Skip to content
Sign inStart free
Start free
Money

How much does the Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) cost from Nigeria or Ghana?

By VisaRoom EditorialChecked 3 November 2026For applicants in Lagos, Abuja and Accra

Short answer

The Opportunity Card visa fee is EUR 75 at the German Missions in Nigeria and at the German Embassy in Accra. If you need ZAB recognition, a Statement of Comparability costs EUR 208, or EUR 150 for a DAB (vocational). You also show EUR 1,091 a month in funds; Accra gives EUR 13,092 for 12 months. If you use a blocked account, bank fees come on top, and the Federal Foreign Office says the account beneficiary cannot withdraw your money. 157869

Share on WhatsApp
Be ready to explain how you will fund your stay. Practise your interview answers first.
On this page
  1. Short answer
  2. Opportunity Card costs at a glance
  3. The visa fee: EUR 75 in Nigeria and Ghana
  4. How much does ZAB recognition cost?
  5. How much money must you show? EUR 1,091 a month
  6. Which costs have no official price?
  7. People also ask
  8. Related questions
  9. Sources

Opportunity Card costs at a glance

These euro amounts come from the German Missions in Nigeria, the German Embassy in Accra, ZAB and the Federal Foreign Office. We checked them on 2 November 2026.

  • Visa fee, Lagos and Abuja: EUR 75 (national visa fee).
  • Visa fee, Accra: EUR 75.
  • ZAB Statement of Comparability (for a university degree): EUR 208.
  • ZAB DAB (Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification): EUR 150.
  • Proof of funds: at least EUR 1,091 a month. Accra gives EUR 13,092 for 12 months. If you use a blocked account, the bank fees come on top of this amount.
  • Blocked-account bank fees: no official figure.
  • Prepaid courier envelope (Lagos): no official figure.

Sources for this part15784692

The visa fee: EUR 75 in Nigeria and Ghana

For Lagos and Abuja, the German Missions in Nigeria say the fee for a national visa (for longer stays) is EUR 75. The Lagos Consulate General's Opportunity Card checklist is headed "National – Opportunity Card". You pay in Nigerian naira, in cash or by POS, at the mission's current exchange rate. Applicants advise paying by card or bringing the exact naira amount, and checking the mission's current rate just before your appointment.

If your visa is rejected, the Nigeria missions say you don't get the fee back.

In Accra, the German Embassy gives a visa fee of EUR 75. You pay it at your appointment, either in cash in Ghana cedis at the embassy's current rate or by credit card.

Sources for this part13512

How much does ZAB recognition cost?

ZAB (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen) charges EUR 208 for a Statement of Comparability for a university degree.

For a vocational qualification, ZAB issues a DAB. Its application page says you can pay the EUR 150 fee online once you submit your application.

ZAB's fees page also says you can cancel a Statement of Comparability application until the statement is available to download. Depending on how far processing has gone, you can be charged up to 50 percent of the fee.

ZAB gives a 3-month processing time for a Statement of Comparability. Applicants report waiting about 2 to 4 months, and say Lagos gives roughly 30 days to add a missing statement, so apply early.

Sources for this part781012

How much money must you show? EUR 1,091 a month

The German Missions in Nigeria ask for EUR 1,091 net per month. Their financial means page says the amount must cover your planned stay in Germany, up to a maximum of one year.

The German Embassy in Accra accepts a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with at least EUR 1,091 for each month. It also accepts a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) or a part-time job contract in Germany as proof of funds. Its national visa FAQ says the account should hold EUR 13,092 for 12 months.

The Federal Foreign Office says the account beneficiary (the mission where you applied, or the foreigners office after you arrive) cannot withdraw your money.

Sources for this part4569

Which costs have no official price?

The official pages name these costs but give no amount for them. Check the price with the bank or courier yourself.

  • Blocked-account bank fees. The Federal Foreign Office says you can choose any bank or similar provider, and you pay its banking fees on top of the blocked amount. No official figure.
  • Prepaid courier envelope (Lagos). The German Missions in Nigeria Opportunity Card page and the Lagos checklist ask for a self-addressed prepaid courier envelope from any major courier service. No official figure. Applicants report that prepaid envelopes can have an expiry date and that decisions can take around three months, so ask the courier how long the envelope is valid.
  • Health insurance: no official figure. See our health insurance article.

Sources for this part92312

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 loud

People also ask

Is the Opportunity Card visa fee refunded if my visa is refused?

In Nigeria, no: the German Missions in Nigeria say the processing fee is not refundable if your visa is rejected. The Accra Opportunity Card page we read does not say either way. 15

Can I pay the Opportunity Card visa fee in naira?

Yes. The German Missions in Nigeria say the visa fee is payable in Nigerian naira, in cash or via POS, at the mission's current exchange rate. The fee itself is set in euro: EUR 75 for a national visa. 1

Is the blocked account money refundable if my visa is refused?

The Federal Foreign Office says the account beneficiary cannot withdraw your money, and you pay the bank's fees on top of the blocked amount. If your visa is rejected, it says the rejection notice is enough to lift the block on the account. The German Missions in Nigeria say the rejection letter is usually sufficient for the bank; if it is not accepted, or you withdrew without a rejection letter, they offer a consular declaration for EUR 36, payable in naira. 911

Sources

  1. 1Visa feesOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
  2. 2Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
  3. 3Opportunity Card checklist, Lagos (status June 2026)OfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
  4. 4Proof of financial meansOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
  5. 5Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 2 Nov 2026
  6. 6FAQs on national visa and their answersOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 2 Nov 2026
  7. 7Fees | Statement of ComparabilityOfficialZentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB) · checked 2 Nov 2026
  8. 8Application | DAB (Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification)OfficialZentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB) · checked 2 Nov 2026
  9. 9Opening and closing a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto)OfficialAuswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) · checked 2 Nov 2026
  10. 10Application | Statement of ComparabilityOfficialZAB · checked 2 Nov 2026
  11. 11Release of a blocked accountOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
  12. 12Applicant 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.