If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU) or a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you will need a residence permit for training purposes if you wish to undergo vocational training or further training in Germany.

You can apply for a residence permit both

• for qualified vocational training and
• for vocational training that is not qualified.

This is qualified vocational training,

• if the vocational training is recognized by the state or is a comparably regulated training occupation and
• if a training period of at least 2 years is stipulated by federal or state law.

If these requirements are not met, it is not qualified vocational training.

In-company further training includes, for example, qualification measures, internships, practical phases following a course of study or trainee programs.

The residence permit can be issued regardless of your previous qualifications, i.e. it is not linked to any special educational requirements. The training company will check whether you are suitable for training.

In the case of qualified vocational training, you must always provide proof of sufficient German language skills, unless you have attended a German language course beforehand. A German language course prior to the qualified vocational training is covered by the residence permit and can be attended before the actual training begins. For other training or further education, you must first apply for a residence permit for the language course and then for a residence permit for training and further education purposes.

During qualified vocational training, you are entitled to work up to 20 hours per week in employment that is independent of your vocational training. Self-employment is not permitted under any circumstances.

You can apply for a vocational training allowance for the duration of your training or further training and thus contribute to your livelihood.

Training and further education companies that would like to train or further educate a person from abroad can apply for the accelerated skilled worker procedure at the foreigners authority on behalf of the person, which can facilitate and accelerate the entry of skilled workers.

The residence permit for the purpose of in-company training and further education is limited in time and is generally issued for the duration of the training or further education. The Federal Employment Agency must approve your residence permit.

If your qualified vocational training is terminated prematurely for reasons for which you are not responsible, you do not have to leave Germany immediately. You must then be given the opportunity to look for another training place for a period of up to 6 months.