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Residence permit for vocational training

Ausländerbehörde · Residence law

In personMake it in Germany

The residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) under § 16a of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) enables third-country nationals to complete qualified vocational training in Germany. It is not a discretionary decision: under § 16a Abs. 1 Satz 1 AufenthG, it is to be granted as a general rule if the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) has given its approval under § 39 AufenthG or if exemption from approval is provided for by the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (Beschäftigungsverordnung, BeschV) or by an intergovernmental agreement. If the requirements are met, the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners authority) may only refuse the residence title in atypical exceptional cases.

The purpose of residence expressly also includes a preparatory German language course (§ 16a Abs. 1 Satz 4 AufenthG). Alongside your training, under § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG you may take up employment unrelated to the purpose of the training of up to 20 hours per week – not just 10 hours, as applied before the Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz). In addition to in-company training, qualified school-based vocational training under § 16a Abs. 2 AufenthG is also covered.

After successful completion, you must be granted a residence permit of up to 18 months under § 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 in conjunction with § 20 Abs. 2 Satz 2 AufenthG to look for a job matching your qualification, provided your subsistence is secured. The frequently cited period of 12 months – which can be extended once by up to six months – applies exclusively after training as an assistant or auxiliary in healthcare and nursing (§ 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 AufenthG).

Last updated3 October 2026
Legal basis§ 16a AufenthG · § 45 AufenthV
VerificationChecked by AmtsDeutschland.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Ausländerbehörde, not an authority and not a paid advice service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source – this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Costs€100.00Uniform nationwide, § 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV · visa €75.00
Processing time4–8 weeksCard production, plus waiting time for an appointment
MethodIn personAppointment at the Ausländerbehörde · visa obtained beforehand abroad
Required documents

What you need to bring

This list applies to the application to the Ausländerbehörde in Germany. For the national visa (category D visa), the German mission abroad requires the same proof, plus the visa application form and, as a rule, certified translations.

Valid passport

The passport must be valid at the time of submission of the application and should cover the duration of the training if possible: an electronic residence title is never issued for longer than the passport is valid. If your passport expires during your training, renew it in good time at the diplomatic mission of your home country in Germany; otherwise the residence title will only be issued for a shorter period and you will pay the extension fee twice. Bring older passports with you if they contain earlier visas or periods of residence.

Training contract with proof of entry in the chamber’s register

The vocational training contract must come from a company authorised to provide training and must be entered by the competent chamber – Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammer, IHK), Handwerkskammer (chamber of skilled crafts, HWK), chamber of physicians or nursing chamber – in the register of vocational training relationships. The Ausländerbehörde and the Federal Employment Agency use the contract to check the duration of the training, the weekly working hours and the training allowance. Without proof of entry, the contract is generally not considered reliable in the procedure; therefore submit the proof together with the contract.

Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (§ 39 AufenthG)

This is the basic statutory condition of § 16a Abs. 1 Satz 1 AufenthG: the residence title is, as a general rule, to be granted if the Federal Employment Agency has given its approval or if exemption from approval is ordered by the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners or by an intergovernmental agreement. You do not submit a separate application for this – the German mission abroad or the Ausländerbehörde involves the Federal Employment Agency in the internal procedure, which mainly examines the working conditions. Your training company can shorten the process considerably by obtaining an advance approval (Vorabzustimmung) beforehand.

Proof that your subsistence is secured: €992.00 per month

§ 16a AufenthG is expressly named in § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 5 AufenthG: subsistence is deemed to be secured if monthly funds equal to the BAföG (federal training assistance for students and school pupils) standard needs rate are available. In 2026, this remains €992.00 per month (€475 + €380 + €102 + €35 under §§ 13, 13a Abs. 1 BAföG), i.e. €11,904.00 for twelve months. Your training allowance is taken into account, so only the difference has to be proven in addition – usual options are a blocked account (Sperrkonto), a scholarship or a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) under § 68 AufenthG.

Proof of health insurance

In Germany, trainees are generally subject to compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance scheme; the training company registers you at the start of the training. For the period between entry and the start of the training, and for the visa procedure, you must take out insurance yourself, for example travel health insurance with sufficient cover. At the appointment, the Ausländerbehörde requires a current Mitgliedsbescheinigung (health insurance membership certificate) from your health insurance fund (Krankenkasse), not just the health insurance card.

