Visa / residence permit for vocational training
Residency route facts
Identity
| Official name (local) | Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Zweck der betrieblichen oder schulischen Berufsausbildung (§ 16a AufenthG) as of 2026-08-08[2] |
|---|---|
| Official name (English) | Visa / residence permit for vocational training as of 2026-08-08[12] |
| Legal basis | Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 16a as of 2026-08-08[2] |
| Instrument type | residence permit as of 2026-08-08[2] |
Who can apply
Permit terms
| Initial duration | Not applicable[12] Issued for the duration of the training programme (portal); see initial_duration_basis. |
|---|---|
| How the initial term is set | length of the programme |
| Renewable | Not established from a qualifying source Extension mechanics beyond programme length not established; on involuntary early termination the holder gets up to six months to find another training place (sec. 16a(4)). |
| Work rights | hours capped as of 2026-08-08[2][12] Employment independent of the training purpose up to 20 hours per week (sec. 16a(3)); in-company trainees may additionally attend preparatory German courses. |
Permanent residence and citizenship
| Counts toward permanent residence | No as of 2026-08-08[2] Sec. 16a(1) s.3: sec. 9 does not apply, unless the holder previously held a secs. 18a/18b permit. |
|---|
Requirements
| Enrolment status required | admitted as of 2026-08-08[2][12] A concrete in-company training place (BA approval under sec. 39 generally required, an agency-internal step) or a school-based programme leading to a state-recognised qualification; German language skills, normally B1, unless the institution tests them or a preparatory course covers them. |
|---|---|
| Means requirement | EUR 959 per month as of 2026-08-08[12] |
| Work-hours cap | 20 as of 2026-08-08[2][12] |
| Post-study route exists | Yes as of 2026-08-08[3][12] Sec. 20(1) no.3 jobseeker permit (entitlement) after successful completion of qualified vocational training; recorded as its own route de-post-study-job-search. |
| Post-study permit duration | 18 months as of 2026-08-08[3][12] |
Process
| Where to apply from | either as of 2026-08-08[8][12] Default is a national D visa; sec. 41 AufenthV nationals may apply in-country after visa-free entry. |
|---|---|
| Fees |
|
Physical presence
| maximum consecutive absence | 6 months · to keep the permit as of 2026-08-08[7] Sec. 51(1) no. 7 AufenthG: the permit lapses if the holder leaves Germany and does not re-enter within six months (or a longer period set by the foreigners authority); it also lapses on departure for a reason that is not temporary by nature (no. 6). |
|---|
Family inclusion
| Family members may be included | Yes as of 2026-08-08[4][5] Conditional, as for students: sec. 30(1) s.1 no.3e (pre-existing marriage + expected stay over one year) plus livelihood and housing; minor children per sec. 32. |
|---|---|
| Eligible relations | spouse, minor child as of 2026-08-08[4][5] |
| Family members' work rights | full as of 2026-08-08[6] |
Your next step
Read the requirements above considering your own situation: the income multiple, the absence limits, who you can bring. Check the country record for the reference figure those amounts are calculated from, and for anything that has changed recently.
The next step is your own case. That assessment is legal work. Create profile for our assistance in this.
Profile benefits
- A 30-minute call with our consultant, who reads your profile first.
- An offer for legal support built around your case, covering the whole process.
Verification
| Sources cited | 12 |
|---|---|
| of which official (tier 1) | 12 |
| Oldest as-of date | 2026-08-08 |
| Newest as-of date | 2026-08-08 |
| Reviewed on | 2026-08-11 |
| Schema version | 1.1 |
Sources
- [1] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 1 – Zweck des Gesetzes; Anwendungsbereich (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [2] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 16a – Berufsausbildung; berufliche Weiterbildung (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [3] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 20 – Suche nach einer Erwerbstätigkeit (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [4] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 30 – Ehegattennachzug (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [5] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 32 – Kindernachzug (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [6] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 4a – Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [7] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 51 – Beendigung der Rechtmäßigkeit des Aufenthalts (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [8] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 41 – Vergünstigung für bestimmte Staatsangehörige (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [9] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 45 – Gebühren Aufenthaltserlaubnis (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · fee schedule · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 · Archived copy - [10] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 46 – Gebühren Visum (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · fee schedule · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [11] Freizügigkeitsgesetz/EU (FreizügG/EU) § 1 – Anwendungsbereich (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [12] Visa for vocational training
Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal for skilled workers) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08