'Apprenticeships in Germany: How the Dual Training System Works,

Ausbildung is a German vocational training program that leads to a specific profession and often combines work at a company with classes at a Berufsschule. For foreigners, this can be a viable path to relocation, but it’s not an easy visa to obtain: you need to find a training position, meet language and financial requirements, prepare the necessary documents, and go through the visa application process.

What Is Ausbildung

In Germany, many professions are learned through vocational training rather than university. In the dual system, an Auszubildende works at a company, gains practical experience, and studies at a vocational school at the same time. The employer enters into a training contract, and the program leads to a recognized qualification.

Dual Ausbildung typically lasts between 2 and 3.5 years. The exact duration depends on the profession, the federal state, the candidate’s educational background, and the program’s rules. In some cases, the training period can be shortened, but this is not automatic; it depends on the requirements of the profession and the employer.

There are also school-based vocational training programs that focus primarily on the Berufsfachschule. In such programs, you may not receive a salary, so it’s important to distinguish between betriebliche Ausbildung and schulische Ausbildung before applying.

How does an Ausbildung differ from university?

An Ausbildung is suitable for those who want to enter a profession more quickly through hands-on training. University studies are typically more theoretically focused and lead to an academic degree, while an Ausbildung is geared toward a specific profession and workplace processes.

Criterion	Vocational Training	University
Format	Working for an employer and attending Berufsschule	Studying at a university
Goal	Vocational Qualification	Academic Degree
Duration	Usually 2–3.5 years	Depends on the program
Income while studying	There is often a stipend in the dual training model	Usually no salary from the university
Selection	The employer selects a candidate	The university verifies admission requirements

For many foreigners, the main challenge of the Ausbildung is not the idea of training itself, but finding a company willing to take on a candidate and meeting the language and visa requirements.

Salary During Ausbildung

In a dual Ausbildung program, an Ausbildungsvergütung is typically paid. This is not a scholarship in the university sense, but rather compensation under the training contract. The amount depends on the profession, industry, region, year of training, and collective bargaining agreements.

For programs starting in 2026, the legally mandated minimum Ausbildungsvergütung for the first year of training is 724 euros per month. In many professions, the payment is higher, but relying on a general figure of around 900 euros is risky: in some fields, the amount may be lower, while in others it may be significantly higher. It’s also important to remember that these figures are usually gross amounts, from which social security contributions are deducted.

If the income from the contract is insufficient to cover visa and living expenses, you may be asked to prove that you have other means to cover the difference, such as a blocked account or a Verpflichtungserklärung.

Who Can Apply

For dual Ausbildung in Germany, there isn’t always a legally defined minimum educational requirement: the employer often sets the requirements. In practice, companies look at your high school diploma, grades, language skills, motivation, experience, age, visa status, and readiness for a specific profession.

Foreign applicants usually need to check the following in advance:

whether their school education is suitable for their chosen profession;
Do you need German at the A2, B1, or higher level?
Is recognition of educational documents required?
Is the income specified in the contract sufficient to cover living expenses and the visa requirements?
Are there any medical, age, or professional restrictions?
Does the program start on a specific date, and when does enrollment close?

For many professions, the German language is critically important because training, documentation, safety procedures, communication with clients, and exams are all conducted in German.

How to Find an Ausbildung Position

The search doesn’t start with a visa, but with a profession and an employer. The sequence is usually as follows:

Choose 2–3 realistic professions, rather than applying for everything in a row.
Check the job description, duration of training, and typical requirements via BERUFENET or the websites of the IHK/HWK chambers.
Prepare your Lebenslauf, Anschreiben, and copies of your educational documents.
Translate and, if necessary, have your documents certified.
Apply for Ausbildung positions through company websites, Ausbildung portals, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, and regional platforms.
Attend interviews, take tests, or complete trial assignments (Probearbeiten), if required by the employer.
After receiving an offer, sign the Ausbildungsvertrag and prepare your visa application package.

It’s best to submit your application early: many companies recruit apprentices several months before the program starts, and popular fields fill up quickly. However, deadlines vary by profession and region, so you should check them for specific job openings.

What documents are usually required

The set of required documents depends on the employer, the consulate, and the profession, but generally the following are required:

A resume in the German format;
A cover letter tailored to a specific profession and company;
high school transcript, diplomas, and supporting documents;
translations of documents into German, if required;
a language certificate or other proof of German proficiency;
recommendations, and references regarding internships or work experience, if available;
a signed training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag) following the employer’s approval;
Proof of financial resources, insurance, and housing for the visa, if applicable.

In German practice, the term “Bewerbungsunterlagen” is often used for a job application: this is not a shortened form, but rather the applicant’s set of documents. Its contents may vary from company to company.

Visa for Ausbildung

Citizens of non-EU countries usually need a national visa for vocational training. Key requirements for the visa include a contract with an employer, proof of German language proficiency, proof of financial support, insurance, and compliance with the requirements of § 16a of the Residence Act (AufenthG). In some cases, approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) is required; this is usually an internal step in the process.

According to official guidelines from “Make it in Germany” for 2026, you must have at least 959 euros net per month to qualify for a vocational training visa. If it’s a dual Ausbildung program, the salary specified in the contract is taken into account. If the Ausbildung allowance is at least 1,048 euros gross or 822 euros net per month, financial support is considered confirmed; if the amount is lower, the difference can be covered by additional proof of funds.

With a residence permit for vocational training, you may work up to 20 hours per week in a part-time job, provided that the work is not part of the training program itself. However, before starting a part-time job, it is important to check the terms of your visa, your Ausbildung contract, and the employer’s requirements.

Who is the Ausbildung suitable for?

This path may be a good option if you:

want to learn a practical trade in Germany;
are willing to study and work in German;
understand that your income will be limited while you’re studying;
are prepared to compete with candidates who have a German educational background;
Choose a profession thoughtfully, not just as a way to get a visa;
Be prepared to gather documents in advance and go through the employer’s selection process.

Vocational training (Ausbildung) should not be viewed as a universal substitute for college or a quick way to move to Germany without any requirements. It is a full-fledged vocational program with exams, a heavy workload, and responsibilities toward your employer.

Common Mistakes

Choosing a profession based solely on the salary during training.
Don’t underestimate the importance of the German language, especially for medical, social, and client-facing professions.
Writing a single cover letter for all companies.
Assuming that any contract automatically guarantees a visa.
Do not check whether the Ausbildungsvergütung is sufficient to prove financial means.
Confusing dual vocational training (Ausbildung) with school-based vocational training.
Start preparing your documents after receiving an offer, when time is already tight.

FAQ

Can a foreigner enroll in an Ausbildung program?

Yes, foreigners can complete an Ausbildung in Germany if they find a training position and meet the employer’s requirements and visa conditions. Citizens of non-EU countries usually need a national visa or an appropriate residence permit.

Do you need to know German?

In most cases, yes. The specific level depends on the profession and the program. For skilled vocational training, the B1 level is often the benchmark, but individual programs or consulates may have different requirements.

Is the Ausbildung salary enough to live on?

Not always. The stipend during Ausbildung depends on the profession and may be lower than the amount required to prove sufficient funds for a visa. Therefore, you need to calculate your budget in advance: housing, insurance, transportation, food, fees, and any potential shortfall for the blocked account.

When should you start applying?

It’s best to start several months before the program begins, and even earlier for popular professions. Each company has its own deadlines, so you should base your plans on specific job openings.