Vocational training (Berufsausbildung) in Berlin: residence permit and procedure
For vocational training in Germany, there are two different situations with different residence titles: if you already have a training place (Ausbildungsplatz; contract with a company or admission to a vocational school), you apply for a residence permit under § 16a Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG, Residence Act). If you are still looking for a training place, the so-called Berufsausbildungsvisum (vocational training visa) under § 17 AufenthG comes into question – you usually apply for this before entry at the German mission abroad in your country.
Both rules are set out nationwide in the Aufenthaltsgesetz. What is added in Berlin: the responsible authority is the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA, State Office for Immigration), location Keplerstraße 2, 10589 Berlin. There you must prove, among other things, that your subsistence is secured – in 2026 this is 959 euros per month or 11,508 euros per year, usually via a blocked account (Sperrkonto), a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) by another person, or a training contract with sufficient pay.
For in-company training, the approval of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) is also generally required. During training, you may additionally work up to 20 hours per week. If you lose your training place through no fault of your own, you have up to six months to find a new one without your residence permit ending immediately for that reason.
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| Purpose of stay | per month | for the period to be covered | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-company or school-based vocational training | 959 € | 11.508 € for one year (12 months) | § 16a AufenthG, § 2 Abs. 3 S. 5 AufenthG |
| Looking for a training place | 1.091 € | 9.819 € for the maximum period of 9 months | § 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG, § 2 Abs. 3 S. 6 AufenthG (992 € + 10 %) |
| In-company further training (not vocational training) | 992 € | 11.904 € for one year (12 months) | § 16a AufenthG, § 2 Abs. 3 S. 5 AufenthG |
- The amounts apply to the 2026 calendar year. The Federal Ministry of the Interior sets them anew each year (section 2(3) sentence 7 Residence Act) – check which year a figure refers to.
- The amount can be lower: if rent and utilities are below 380 euros, or if employment subject to social insurance covers your health insurance (then 137 euros less).
- A blocked account is only one way to provide proof. A declaration of commitment (sections 66–68 Residence Act), a scholarship award or sufficient training or work pay count too.
Source: BMI-Bekanntmachung vom 13.08.2025, BAnz AT 29.08.2025 B1, zu § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 5 bis 7 AufenthG
- Clarify whether you already have a training placeWith a training or school contract: apply for a residence permit under § 16a AufenthG (Abs. 1 in-company, Abs. 2 school-based training) directly at the LEA in Berlin if you are already here, or in advance via a visa at the mission abroad. Without a training place: apply for a visa to search for a training place under § 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG at the responsible German mission abroad.
- Check the requirements for § 17 AufenthG (before entry)According to the statutory text (§ 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG): you are not yet 35 years old, your subsistence is secured, you have a leaving certificate from a German school abroad or a school-leaving qualification that entitles you to university admission in Germany or in the issuing state, and you have sufficient German language skills. The specific language level required is not quantified in the statutory text itself, but is stated by the responsible mission abroad (see "Attention").
- Provide proof of secured subsistenceFor in-company/school-based training in Berlin, the LEA requires 959 euros per month (11,508 euros per year) in 2026 – corresponding to the maximum BAföG rate – provable via a blocked account, a declaration of commitment, or parental support or sufficient training pay. If the pay is not sufficient, the difference must be proven in another way.
- Submit the application to the LEA in BerlinSubmit the application online no earlier than four months before your current residence title expires. Required are, among other things, color passport copies, proof of health insurance in Germany, a Berlin registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) or rental contract with landlord confirmation, the training/school contract, and, for in-company training, the "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" (declaration on the employment relationship) filled out by the employer.
- For in-company training: wait for the Federal Employment Agency's approvalFor in-company training under § 16a Abs. 1 AufenthG, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit must generally approve under § 39 AufenthG, unless an exception applies. This is an internal administrative process between the employment agency and the LEA.
- Pay the fee and collect the titleDepending on the form of the title, the fee is 56 euros (first issuance as a sticker) or 49 euros (extension as a sticker), or 100 euros (first issuance of the electronic residence title, eAT) or 93 euros (extension of the eAT). Sticker titles are usually handed out at the appointment itself; according to the LEA, the electronic residence title (eAT) takes about 4–6 weeks until it can be collected.
- The sources contradict each other on the specific German language level required for the vocational training visa (§ 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG): the statutory text itself (gesetze-im-internet.de) only speaks generally of "sufficient German language skills" without a specific level. The German Embassy in Pristina names level B2 and a search period of up to 6 months on site on its own visa page, while other (non-official) guide pages speak of level B1 and 9 months. The level actually required can differ between individual German missions abroad – check it directly with the embassy/consulate responsible for your place of residence, not generally for "Berlin", since this part of the procedure takes place before entry and outside Berlin.
