Ausbildung (dual vocational training)
Work at a company while studying at a vocational school — tuition-free, and paid every month. Two to three and a half years later you pass the final exam, hold a German qualification, and can stay and work. For newcomers on a budget, it's one of the best-value routes in.
Key facts
Ausbildung at a glance
This page is a practical guide, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm the current requirements with the German mission in your country and the responsible state authority.
Who it's for
Who Ausbildung suits
On a budget
You don't want the living costs of a self-funded degree. Ausbildung is tuition-free and pays a monthly allowance — check it against rent where you'd train, and budget for getting here.
Want to work sooner
Your goal is a stable job and a life in Germany, learned on the job rather than through a degree first.
Willing to learn German
You'll need German to B1–B2 for the workplace, vocational school and exams. Language is the biggest hurdle on this route — and your biggest asset.
Requirements
What you usually need
- A school-leaving certificate (or equivalent); some fields expect a related background
- Proof of German — most positions want B1–B2, care and health higher; the visa usually needs B1
- A training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag) with a German company — the core of the visa
- Proof of funds where the allowance isn't enough (a blocked account may be needed)
- Visa type: vocational-training residence permit (§16a Residence Act)
- No position yet? A visa to search for a training place lets you look in Germany for up to nine months, if you meet its age, schooling, language and funding conditions
- Some fields need a prior qualification comparison / recognition
- Standard extras: clean record, health insurance, valid passport
Steps
From home country to your first day
- 1
Get your German to the target level (B1–B2) and pick a field (care, IT, mechanics, hospitality…).
- 2
Apply and interview for Ausbildung positions at German companies; secure a training contract.
- 3
Apply for the vocational-training visa at the German mission with your contract, language, education and funding proof.
- 4
After arriving, do your Anmeldung (address registration), health insurance and residence permit, then start company + school.
- 5
After finishing, stay and work in your field; apply for permanent residence once you meet the conditions.
Already qualified?
If you already have a qualification
If you already trained or worked in your field abroad, you may not need an Ausbildung at all — get your existing qualification recognised (Anerkennung) and come as a skilled worker. See how recognition works for your occupation.
What's next
After you graduate
Stay and work
Pass your Ausbildung and you can get a residence permit to look for a job in your field, then switch to a work permit once you're hired. Care, IT and the skilled trades are especially short of people.
Toward permanent residence
After working in your profession for a qualifying period and meeting language and contribution conditions, you can apply for permanent residence.
FAQ
Common questions about Ausbildung
What German level do I need for an Ausbildung?
Most training positions expect B1–B2. Care and healthcare roles usually require B2. Some employers accept B1 to start and let you improve on the job. Language is the biggest hurdle on this route, so start early.
Do you get paid during an Ausbildung?
Yes. The company pays a monthly training allowance (Ausbildungsvergütung) and there is no tuition. For training starting in 2026 the legal minimum is €724 a month in the first year, rising each year; many industries pay more under collective agreements. Check what it leaves after rent where you'd train.
Is there an age limit for Ausbildung?
There is no legal age limit for the Ausbildung itself — what matters is whether a company takes you on, and applying in your twenties or thirties is common. The visa to search for a training place in Germany does have an age limit, so if you plan to use it, check that first.
Can I stay and work in Germany after an Ausbildung?
Yes. Once you've passed, you can get a residence permit to look for a job in your field, and switch to a work permit when you're hired. After working for long enough and meeting the language and other conditions, you can apply for permanent residence.
Ausbildung vs studying — which should I choose?
Studying means a degree first, usually self-funded, with years of living costs. Ausbildung means being paid while you train for a specific job, tuition-free, and starting work sooner. If your budget is tight and you want a solid, quicker path into a job, Ausbildung is often the better fit.
Application
How to apply: the short version
- Get a signed Ausbildung contract from a German employer or school.
- Gather your school certificates, CV and language proof.
- Apply for the vocational-training visa at the German mission responsible for your country.
Official requirements (Make it in Germany)
Many countries now start the application online via the official Consular Services Portal ↗. The exact documents for your nationality are on the responsible mission's checklist, and your free plan puts them in order, step by step.
Not sure this is your route — or how to apply?
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