is fully recognised in Germany, the skilled-worker route needs no language certificate for the card.
To find the skill holding your band down, our Reading and Listening practice (free within a daily allowance) give estimated bands, and the Writing Checker covers Writing.
Common mistakes with the language proof
- Counting English B2 as points. It meets the minimum and scores zero. Only C1 or native level adds a point.
- Booking PTE or Duolingo without checking first. Several German missions say they do not accept them.
- Applying without the qualification evidence (anabin entry, Statement of Comparability or Digital Statement), which the points route requires alongside the certificate.
- Funding the blocked account at an old rate. The 2026 figure is €1,091 net per month.
Before you rely on these numbers
Requirements are set by the relevant authority and change; always confirm the current requirement on the official source: Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card and the German Consular Services Portal, which includes an official points calculator.
The points, CEFR levels and the €1,091 monthly funds figure were checked against Make it in Germany in September 2026 (the card is issued under Section 20a of the Residence Act); the IELTS-to-CEFR mapping is indicative only — verify which certificates your German mission accepts before booking a test.