Opportunity Card visa approved in Nigeria: what to check before you fly and what to do when you land
Short answer
Check every detail on your visa sticker as soon as your passport is back, the German Missions in Nigeria say, and report errors to the consulate at once. Carry a set of your visa documents. A visa is not a right of entry: the border police make the final decision, and they may ask for documents and proof of health insurance. Once you arrive, contact your local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) immediately for your residence permit. 1
On this page
How do I check my visa sticker?
The German Missions in Nigeria say checking the visa sticker is your duty. Do it as soon as your passport is back in your hands, and make sure every printed detail is correct and complete.
The sticker shows your full name, passport number and photo, and the period the visa is valid. If anything is wrong, report it to the consulate immediately so they can issue a new visa if needed.
Don't wait on this. The consulate says it is not liable for financial damage caused by corrections not reported in good time.
Applicants report passports coming back weeks to months after the interview. Compare the dates on your sticker with your flight, and if they don't fit the arrival date you gave, ask the consulate before you book.
What should I carry for the border?
The German Missions in Nigeria say a visa does not give you a right of entry. The border police make the final decision when you enter the Schengen area.
Besides your passport with the visa, the border police may ask to see documents and proof of health insurance. So the missions advise taking a set of your visa documents on the trip.
That health insurance is the incoming kind. The same page says you'll be asked to provide it after a positive decision on your visa.
Applicants report that Lagos does not announce the result itself: the portal only shows that a decision has been made, and you learn the outcome when your passport comes back. Requests for extra documents have reached applicants by email, and during the document check before the interview some replies appeared only inside the portal. After your interview, check your portal and your email regularly.
Applicants report buying a policy that starts on their planned arrival date. Whatever you buy, carry a document showing your cover starts on the day you enter, because the border police may ask for it.
What do I do after I land in Germany?
The visa only lets you enter Germany, the German Missions in Nigeria say. After you arrive, you must contact the competent foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) immediately.
If all requirements are met, the foreigners authority issues a residence permit for your purpose of stay.
If you used a blocked account (Sperrkonto), the Federal Foreign Office explains who the account beneficiary is. Before the visa is granted or used, it's the mission where you applied. After arrival, it's the competent foreigners authority.
Either way, the beneficiary cannot withdraw your money.
How long does the Opportunity Card last?
Section 20a(5) of the Residence Act (AufenthG) says the Opportunity Card is first issued for up to one year. The German Missions in Nigeria say it is issued for a maximum of one year, provided you can support yourself for this period.
Make it in Germany says the card may be issued for a shorter period if you can't prove you can cover your living costs for the full 12 months. It can then be extended after you enter Germany, up to the same 12-month maximum. That applies if your ability to cover your living costs changes in your favour, or your job search takes longer.
In individual cases, the same portal says, the card can be converted into an extended Opportunity Card. That's for when you have a qualified job but don't meet the requirements for a different residence title for work.
Applicants report that in 2025 Lagos told some people who funded only six months to top up to the full amount or have their application deleted. If you plan to fund less than 12 months, ask the consulate first.
Can I work while I search for a job?
The work limits on the card (hours and trial jobs) are covered in our separate article on working after arrival.
Applicants already in Germany on the card said between April and August 2026 that finding a job was hard. One said that without German you won't even get a part-time job. These are individual experiences, not an official view of the job market.
Sources for this part6
Reading the answer is the easy part. Say it out loud.
The officer will ask about this. Answer in your own words, then read what your answer missed. Your first practice interview is free.
Practise saying it out loudPeople also ask
How long is the Opportunity Card visa sticker valid?
The German Missions in Nigeria say the period of validity is printed on the visa itself, so check it as soon as your passport comes back. 1
What if my name is spelt wrong on my visa sticker?
The German Missions in Nigeria ask you to report any error on the visa sticker to the consulate immediately, so they can issue a new visa if necessary. They are not liable for financial damage from corrections not reported in good time. 1
Can the border police refuse me entry even with a visa?
The German Missions in Nigeria say a visa is not a right of entry and the border police make the final decision when you enter the Schengen area. They may ask for documents and proof of health insurance, so carry a set of your visa documents. 1
Who is the beneficiary of my blocked account after I arrive?
The Federal Foreign Office says it is the competent foreigners authority after arrival, and the mission where you applied before the visa is granted or used. The beneficiary cannot withdraw your money. 2
Sources
- 1National visa for long term staysOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 2Opening and closing a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto)OfficialAuswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 3§ 20a AufenthGOfficialFederal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 4Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 5Questions and Answers Regarding the Opportunity CardOfficialMake it in Germany (Federal Government portal) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 6Opportunity Card applicant reports (April to August 2026)Applicant reportsApplicant reports gathered by VisaRoom · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 7Applicant reports gathered by VisaRoomApplicant reportsApplicant reports gathered by VisaRoom · checked 3 Nov 2026
Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.
General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.