Germany card ends before your exam

If your Chancenkarte ends before the knowledge exam, you need a new residence permit before its end date. An exam appointment alone does not extend your right to stay in Germany.

The immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) decides your next permit. Take your exam letter, licence papers, passport, health insurance paper, bank statements, and any hospital contract to that office.

Why the card is not enough

The Chancenkarte is a job-search residence permit. It lets you look for work in Germany, work up to 20 hours each week, and do short trial jobs.

A full-time junior doctor job needs a different residence permit. The Chancenkarte work limit still applies, even when a hospital wants to hire you.

Your knowledge exam (Kenntnisprüfung) date is important for your licence file. It does not itself create a right to stay after the Chancenkarte ends.

Your strongest option: a hospital contract

A hospital offer gives you the strongest paper for the immigration office. The contract should name your job, weekly hours, start date, salary, and the hospital address.

Many foreign doctors first work with a temporary doctor permit (Berufserlaubnis). This permit lets you work as a doctor under limits set by the state licensing office.

The hospital usually needs to wait for your work permit decision. Do not start full-time ward work while your Chancenkarte still limits you to 20 hours.

If you have an exam date

A residence permit for recognition can fit doctors preparing for the knowledge exam. It is for people completing the German recognition process for a regulated profession.

Bring the licensing office letter that names the missing knowledge exam. Add your exam invitation, language certificate, health insurance paper, and proof that you can pay rent and food.

The immigration office checks whether your exam preparation is real and funded. A vague email saying you hope to take an exam is weaker than an official appointment letter.

If you have neither

Without a hospital contract or a clear recognition step, the immigration office has little reason to issue another permit. Applying for the knowledge exam is not the same as having a date.

Ask about another permit before your current card expires. The answer depends on your papers, money, licence stage, and the purpose of the new application.

What to do now

1. Email the immigration office before the end date. State your Chancenkarte end date and your requested new permit.
2. Ask the state licensing office for a letter showing your knowledge exam requirement or confirmed exam date.
3. Ask the hospital for a signed contract or written offer with job title, hours, salary, and start date.
4. Take your passport, registration paper, insurance paper, bank statements, licence letters, and hospital papers to your appointment.

Stand: 2026-09-28. This is a guide, not legal advice. Every German state has its own rules, and rules change. Check with your state's [medical chamber (Landesärztekammer)](https://www.bundesaerztekammer.de/aerztekammern) before you act.