Citizeo
Pathway

Germany Vocational Training Visa

Germany Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Germany's vocational training route is for people who want to complete an in-company or school-based training program in Germany, or in limited cases come to Germany to search for one. It generally requires a real training-place plan, German language ability, and proof that living costs will be covered.

Type
Student residence
Study plan
Students accepted into qualifying study in Germany
Core requirements
Admission, funds, housing, and insurance
What to know
Acceptance alone is not enough; funds and documents matter
Tuition
Free–low (public)
Funds to show
€11,904 (blocked acct)

Summary

Germany's vocational-training route under Section 16a is for a person who has a specific place in an in-company or school-based vocational program, commonly called Ausbildung. Germany also has a separate Section 17 permit for entering the country to look for a training place.

These two situations should not be confused. A confirmed training contract supports the Section 16a route; a person who is still searching must meet the narrower age, education, language, and funding rules in Section 17.

Pathway fit check

Eligibility

For a confirmed vocational-training place, you generally need:

For the training-place search permit, you generally need:

All financial figures are date-sensitive and should be checked before filing.

What This Route Allows

A Section 16a permit allows the approved vocational program for its duration. The holder may take separate secondary employment for up to 20 hours per week. Qualified in-company trainees may also attend a preparatory German course.

After successful qualified vocational training, Section 20 can allow up to 18 months to look for qualified employment, with gainful activity permitted during the search. A suitable job can then support a skilled-worker or another employment title.

The Section 17 search permit allows up to nine months in Germany to find a training place, work up to 20 hours per week, and complete trial work for up to two weeks in total under the statutory rule.

What This Route Is Not

This is not university study and is not immediate qualified employment in the occupation. The primary purpose is training.

A training-place search permit is not a promise that a place will be found or that the person may remain after the search period. Once a place is found, the person must obtain the proper training title.

Neither route is permanent residence by itself. A later job-search route, work, and settlement steps have separate requirements.

Next Steps

  1. Decide whether you already have a confirmed training place or need the separate search permit.
  2. Obtain the training contract or, for the search route, prove the qualifying school certificate.
  3. Prepare accepted B1 evidence unless the training provider has formally assessed the required language level.
  4. Recheck the current funding figures and document any training allowance, blocked account, scholarship, or declaration of commitment.
  5. Apply through the responsible German mission or the Consular Services Portal where available.
  6. Before training ends, plan the Section 20 job-search or the qualifying employment application.
Compare your options

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Sources