Opportunity Card language requirement: do I need German or English? (Nigeria and Ghana)
Short answer
German at level A1 or English at level B2 is what the German Missions in Nigeria and the German Embassy in Accra ask for, but only on the points route (the route for applicants who are not yet skilled workers). The pages we read state no language requirement for the skilled-worker route.
On this page
- Short answer
- Which route needs a language certificate?
- What does the law say about the language requirement?
- Do skilled workers need a language certificate?
- Which language certificate is accepted, and how old can it be?
- How many points does language earn (Nigeria list)?
- How many language points does the Accra list give?
- People also ask
- Related questions
- Sources
Which route needs a language certificate?
The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) has two routes: one for skilled workers, and the points route, where you collect points.
The German Missions in Nigeria Opportunity Card page lists the points-route conditions as: German language skills at least A1 or English at least B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and at least 6 points via the point system. The PDF checklist itself only lists "Language certificate German/English".
The German Embassy in Accra words it differently. It asks for proof of sufficient knowledge of German at level A1 or knowledge of English at level B2.
What does the law say about the language requirement?
Section 20a of the Residence Act (AufenthG) sets the same condition for the points route. You must show at least "einfache deutsche Sprachkenntnisse" (simple German language skills), or English at least at level B2.
The law gives a level only for English (B2). It does not name a level for German. The level A1 comes from the mission pages.
Sources for this part4
Do skilled workers need a language certificate?
The Nigeria page says people who can prove full equivalence of their foreign qualification, and so count as skilled workers, can receive a card without meeting other special requirements if they show they can support themselves.
The Lagos checklist (status June 2026) lists the language certificate only under the unskilled-worker route, not under the skilled-worker route.
The Accra page lists the language proof only under the group of people who are not yet skilled workers and must gain 6 points.
In the law, the language condition is in section 20a(4), sentence 3, which refers to the points route only (section 20a(3) no. 2).
Which language certificate is accepted, and how old can it be?
The Accra page asks for the proof "in the form of a language certificate or TOEFL recognized by the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), not older than one year". That wording sits on the Opportunity Card page itself.
The Lagos checklist says only "Language certificate German/English". The Nigeria page's general summary adds basic German (level A1, issued by Goethe Institute) or intermediate English (level B2, according to TOEFL standard). The checklist and the CEFR line do not repeat this.
The Nigeria Opportunity Card page names the Goethe Institute for A1 and the TOEFL standard for B2, but it gives no list of accepted test providers and no certificate age limit.
A separate Lagos page on language skills sets an ALTE, Goethe-Institut/ÖSD and one-year rule, but it does not mention the Opportunity Card, so we cannot say it applies.
How many points does language earn (Nigeria list)?
Language also earns points on the points route. The Nigeria page lists:
- Language certificate German B2 or better: 3 points
- Language certificate German B1: 2 points
- Language certificate German A2: 1 point
- Language certificate English C1 or better: 1 point
Sources for this part1
How many language points does the Accra list give?
The Accra list gives 1 point for "Reasonable knowledge of German (A2)" and 1 point for "Very good knowledge of English (C1)".
The Accra page has no German B1 row, so we do not give an Accra figure for B1. We also do not give one for German B2, because the page lists German B2 under both 3 points and 2 points.
Sources for this part3
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Practise saying it out loudPeople also ask
How old can my language certificate be?
The Accra page asks for a certificate not older than one year. The Nigeria Opportunity Card page gives no certificate age limit. 31
Is German A1 enough, or do I need English B2?
Either one. Both the Nigeria and Accra pages say German at level A1 or English at level B2 for the points route. 13
Do I need to take a language test if I count as a skilled worker?
The pages we read do not list a language certificate for the skilled-worker route. Check the current checklist of your mission before you apply. 23
Can I add German and English points together?
Under section 20b(1) AufenthG, points for adequate German (hinreichende deutsche Sprachkenntnisse) are given only if no points are given for a higher German level. English C1 has no such exclusion in that section. 5
Sources
- 1Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 31 Oct 2026
- 2Opportunity Card checklist, Lagos (status June 2026)OfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 31 Oct 2026
- 3Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 31 Oct 2026
- 4Section 20a Residence Act (AufenthG): ChancenkarteOfficialFederal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 31 Oct 2026
- 5Section 20b Residence Act (AufenthG): Points systemOfficialFederal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 31 Oct 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.