Coming to Berlin for vocational training

Vocational training under section 16a Residence Act: in-company or school-based, 2026 training pay, proof of funds, search under section 17 and next steps.

In short

Vocational training in Germany is a route to Berlin in its own right. There are two forms: in-company (dual) training at a company and a vocational school, and school-based training, for example in nursing or as an early-years educator. The matching residence permit is in section 16a Residence Act (AufenthG). After qualifying you can stay as a skilled worker.

More: Vocational training in Berlin (German) and Looking for a training place (German).

Residence permit: section 16a AufenthG

Rules under section 16a AufenthG:

• In-company training (para. 1): the permit should be granted if the Federal Employment Agency (BA) approves. A preparatory German course can be included.
• School-based training (para. 2): possible if it leads to a state-recognised vocational qualification and is not aimed mainly at people from one particular country.
• German (para. 3): for qualified training you must prove German skills, unless the school has already checked them or a preparatory course is part of the stay. Required are sufficient German skills, i.e. B1 (section 2(11) AufenthG).
• Age: section 16a sets no minimum or maximum age.
• Side job (para. 3): alongside the training you may work up to 20 hours per week in another job.
• Losing the training place (para. 4): the law gives time to look for a new training place (up to 6 months).

Money: training pay and cost of living 2026

You must be able to support yourself (section 2(3) AufenthG). For vocational training the 2026 amount is €959 per month (€11,508 per year). Your training pay counts towards this. A blocked account, a formal declaration of commitment or a scholarship are further options.

Minimum training pay under section 17 Vocational Training Act (BBiG) for in-company training starting in 2026:

For training starting in 2027 the amounts rise to €764 / €902 / €1,031 / €1,070 gross a month (BIBB, 7 Oct 2026 (German)). Companies bound by a collective agreement may deviate. Note: the €959 is a net requirement, while training pay is gross. If the pay after deductions is below €959, additional funds are usually needed. Whether the pay alone is enough depends on the individual case (e.g. rent, health insurance); check before relying on this.

No training place yet: section 17(1)

A residence permit to look for a training place is possible for up to 9 months (section 17(1) AufenthG). Requirements:

• You are under 35.
• German at B1 (“sufficient German”, section 2(11)).
• A certificate from a German school abroad, or a school-leaving certificate that gives access to university in your home country.
• Proof of funds: in 2026 €1,091 per month (€9,819 for 9 months).

During the search you may work up to 20 hours per week and do trial work of up to 2 weeks in total. A second search stay is only possible after you have spent the same length of time abroad again.

School-based training: nursing and early-years education

• Nursing: training as a nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann) follows the Nursing Professions Act. The provider of the practical training pays appropriate training pay (section 19 PflBG (German)). The exact amount in Berlin depends on the provider and collective agreement; check before relying on this. More: Nurses and care workers.
• Early-years educator (Erzieher:in): in Berlin the training at a technical college for social pedagogy takes 3 years, either full-time with 1,200 hours of placements or part-time alongside at least a half-time job in a facility. Entry with a university-of-applied-sciences entrance qualification or Abitur, or an intermediate school certificate plus vocational training (Senate Department (German)). More: Educators and teachers.
• Foreign school certificates are assessed in Berlin by the certificate recognition office of the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family (German).

Steps

1. Find a training place (e.g. the Federal Employment Agency job portal, IHK Berlin, Berlin Chamber of Crafts), or first enter under section 17(1) to search.
2. Sign the training contract. For in-company training the company registers the contract with the chamber (IHK or Chamber of Crafts).
3. Apply for a training visa at the German mission abroad. The BA checks its approval. The company can apply for the fast-track procedure; it is available for training under section 16a (section 81a(1) AufenthG).
4. In Berlin: register your address (Housing and registration (German)), then apply for the residence permit at the State Office for Immigration (LEA).

After the training: staying

• Job search: after a qualified vocational training in Germany, a residence permit to look for work must be issued for up to 18 months (section 20(1) no. 3, (2)). You must be able to support yourself. You may work during this time.
• Working: afterwards as a skilled worker with vocational training under section 18a AufenthG.
• Settlement permit: with vocational training from Germany, section 18c(1) requires only 2 years with a skilled-worker permit and 24 months of pension contributions. Further requirements: a suitable job and German at B1.
• Family: see Family reunification (German).

Be careful

• Agents asking for money for a training place: check the company and read the contract carefully. The training contract is registered with the chamber, which can serve as a check.
• As a trainee you are not cheap unskilled labour: training hours, vocational school and pay are set in the contract. In a side job the minimum wage of €13.90 per hour applies (2026).
• Free advice on labour law: Faire Integration (section 45b AufenthG) and the Berlin Advice Centre for Migration and Good Work (BEMA) (German).

Sources

• Section 16a, 17, 18c, 20 AufenthG (German)
• Section 17 BBiG (German), BIBB: minimum training pay (German), BIBB: minimum training pay 2027 (German), section 19 PflBG (German)
• Early-years educators in Berlin (German), LEA Berlin, all sources