Ausbildung Visa for Germany: Requirements and Documents
To train in Germany you need a national visa for vocational training under section 16a of the Residence Act. Apply at the German mission in your country with a signed training contract, proof of German (B1 for nursing and other medical professions) and proof that your training salary or savings cover your living costs.
EUR 75
Visa fee. Plus the service provider fee. Not refunded if refused.
Several months
Processing. No status questions in the first three months.
90 days to 1 year
Visa valid for. Then a residence permit for your whole training.
Up to 20 hours
Side job. A week, in another job next to your training.
Documents you need
From the German Missions in India checklist for vocational training. Missions in other countries ask for the same core papers.
- Valid passport, issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 empty pages
- Proof of German: B1 as a rule; some missions accept A2 outside medical professions. Check your mission's list
- Training contract signed by both sides, and for company training, proof it is registered with the chamber (for example IHK or HWK)
- Motivation letter in English or German
- School certificates for year 10 and year 12
- Health insurance from your German employer from your start date, and travel health insurance before that if needed
- Proof that you can pay your living costs (see the table below)
Your own mission's list is the one that counts. Check it before your appointment. No agent can promise you a visa. If one does, read how to spot a fake agent.
Make my checklistHow much money you must show
Your training salary counts as proof if it meets the minimum for your visa purpose. If it is lower, close the gap with a blocked account or a sponsor's declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung).
| Purpose of stay | Monthly minimum |
|---|---|
| In-company (dual) vocational training | €1,048 gross (about €822 net) |
| School-based vocational training | €959 |
| In-company advanced vocational training | €1,090 gross (about €855 net) |
| School-based advanced vocational training | €992 |
| Visa to search for a training place | €1,091 |
No training place yet? The search visa
If you are under 35, section 17 of the Residence Act lets you come to Germany for up to 9 months to look for a training place. You need a school certificate that would let you study at a university, enough German, and €1,091 a month for your living costs.
After you arrive in Germany
Your visa gets you in. These steps turn it into the permit you train on.
- 1
Register your address
Register at the local registration office within two weeks of moving in. Bring your passport, visa and the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung).
- 2
Apply for your residence permit
Book an appointment at the foreigners office (Ausländerbehörde) before your visa ends, to get the permit for your whole training.
- 3
Health insurance
Register with a German public health insurer (Krankenkasse). Once your contract is signed, you can get your health insurance through GoAusbildung.
- 4
Tax ID
Your tax ID comes by post after you register your address. Your employer needs it to pay you.
Ausbildung visa questions
Straight answers from official sources.
Read the Ausbildung requirements guideNot automatically. Your training allowance counts as proof that you can support yourself if it is at least €1,048 gross (about €822 net) a month for in-company training, or €959 for school-based training. If it is lower, you close the gap with a blocked account or a sponsor's declaration.
As a rule you need B1 German. Some missions accept A2 for training outside the medical professions: the German missions in India, for example, ask for at least A2, and at least B1 for nursing and other medical professions. Upload a recognised certificate, for example from the Goethe-Institut, telc or ÖSD, and check the list of the mission that handles your application, because the level can differ by profession and country.
Need the certificate? Prepare for the B1 exam on Sprachpass (opens in a new tab).
Processing can take several months, depending on the visa category. The German missions in India do not answer status questions in the first three months after you apply, so apply well before your training starts.
The national visa fee for adults is EUR 75 (paid in rupees in India), plus the fee of the service provider that takes your application. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused or you withdraw the application.
Yes. A visa is refused when a requirement is not met, for example German below the level your training needs, missing or inconsistent documents, or living costs that are not covered. Check every item on your mission's list before your appointment.
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