Do Nigerians and Ghanaians need IELTS or TOEFL for Germany's Opportunity Card?
Short answer
If you use English on the points route, you need an English certificate at B2 or higher, even if English is your native language. Make it in Germany names IELTS and TOEFL as recognised exams. The German Missions in Nigeria and the German Embassy in Accra both ask for English at B2 on the points route, or German at A1 instead. 123
On this page
Does speaking English at home count?
No. Make it in Germany says you must present a language certificate at a minimum level of B2.
It adds that even if your native language is English, you need a certificate from a certified institution.
One applicant reports Lagos confirming there is no language exemption for Nigerian applicants on the points route.
Which English certificates are accepted?
Make it in Germany gives two options for the issuing institution. It must be certified by ALTE (the Association of Language Testers in Europe), or be a recognised institution authorised for examination. For English, it names IELTS and TOEFL as recognised examination types.
The Accra and Nigeria pages word it differently:
- German Embassy Accra: English at level B2 "in the form of a language certificate or TOEFL recognized by" ALTE, not older than one year.
- German Missions in Nigeria: "English at least B2" of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The same page also describes this as intermediate English skills, "level B2, accoriding to TOEFEL standard" (spelling as on the page).
How old can the certificate be?
Make it in Germany says that, as a rule, certificates are only accepted if the exam date was not longer than one year ago. If you re-took some modules, the date of the first module you passed is the one that counts.
Accra's page sets the same limit: not older than one year. The Nigeria Opportunity Card page does not state an age limit for the certificate, so ask the mission in Lagos or Abuja.
Can a university English-proficiency letter replace the test?
Make it in Germany answers this for people who studied in an English-speaking country. It says you most likely had to present certificates such as TOEFL or IELTS for admission, so check whether they are still valid.
If those certificates are no longer valid, it says to ask the responsible German mission abroad whether your academic degree counts as proof of English skills. The Nigeria and Accra Opportunity Card pages do not say whether a degree or a university letter counts.
Does a higher English score help, and do skilled workers need one?
English C1 earns 1 point on the points route. The Nigeria list says "Language certificate English C1 or better" for 1 point. The Accra list gives 1 point for "Very good knowledge of English (C1)."
Make it in Germany says people with a qualification recognised in Germany count as skilled workers (Fachkraft), a separate route. Section 20a of the Residence Act (AufenthG) puts the English B2 condition in section 20a(4) sentence 3. That sentence applies only to the points-route card under section 20a(3) no. 2.
Applicants report confusion over which route they were assessed on. Some with a database match or ZAB statement say they were not asked for a language certificate, but the German Missions in Nigeria list a degree with a Statement of Comparability under qualifications not fully recognised. If you are unsure which route you are on, ask the mission before deciding not to take the test.
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Practise saying it out loudPeople also ask
Is my WAEC English result enough for the Opportunity Card?
Make it in Germany asks for a language certificate at B2 or higher, from an ALTE-certified body or a recognised institution authorised for examination. It says even native English speakers need one. 1
Which IELTS band equals B2?
The mission pages and Make it in Germany do not give a band score. They state the level only as B2. Applicants quote different band scores. Don't rely on them; check that your result report states B2, or ask the mission. 1235
Sources
- 1Questions and Answers Regarding the Opportunity CardOfficialMake it in Germany (Federal Government portal) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 2Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 3Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 4Section 20a Residence Act (AufenthG): ChancenkarteOfficialFederal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 5Applicant 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.