- For the visa to search for a training place (§ 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG), contrary to earlier versions of this page, there is a nationwide uniform figure: 1,091 euros per month (2026), namely the 992 euros of the general needs rate plus 10 percent under § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 6 AufenthG; for the maximum duration of nine months that is 9,819 euros. The lower amount of 959 euros per month (11,508 euros per year) applies only to the residence permit for in-company or school-based vocational training itself (§ 16a AufenthG). Which provider you choose for a blocked account is not prescribed by law; a blocked account is in any case only one of several forms of proof.
- For § 17 AufenthG (search for a training place), no separate dedicated service page could be found on service.berlin.de – unlike for § 16a Abs. 1 and Abs. 2, each of which has its own Service-Berlin page with fees and document lists. This is consistent with the fact that the search for a training place typically begins before entry at the mission abroad and is only switched to § 16a AufenthG at the LEA in Berlin after a training contract has been concluded.
- The exact processing time of an application at the LEA in Berlin is not quantified in general terms; only the collection time of the electronic residence title (eAT) of about 4–6 weeks after approval is documented.
- In-company training generally requires the approval of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit; whether and which statutory exceptions apply in the individual case has not been conclusively checked here – if in doubt, ask the LEA or the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
In depth · Legal basis, figures and practice – for counsellors and professionals
Federal law: two titles for two situations
The Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act) clearly distinguishes between a person who already has a training place and a person who is still looking. § 16a AufenthG regulates the residence permit for in-company (Abs. 1) and school-based (Abs. 2) vocational training. § 17 AufenthG regulates the residence permit to search for a training place (Abs. 1) and, separately, to search for a university place (Abs. 2). Both sections are federal law and apply regardless of the federal state; only the implementing authority and the practical procedure are Berlin-specific.
§ 16a AufenthG – in-company and school-based training
Under Abs. 1, the residence permit for in-company training and further training is granted if the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) has approved under § 39 AufenthG or a statutory ordinance declares approval unnecessary; attending a German language course in preparation for vocational training is also covered. During the period of validity, no separate employment permit under § 19c AufenthG may be granted alongside it; § 9 AufenthG (Niederlassungserlaubnis, settlement permit) generally does not apply, unless the person previously held a permit under § 18a or § 18b AufenthG. Under Abs. 2, the residence permit for school-based vocational training is granted if it leads to a state-recognized vocational qualification and is not directed predominantly at nationals of a particular state; in the case of intergovernmental agreements between federal states and foreign institutions, the approval of the responsible state authority remains required. Under Abs. 3, secondary employment of up to 20 hours per week independent of the training purpose is permitted during both forms of training; for qualified training, German language skills must be proven unless they have already been checked or are acquired through a preparatory language course. Under Abs. 4, before a revocation for reasons for which the person is not responsible, the person must be given a period of up to six months to look for another training place.
§ 17 AufenthG – searching for a training place
Under Abs. 1, a residence permit to search for a training place for qualified vocational training can be granted if four requirements are met at the same time: the person has not yet reached the age of 35, subsistence is secured, the person has a leaving certificate from a German school abroad or a school-leaving qualification that entitles them to university admission in Germany or in the issuing state, and the person has sufficient German language skills. According to the statutory text, the permit is valid for up to nine months and can only be granted again if a period corresponding to the stay has been spent abroad in the meantime. Under Abs. 2, a structurally similar rule applies to the search for a university place. Under Abs. 3, employment of up to 20 hours per week and trial employment of up to two weeks in total are permitted during the search; a change to another residence purpose is only possible with an express statutory basis. In practice, this title is usually applied for as a visa before entry at the responsible German mission abroad, with an online application via the Federal Foreign Office's Auslandsportal (consular services portal), a personal appointment for identity verification and biometric data capture, and a visa fee of 75 euros (information from the German Embassy in Pristina).
Implementation in Berlin: Landesamt für Einwanderung
If the person is already in Berlin – for example after switching from a language course or study stay, or after switching from the search for a training place to a concrete training contract – the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA, State Office for Immigration) at the location Keplerstraße 2, 10589 Berlin is responsible, the same address as for other skilled-worker and training matters (separate from the main location at Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24 for family/humanitarian titles). Applications for the residence permit for in-company or school-based training are submitted online, no earlier than four months before the current title expires. Required are, among other things, color passport copies, proof of health insurance valid in Germany (statutory or comparable private – foreign insurance is not sufficient), a registration certificate or rental contract with landlord confirmation, the training or school contract, and, for in-company training, additionally the "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" (declaration on the employment relationship) filled out by the employer.
