When Ausbildung Starts and When to Apply
When Training Starts
The Federal Employment Agency says most training in Germany starts on 1 August or 1 September.
Can you start in January? Only if a listing shows a different start date. The start date is set by each company or school, so the date in the listing and in your contract is the one that counts.
How Far Ahead to Apply
- School-based training: the Federal Employment Agency says that for many school-based programs you must apply 1 year before the start.
- Company (dual) training: there is no single official deadline. The Federal Employment Agency advises you to find out about training and apply early.
Add Time for the Visa
If you need a visa, plan for it before your start date:
- The German missions in India say a national visa can take several months to process, and they answer no status questions in the first three months.
- If your employer uses the accelerated skilled-worker procedure, the mission offers an appointment within three weeks and usually decides within three weeks of a complete application.