Proof of language skills – usually B1, but not always

The law does not prescribe a fixed language level. Under § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG, proof is only required if the language skills needed for the specific training have neither been tested by the educational institution nor are to be acquired through a preparatory German language course. In the visa practice of the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), B1 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the standard benchmark for qualified vocational training. If your company or the vocational school confirms the required skills, or if a language course comes first, no proof is required – the preparatory course is even expressly included in the purpose of residence (§ 16a Abs. 1 Satz 4 AufenthG).

School certificates and CV

Submit your highest school-leaving qualification and any vocational qualifications as certified copies with a translation by a sworn translator, together with a CV in tabular form. Unlike the recognition of a foreign vocational qualification, no notice of equivalence is needed for the vocational training itself; the documents enable the German mission abroad and the chamber to carry out an examination of your background and of the plausibility of your training plans. You can obtain certifications from the German mission abroad or, in Germany, from a notary.

Biometric photograph

For the electronic residence title, you need a recent biometric photograph: taken from the front, with a neutral facial expression, closed mouth and an evenly lit, light background. Since 1 May 2025, the Ausländerbehörde only accepts the photograph in digital form – transmitted in encrypted form by a certified photographer (with a Data Matrix code) or taken at the authority’s own terminal, where one is available; the transitional period for paper photographs ended on 31 July 2025. Fingerprints and your signature for the chip are taken at the appointment in any case.

Meldebescheinigung and Wohnungsgeberbestätigung

The local jurisdiction of the Ausländerbehörde depends on your registered address, which is why it requires proof of registration. Register at the Bürgeramt (citizens’ office) within two weeks of moving in; for this you need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation) from your landlord. If you live in a hostel run by the company or as a subtenant, whoever provides the accommodation also issues the confirmation.

Application form and national visa

Each Ausländerbehörde provides its own form for applying for a residence title, often as a PDF to be completed before the appointment. Also present the national visa (category D) with which you entered Germany – it shows that the purpose of training was already examined in the visa procedure. Nationals of certain privileged states may apply for the residence title in Germany after entering without a visa (§ 41 of the Ordinance Governing Residence (Aufenthaltsverordnung, AufenthV)); clarify in advance with the competent German mission abroad whether this applies to you.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Find a training place – or enter with a visa to search for one

    Search via the apprenticeship exchanges of the IHK and the Handwerkskammer, the job exchange of the Federal Employment Agency or the Make it in Germany portal. If you do not yet have a place, you can apply for a visa to search for a training place under § 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG: the requirements are being under 35 years of age, a school-leaving qualification that entitles you to study at a university, sufficient German language skills and secured subsistence with a surcharge of 10%, i.e. €1,091.20 per month (§ 2 Abs. 3 Satz 6 AufenthG). The stay is limited to a maximum of nine months; during this time, employment of up to 20 hours per week and trial employment of up to two weeks each are permitted (§ 17 Abs. 3 AufenthG).

  2. 2

    Sign the training contract and have it entered in the chamber’s register

    Sign the vocational training contract and have the company enter it in the register of vocational training relationships at the competent chamber. The entry is proof that the training is qualified vocational training within the meaning of § 16a AufenthG – training of at least two years in a state-recognised training occupation. If it is school-based training, § 16a Abs. 2 AufenthG applies: it must lead to a state-recognised vocational qualification and must not take place in a course of education that is predominantly aimed at persons of a particular nationality. Allow between a few working days and a few weeks for the entry.

  3. 3

    Secure the approval of the Federal Employment Agency

    Without approval under § 39 AufenthG or an exemption from approval ordered by law, the residence title cannot be granted. The Federal Employment Agency examines in particular whether the working conditions correspond to those of comparable domestic trainees. You do not have to take any action yourself: the German mission abroad or the Ausländerbehörde obtains the approval in the internal procedure. Your company can noticeably shorten the process by applying for a Vorabzustimmung or by using the fast-track procedure for skilled workers (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren) under § 81a AufenthG, which costs €411.00 (§ 47 Abs. 1 Nr. 15 AufenthV) and is initiated by the employer.

  4. 4

    Apply for a national visa at the German mission abroad

    Apply for a national visa (category D) for the purpose of vocational training at the German embassy or consulate general that is competent for your place of residence. The fee is €75.00 under § 46 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 AufenthV. A Schengen visa for short stays entitles you neither to vocational training nor to a change in the purpose of residence within Germany – if you entered with the wrong visa, you generally have to start the procedure again from your home country. The allocation of appointments at the German mission abroad is the most time-critical point of the entire process: book the appointment as soon as the training contract has been signed, not shortly before the training starts.

