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Route · Train for a qualification in Germany
Vocational training
Section 16a Residence Act
Learn a profession in Germany. You work and study at the same time, you earn training pay, and the training permit has no upper age limit. After you finish, a path to skilled work opens.
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No-obligation introductory call · Information last updated: November 2026
With a German company
None
Usually around B1
Up to 20 h a week
In short
- 01
For people who want a German professional qualification and have a training place with a company.
- 02
You get training pay, you may work up to 20 hours a week in a side job, and there is no age limit.
- 03
After the training you can stay up to 18 months to find a job, and later move to a skilled worker permit.
General information to help you get oriented. For your own case the German authorities decide, and we are happy to talk it through with you.
01
What it is
Vocational training is the usual way to learn a profession in Germany. In the dual system you learn in a company and also go to a vocational school. It lasts about two to three and a half years, depending on the profession.
The residence permit for training is based on Section 16a of the Residence Act. Most people have a training contract with a German company. For some professions the training is school-based and happens fully at a school. In both cases you get a national visa first, and then a residence permit in Germany.
02
Who it is for
A good fit if you
- want to learn a profession in Germany, such as in care, the trades, hospitality, logistics or IT
- have found a training place, or are ready to look for one
- are willing to learn German up to a level the training needs
- can cover your living costs, with training pay and other money if needed
You do not need to tick every box today. Many people start by finding out which parts they still need.
Another route may suit you better
- You have no training place yetA stay of up to nine months to look for one can be possible. Read about searching for a training place.
- You already have a qualification from homeYour qualification may be recognised. See recognition in Germany or the Opportunity Card.
- You want to go to universityRead about studying in Germany.
Not sure this is your route?Compare the route guides and see which one fits your situation.
See all routes03
When it fits best
You want a German qualification that employers know and trust.
You do not have a university degree, or you want to start working life with a paid training.
You plan to stay in Germany and want a clear path to skilled work.
04
Conditions
Everyone needs a valid passport, health insurance and enough money to live on. Then the training itself must fit these points.
Training in a company
- A training contract with a company in Germany for a qualified training
- The Federal Employment Agency usually has to agreeSection 16a(1) with Section 39 of the German Residence Act and Section 8(1) of the German Employment Ordinance. The Federal Employment Agency looks at whether pay and working conditions are not worse than for comparable workers in Germany, and the company gives it details such as pay and working hours (Section 39(3) no. 1, (4)). The consent is usually obtained as part of the visa procedure.
- German language level the training needsoften around B1; the company or the school may test it
- Health insurance and enough money for your living costs
Section 16a(1) German Residence Act; Section 8 German Employment Ordinance
Training at a school
- A place at a school for a profession that leads to a state-recognised qualification
- The course must not be mainly for citizens of one country
- German level the school asks forcheck with the school
- Enough money for your living costs
Section 16a(2) German Residence Act
Nursing training (registered nurse)
- Three years full-time, up to five years part-time: lessons at a nursing school and practical training in care facilities, with practice taking the larger share (Section 6 of the Nursing Professions Act)
- Entry level: an intermediate school certificate or an equivalent oneOr a lower school certificate plus a completed training of at least two years or a nursing assistant training of at least one year, or another ten years of general schooling (Section 11(1) of the Nursing Professions Act)
- The practical training provider pays adequate training pay for the whole training (Section 19 of the Nursing Professions Act)
- German level that the nursing school and the care facility ask forask the school; the office decides which permit rule applies
Section 16a German Residence Act; Nursing Professions Act Sections 6, 11, 19
Living costs, guide values 2026guide only
| Dual training in a companynet training pay, per month | € 822 |
|---|---|
| Dual training in a companygross training pay, per month | € 1,048 |
| School-based trainingper month | € 959 |
These are guide values from the Federal Government portal. The office decides each case. Training pay in the contract often counts as your income.
Minimum training pay (Section 17 of the Vocational Training Act)by start year
| 1st year, training started in 2026per month | € 724 |
|---|---|
| 2nd year, training started in 2026per month | € 854 |
| 3rd year, training started in 2026per month | € 977 |
| 4th year, training started in 2026per month | € 1,014 |
| 1st year, training starting in 2027per month (later years: € 902, € 1,031, € 1,070) | € 764 |
Minimum pay for dual training under the Vocational Training Act, by the year the training starts. Pay must rise at least every year. A collective agreement can set a different amount for companies it binds (Section 17(3) of the Vocational Training Act). Nursing training has its own rule: adequate pay (Section 19 of the Nursing Professions Act). The amounts for 2027 were read from the press release of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training of 7 October 2026. This minimum is not the same as the proof of money for the visa.
05
Steps and timing
- 01
Choose your profession
You · a few weeks
Look at professions with open training places in your region. Read what the training needs.
- 02
Learn German
You + language school · depends on your level
Many companies ask for around B1. Some schools or companies test your German themselves.
- 03
Find a training place
You + companies · often several months
Apply to companies. Many apply to several companies at the same time. Job portals and the Federal Employment Agency list training places.
- 04
Sign the training contract
You + company · varies
The contract states the profession, the length and your pay.
- 05
Approval and visa application
You + mission + authorities · waiting time varies
Apply for the national visa at the German mission responsible for where you live. The Federal Employment Agency usually gives its consent.
Arrive and start training
You + company · training length varies
Register your address and get your residence permit in Germany. Then your training begins.
