Germany has a well-documented shortage of skilled workers. In response, the government passed the Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (Skilled Workers Immigration Act) in 2020, significantly expanded it in 2023, and introduced the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) in 2024. Together, these reforms have created more routes into the German labour market for qualified non-EU nationals — and German language skills play a concrete role in each of them.
The Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz: The Basics
The Skilled Workers Immigration Act created structured visa pathways for people with either:
- A recognised vocational qualification (Berufsausbildung) — governed by §18a AufenthG
- A recognised academic qualification (university degree) — governed by §18b AufenthG
"Recognised" is the operative word. Foreign qualifications must either be formally recognised as equivalent to a German qualification, or the applicant must hold a qualification from a country whose degrees are accepted directly (this varies by profession and country of origin).
Language Requirements by Visa Category
§18a — Vocational Qualification
For skilled workers with vocational training (e.g., electricians, mechatronics technicians), the standard language requirement is B1. Some regulated professions — particularly in healthcare — require B2 because patient or client communication is central to the role.
A TELC B1 Deutsch certificate is a recognised proof of language ability for §18a applications.
§18b — Academic Qualification
For degree-holders applying through the academic route, the language requirement is also commonly B1, though individual embassy instructions vary. Certain academic roles or cases where the employer requires German-language working conditions may demand B2.
Always verify the exact requirement with the embassy processing your application — this post gives a general overview, not legal advice specific to your situation.
The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)
Introduced in June 2024 under §20a AufenthG, the Chancenkarte is a points-based visa that allows qualified individuals to come to Germany and search for work for up to one year without a job offer in hand.
Points are awarded for:
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Recognised qualification | Required (baseline) |
| German language skills — B2 or above | 3 points |
| German language skills — A2/B1 | 2 points |
| English language skills — C1 | 1 point |
| Professional experience (2+ years) | 1 point |
| Age under 35 | 1 point |
| Previous stay in Germany | 1 point |
A minimum of 6 points is required to be eligible.
B1 German is worth 2 points under the Chancenkarte scheme. Moving from A2 to B1 before applying directly affects eligibility.
The Job Seeker Visa (§20 AufenthG)
The Job Seeker Visa allows qualified professionals to enter Germany for up to six months to look for work. German language skills are not a formal prerequisite under §20, but they have a significant practical effect: most German employers outside of international tech companies expect at least working-level German in day-to-day operations.
Applicants who arrive with a TELC B1 certificate can demonstrate this concretely to prospective employers — more persuasively than claiming "conversational German" without documentation.
Why Get TELC Rather Than Another Certificate?
Several German language certificates are accepted for visa purposes: Goethe-Institut, ÖSD, TELC, and the DSH (for academic admission). TELC has two advantages particularly relevant to the skilled worker visa context:
- No expiry date. If you sit the exam now and your visa application takes 18 months, the certificate is still valid.
- Wide recognition. TELC is accepted by German embassies, the Ausländerbehörde, employers, and Ausbildung programmes. It does not need to be converted or revalidated for different uses.
Practical Advice
- Get B1 before starting your application. The recognition process for foreign qualifications often takes six to twelve months. Starting exam preparation now means your certificate is ready when you need it.
- Check whether your profession requires B2. Healthcare, teaching, and some engineering roles may require a higher level. Check with the relevant professional body (Anerkennungsberatung) and the embassy.
- Use the Chancenkarte eligibility check. The German government's official tool at make-it-in-germany.com lets you model how different language levels affect your points score before you commit to an exam.
- Keep your certificate documentation. When submitting your visa application, include the original TELC certificate or a certified copy. Embassies do not accept screenshots.
If you are preparing for the TELC B1 exam as part of a skilled worker visa application, focused exam practice under timed conditions is the most efficient path to a passing score. Our TELC B1 exam preparation includes full mock exams for all four skills — reading, listening, writing, and speaking — with detailed explanations for every answer.