  5. 5

    Entry and registration of residence (Anmeldung) within two weeks

    Under § 17 Abs. 1 of the Federal Act on Registration (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG), you must register with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in after entering Germany. If possible, book the appointment at the Bürgeramt before you enter Germany and ask your landlord to issue the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung – if it is missing at the appointment, you must submit it later. You then need the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) for the Ausländerbehörde, for your bank account and for the Krankenkasse; a late Anmeldung is a regulatory offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit) under § 54 BMG.

  6. 6

    Apply for the residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde

    Apply for the electronic residence title at the Ausländerbehörde of your place of residence before the expiry of your visa. The fee is exactly €100.00 (§ 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV). At the appointment, your photograph, fingerprints and signature are captured for the chip; the card is then produced by the Bundesdruckerei (Germany’s federal printing company). The production time differs considerably from city to city – around four to five weeks in Berlin, about four to six weeks in Hamburg and six to eight weeks in Munich – plus the waiting time for the appointment itself. If the visa expires before the decision, the authority issues a Fiktionsbescheinigung (provisional residence document); you collect the finished card in person later (Collect your eAT).

  7. 7

    During your training: secondary employment, extension, incidents

    Alongside your training, you may take up employment unrelated to the purpose of the training of up to 20 hours per week (§ 16a Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG). If the residence title is granted for a shorter period than the training lasts, apply for the extension four to eight weeks before expiry – it costs €93.00 for a further stay of more than three months. If you have to discontinue your training for reasons for which you are not responsible, under § 16a Abs. 4 AufenthG you must be given up to six months to look for a new training place before the residence title is revoked or shortened.

  8. 8

    After completing your training: up to 18 months to look for a job

    After successful completion of qualified vocational training, you must be granted a residence permit of up to 18 months under § 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 in conjunction with § 20 Abs. 2 Satz 2 AufenthG to look for a job matching your qualification – this is a mandatory decision, not a matter of discretion. The requirement is secured subsistence under § 20 Abs. 2 Satz 1 AufenthG; economic activity is permitted during the search. Only after training as an assistant or auxiliary in healthcare and nursing (§ 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 AufenthG) does the shorter period of 12 months apply, which can be extended once by up to six months. As soon as you have an employment contract, you switch to a residence title for employment – the change in the purpose of residence costs €98.00 – or consider the EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) and later the settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis).

Fee information

Costs and payment

The fees are laid down uniformly nationwide in the Ordinance Governing Residence. They are not a local estimate, and the Ausländerbehörde must not set different amounts.

Fees

ServiceFeeLegal basis
Issue of the residence permit (§ 16a)€100.00§ 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV
Extension for a further stay of more than three months€93.00§ 45 Nr. 2/3 AufenthV
Extension for a stay of up to three months€96.00§ 45 Nr. 2/3 AufenthV
Change in the purpose of residence, e.g. to a residence title for employment after the training€98.00§ 45 Nr. 2/3 AufenthV
National visa at the German mission abroad€75.00§ 46 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 AufenthV
Fast-track procedure for skilled workers (applied for by the training company)€411.00§ 81a AufenthG, § 47 Abs. 1 Nr. 15 AufenthV
Place of paymentAusländerbehörde of your place of residence; visa fee at the German mission abroad
Means of paymentEC card or cash, sometimes bank transfer in advance
Additional costs not includedSperrkonto, certified translations, language certificate – depending on the provider
Reduction or exemptionDecided by the competent Ausländerbehörde under the Ordinance Governing Residence
Good to know

Important notes

Special cases, deadlines and rules that repeatedly prove decisive in everyday training.

20 hours of secondary employment, not 10. § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG expressly permits employment unrelated to the purpose of the training of up to 20 hours per week. The 10-hour limit that is still widely cited reflects the legal situation before the Skilled Immigration Act. If you go by it, you give up half of the permitted additional earnings for no reason.

Up to 18 months to look for a job after the training. § 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 in conjunction with § 20 Abs. 2 Satz 2 AufenthG provides for up to 18 months for graduates of qualified vocational training, as a mandatory decision. The widely cited figure of 12 months only concerns training as an assistant or auxiliary in healthcare and nursing (§ 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 AufenthG). In both cases, secured subsistence is a requirement.

Six-month protection period if the training ends through no fault of your own. Before the residence permit is withdrawn, revoked or its period of validity shortened for reasons for which you are not responsible, you must be given up to six months under § 16a Abs. 4 AufenthG to look for another training place. Typical reasons are the insolvency of the company or termination for operational reasons. Report the termination immediately and submit proof of your applications.