Securing subsistence in Berlin 2026
For both forms of training under § 16a AufenthG, a monthly available amount of 959 euros must be proven nationwide in 2026, i.e. 11,508 euros per year; the Service-Berlin pages report this amount. If the training pay is not sufficient, the difference must be proven via a blocked account, a declaration of commitment by another person, or bank statements/parental support; if the training itself incurs costs (e.g. school fees), the monthly amount to be proven increases accordingly. For the preceding step of searching for a training place under § 17 AufenthG, a higher nationwide amount of 1,091 euros per month applies (992 euros plus 10 %, § 2(3) sentence 6 AufenthG), i.e. 9,819 euros for nine months. This part of the procedure runs mainly via the responsible German mission abroad, not via Berlin bodies.
Fees
According to the Service-Berlin pages, the following fees apply for the residence permit for in-company or school-based training: 56 euros for first issuance as a sticker title, 49 euros for extension as a sticker, 100 euros for first issuance as an electronic residence title (eAT), and 93 euros for its extension; for Turkish nationals, reduced fees of 27.60 to 46.00 euros apply depending on age. Sticker titles are usually handed out directly at the corresponding appointment; the eAT takes about 4–6 weeks until collection. For the visa to search for a training place under § 17 AufenthG, a visa fee of 75 euros is additionally charged at the mission abroad (example: Embassy in Pristina).
- What is “Vocational training (Berufsausbildung) in Berlin” about?
- Anyone who wants to do vocational training in Berlin, or first look for a training place, needs a different residence title depending on their situation – and usually has to show the Landesamt für Einwanderung (State Office for Immigration) that their subsistence is secured.
- Which deadlines and figures matter?
- up to 9 months: Period of validity of the residence permit to search for a training place (statutory text) (§ 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG)
- up to 20 hours per week: Permitted secondary employment independent of the training or search purpose (§ 16a Abs. 3, § 17 Abs. 3 AufenthG)
- up to 6 months: Period to search for a new training place before the residence title is revoked due to the end of the training relationship (only if the loss is not your own fault) (§ 16a Abs. 4 AufenthG)
- no earlier than 4 months before expiry: Point in time from which the online extension application can be submitted to the LEA Berlin (LEA practice in Berlin)
- What should I do first?
- Clarify whether you already have a training place: With a training or school contract: apply for a residence permit under § 16a AufenthG (Abs. 1 in-company, Abs. 2 school-based training) directly at the LEA in Berlin if you are already here, or in advance via a visa at the mission abroad. Without a training place: apply for a visa to search for a training place under § 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG at the responsible German mission abroad.
- Check the requirements for § 17 AufenthG (before entry): According to the statutory text (§ 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG): you are not yet 35 years old, your subsistence is secured, you have a leaving certificate from a German school abroad or a school-leaving qualification that entitles you to university admission in Germany or in the issuing state, and you have sufficient German language skills. The specific language level required is not quantified in the statutory text itself, but is stated by the responsible mission abroad (see "Attention").
- Provide proof of secured subsistence: For in-company/school-based training in Berlin, the LEA requires 959 euros per month (11,508 euros per year) in 2026 – corresponding to the maximum BAföG rate – provable via a blocked account, a declaration of commitment, or parental support or sufficient training pay. If the pay is not sufficient, the difference must be proven in another way.
- What should I watch out for?
- The sources contradict each other on the specific German language level required for the vocational training visa (§ 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG): the statutory text itself (gesetze-im-internet.de) only speaks generally of "sufficient German language skills" without a specific level. The German Embassy in Pristina names level B2 and a search period of up to 6 months on site on its own visa page, while other (non-official) guide pages speak of level B1 and 9 months. The level actually required can differ between individual German missions abroad – check it directly with the embassy/consulate responsible for your place of residence, not generally for "Berlin", since this part of the procedure takes place before entry and outside Berlin.
- For the visa to search for a training place (§ 17 Abs. 1 AufenthG), contrary to earlier versions of this page, there is a nationwide uniform figure: 1,091 euros per month (2026), namely the 992 euros of the general needs rate plus 10 percent under § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 6 AufenthG; for the maximum duration of nine months that is 9,819 euros. The lower amount of 959 euros per month (11,508 euros per year) applies only to the residence permit for in-company or school-based vocational training itself (§ 16a AufenthG). Which provider you choose for a blocked account is not prescribed by law; a blocked account is in any case only one of several forms of proof.
- For § 17 AufenthG (search for a training place), no separate dedicated service page could be found on service.berlin.de – unlike for § 16a Abs. 1 and Abs. 2, each of which has its own Service-Berlin page with fees and document lists. This is consistent with the fact that the search for a training place typically begins before entry at the mission abroad and is only switched to § 16a AufenthG at the LEA in Berlin after a training contract has been concluded.
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