Time before you travelDepends on your country
Talk to our team06
Documents
- Passportvalid for the whole stay
- Biometric photos
- Application form and CV
- Training contract
- School certificateswith translations if the office asks
- Proof of Germanif the company or school did not test it
- Proof of living coststraining pay, or other proof
- Health insurance
Your certificates need the right stamps. An apostille (an official confirmation stamp) or legalisation by the German mission: it depends on the country that issued them. See the rules for your country
07
Life in Germany
20 h
side job a week, apart from your training
Pay
training pay from your company
No limit
there is no upper age limit for this permit
18 months
possible stay to find a job after the training
08
Costs
| Visa feenational visa, paid at the German mission | € 75 |
|---|---|
| Residence permit in Germanypaid at the local authority | up to € 100 |
| Language exampaid to the exam centre | varies |
| Living costs in Germanydual training, net pay as a guide | about € 822 a month |
|---|
Official fees as of November 2026. They can change. Training in Germany usually has no tuition fee at the vocational school.
09
Your future in Germany
After your training, many doors open. The time each step takes depends on your situation and on the law at that time.
- 01After the training
Find a job
A stay of up to 18 months to look for a job that fits your qualification.
- 02With a job
Skilled worker permit
The skilled worker visa is the usual next permit.
- 03Later
Permanent residence
With a German training, it can be possible after 2 years with a skilled worker permit (Section 18c).
10
Tips for a strong application
- Start with German early. A good level helps in the application, at the vocational school and at work.
- Apply to more than one company. Different companies, different answers. More tries mean more chances.
- Ask if your earlier training can shorten the vocational training. Sometimes it can. The company and the chamber decide.
- Keep your documents clean and consistent. Same names, dates and job titles everywhere.
11
Questions
The law has no upper age limit for this permit. Companies decide who they hire.
It depends on the training. Often around level B1. Some companies or schools test your German themselves, and some training starts with a German course.
Yes, up to 20 hours a week in a job that is not part of your training.
It depends on the profession and the company. By law the pay must be adequate, rise every year and not fall below the minimum: for training that starts in 2026 it is € 724 a month in the first year, for 2027 € 764 (Section 17 of the Vocational Training Act). Collective agreements can set other amounts for companies they bind. In nursing, the provider must pay adequate pay (Section 19 of the Nursing Professions Act).
For training in a company the Federal Employment Agency usually has to agree (Section 16a(1) with Section 39 of the German Residence Act, Section 8(1) of the German Employment Ordinance). It looks at whether your pay and working conditions are not worse than those of comparable workers in Germany. Your company has to give it details such as pay, working hours and social insurance (Section 39(3) and (4)). The consent is usually obtained within the visa procedure. The Federal Employment Agency decides each case.
Section 16a sets no school-certificate rule of its own. What counts is what the training asks for: companies and schools set their entry rules, and for nursing it is Section 11 of the Nursing Professions Act. The database anabin of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education shows how foreign school and degree types are rated in Germany. The permit to search for a training place is different: there the certificate must give access to university in Germany or in the country where you got it (Section 17(1)). Training place search
If this is not your fault, you can get up to six months to look for another training place.
The rules depend on your permit and your income. Family reunion guide
You can stay up to 18 months to find a skilled job. Then you can move to a work permit. Skilled worker visa
For some professions, yes. The course must lead to a state-recognised qualification. Ask the school which German level it needs.
Yes, nursing training (registered nurse) is a vocational training. It lasts three years full-time, needs an intermediate school certificate or an equivalent entry level (Section 11 of the Nursing Professions Act), and the training provider pays training pay (Section 19 of the Nursing Professions Act). One more rule: for jobs in health and care professions, recruiting and placing workers from the countries on this list is only allowed through the Federal Employment Agency (Section 38 of the German Employment Ordinance). The text speaks of employment; whether it also reaches a training place in your case is for the Federal Employment Agency to say, so ask before you plan. We can only give you general information on this route.
Words on this page
- vocational training
- Vocational training in Germany. You learn in a company and at a vocational school.
- Dual training
- Training in two places: the company and the school.
- Federal Employment Agency
- The German authority for work. It usually has to agree to the training permit.
- Blocked account
- A German bank account for your own living money. Some people use it as proof of money.
Routes to Germany
Related routes
Training place search
Come to Germany to look for a training place.
Training place search: Read the guide
Skilled worker visa
Work in Germany as a skilled worker.
Skilled worker visa: Read the guide
About DastN
Placement and relocation from Berlin
DastN GmbH is a placement and relocation company in Berlin. We connect skilled people with employers in Germany and help with the steps on the way.
DastN GmbH
Kurfürstendamm 194, 10707 Berlin
HRB 230821 B
Founded in Berlin in 2021
Sources
- German Residence Act, Section 16a, official German laws website
- German Residence Act, Sections 18c and 20
- German Employment Ordinance, Section 8
- German Residence Act, Section 39: consent to employment
- Vocational Training Act (BBiG), Section 17: training pay and minimum pay
- Notice on the minimum training pay for 2026 (Federal Law Gazette 2025 I No. 235)
- Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, press release 31/2026: minimum training pay 2027
- Nursing Professions Act, Sections 6, 11, 19: nursing training
- German Employment Ordinance, Section 38 and annex: recruitment in health and care professions
- anabin: foreign school and degree types (KMK)
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV), Section 46: visa fees
- Make it in Germany: At a glance, visa for vocational training (PDF, as of January 2026)
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