The preparatory German course is part of the purpose of residence. § 16a Abs. 1 Satz 4 AufenthG expressly also covers a German language course preceding the training. This means you can enter Germany before you have reached the language level required for the training, provided the course and the subsequent start of the training are proven. Under § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG, no proof of language skills is required in this situation.

School-based training is also covered. § 16a Abs. 2 AufenthG applies to qualified school-based vocational training if it leads to a state-recognised vocational qualification and the course of education is not predominantly aimed at persons of a particular nationality. This is particularly relevant for health and care professions and for full-time vocational schools. Proof that subsistence is secured carries more weight here, because often no training allowance or only a small one is paid.

Persons with a Duldung: Ausbildungsduldung under § 60c and switching under § 16g AufenthG. The Ausbildungsduldung (suspension of deportation for the duration of vocational training) applies to persons who have started qualified vocational training and wish to continue it, as well as to persons with a Duldung (temporary suspension of deportation) under § 60a AufenthG; since the new version of the law, it also applies to training as an assistant or auxiliary that is followed by qualified training in a shortage occupation for which a training place has been promised. Via § 16g AufenthG, it is possible to switch from a Duldung to a residence permit for vocational training.

€992.00 per month is the benchmark. For § 16a AufenthG, § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 5 AufenthG sets the BAföG standard needs rate as the threshold for secured subsistence – unchanged in 2026 at €992.00 (§§ 13, 13a Abs. 1 BAföG). The training allowance promised in the contract is taken into account; only the difference has to be deposited in addition. For the visa to search for a training place under § 17 AufenthG, a surcharge of 10% applies, i.e. €1,091.20 (§ 2 Abs. 3 Satz 6 AufenthG).

Two weeks for the registration of residence (Anmeldung). Under § 17 Abs. 1 BMG, you must register with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in. The deadline runs from the date you move in, not from your entry into Germany, and also applies to temporary accommodation. Without a Meldebescheinigung, the Ausländerbehörde will generally not process the application, because its local jurisdiction depends on your place of residence.

Fast-track procedure for skilled workers for the company. Under § 81a AufenthG, your training company can initiate an accelerated procedure at the Ausländerbehörde, in which the approval of the Federal Employment Agency and the visa appointment are bundled. The fee of €411.00 (§ 47 Abs. 1 Nr. 15 AufenthV) is paid by the employer. For companies that recruit internationally on a regular basis, this is the fastest route from signing the contract to starting the training.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Each of these mistakes costs time and money in the procedure or, in the worst case, your residence title.

Working more than 20 hours per week alongside the training. The permission under § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG is limited to 20 hours per week. If you work beyond that without permission, you breach an ancillary provision of your residence title; the consequence can be a regulatory offence, stricter conditions or, in the event of repetition, revocation of the residence title. The employer also exposes itself to sanctions.

Failing to plan for the approval of the Federal Employment Agency. § 16a Abs. 1 Satz 1 AufenthG makes the grant conditional on approval under § 39 AufenthG or on an exemption from approval ordered by law. If the approval is only obtained after the visa appointment, the start of the training is often postponed by weeks – in the worst case until the next training year. A Vorabzustimmung obtained by the company prevents this.

Calculating subsistence too tightly. The benchmark is €992.00 per month (§ 2 Abs. 3 Satz 5 AufenthG in conjunction with §§ 13, 13a Abs. 1 BAföG), from which only the training allowance promised in the contract is deducted. If you open a Sperrkonto with too low a balance, you will receive a refusal in the visa procedure and will have to repeat the entire application with a new appointment booking.

Not applying at all because you lack a B1 certificate. § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG only requires proof of language skills if the educational institution has not tested the skills itself and no preparatory German language course is planned. If you do not know about this exception, you forgo an application that would have been legally possible – and lose an entire training year.

Entering with a Schengen visa for training. A national visa (category D) is required for vocational training; a Schengen visa for short stays does not allow a change in the purpose of residence within Germany. The Ausländerbehörde will then refuse the application and refer you to the visa procedure, to be carried out again from your home country – with an obligation to leave the federal territory and another wait for an appointment at the embassy.

Applying for the extension too late. The electronic residence title is often granted for a shorter period than the training lasts. If the extension is only applied for after the expiry of the residence title, a gap arises in your lawful residence, which interrupts employment and training. Apply for the extension four to eight weeks beforehand and, if necessary, have a Fiktionsbescheinigung issued.

Remaining inactive after discontinuing the training. The protection period of up to six months under § 16a Abs. 4 AufenthG only applies if you are not responsible for the discontinuation and the authority learns of it. If you conceal the discontinuation, you risk revocation of your residence title because the purpose of residence no longer applies, and you lose the search period. Report the termination immediately in writing and collect proof of your applications.

Leaving Germany too early after completing the training. If you follow the widely cited figure of 12 months, you give away up to six months of search time: under § 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 in conjunction with § 20 Abs. 2 Satz 2 AufenthG, it is up to 18 months after qualified vocational training. Apply for the residence title for job search before the expiry of your residence title for training, and prove that your subsistence is secured.

Not registering your address within two weeks. § 17 Abs. 1 BMG sets a deadline of two weeks from moving in; a breach is a regulatory offence under § 54 BMG and can be sanctioned with a regulatory fine. In practice, it is more serious that without a Meldebescheinigung neither the application to the Ausländerbehörde nor opening a bank account will work.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Am I allowed to work alongside my training?

Yes. Under § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG, the residence permit entitles you to take up employment unrelated to the purpose of the training of up to 20 hours per week. The 10-hour limit that was previously widely cited stems from the legal situation before the Skilled Immigration Act and no longer applies. The training itself does not count towards these 20 hours, as it constitutes the actual purpose of residence.

How long can I stay after my training to look for a job?

After successful completion of qualified vocational training, you must be granted a residence permit of up to 18 months under § 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 in conjunction with § 20 Abs. 2 Satz 2 AufenthG to look for a job matching your qualification. The requirement is secured subsistence under § 20 Abs. 2 Satz 1 AufenthG. The period of 12 months, which can be extended once by up to six months, applies exclusively to training as an assistant or auxiliary in healthcare and nursing under § 20 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 AufenthG.

How much money do I have to prove for my subsistence?

For the residence permit under § 16a AufenthG, subsistence is deemed to be secured under § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 5 AufenthG if €992.00 per month is available; the amount is unchanged in 2026. It follows the BAföG standard needs rate under §§ 13, 13a Abs. 1 BAföG (€475 + €380 + €102 + €35). Your training allowance is taken into account, so only the remaining difference has to be proven in addition, usually via a Sperrkonto.

Do I definitely need a B1 certificate?

No. § 16a Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG only requires proof of language skills if the skills required for the training have neither been tested by the educational institution nor are to be acquired through a preparatory German language course. In the visa practice of the Federal Foreign Office, however, B1 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is the standard benchmark for qualified vocational training. A preparatory German language course is expressly included in the purpose of residence (§ 16a Abs. 1 Satz 4 AufenthG).

What happens if I discontinue my training?

Before the residence permit is withdrawn, revoked or its period of validity shortened for reasons for which you are not responsible, you must be given up to six months under § 16a Abs. 4 AufenthG to look for another training place. Therefore report the discontinuation to the Ausländerbehörde without delay and document your applications. If you are responsible for the discontinuation yourself, this protection does not apply.

How much does the residence permit for vocational training cost?

Issuing the residence permit costs exactly €100.00, uniformly nationwide, under § 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV; no surcharge or local variation is provided for. An extension costs €93.00 if it concerns a further stay of more than three months, and €96.00 for an extension of up to three months. A change in the purpose of residence costs €98.00, and the national visa at the German mission abroad costs €75.00 under § 46 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 AufenthV.

How long does processing take?

The processing time depends on the local authority. The production of the electronic residence title alone takes around four to five weeks in Berlin, about four to six weeks in Hamburg and six to eight weeks in Munich. In addition, there is the waiting time for an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde, which can be several weeks in metropolitan areas.

Can I enter Germany without a training place?

Yes, with the visa to search for a training place under § 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG. The requirements are being under 35 years of age, a school-leaving qualification that entitles you to study at a university, sufficient German language skills and secured subsistence with a surcharge of 10%, i.e. €1,091.20 per month under § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 6 AufenthG. The stay is limited to a maximum of nine months; employment of up to 20 hours per week and trial employment of up to two weeks each are permitted (§ 17 Abs. 3 AufenthG).

Does § 16a AufenthG also apply to school-based training and to persons with a Duldung?

§ 16a Abs. 2 AufenthG also covers qualified school-based vocational training, provided it leads to a state-recognised vocational qualification and the course of education is not predominantly aimed at persons of a particular nationality. Persons with a Duldung who have started or are starting qualified vocational training can obtain an Ausbildungsduldung under § 60c AufenthG. Switching from a Duldung to a residence permit for vocational training is possible via § 16g AufenthG.

Related official procedures

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General
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EU Blue Card
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From €100
Advance approval (Vorabzustimmung)
Speed up the procedure
Applied for by the company
Extend a residence title
Apply before expiry
€93.00

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