Route: vocational training (Ausbildung)

§ 16a AufenthG: training contract, B1, money, training pay.

An Ausbildung is a 2-3.5 year vocational programme, usually dual (company plus vocational school). Legal basis: § 16a AufenthG. You need a visa for vocational training: online portal category "Vocational training" (Visa and embassy).

Requirements and money

• A training contract; German at B1 (§ 2 (11)), unless the institution tests the language or the language is to be acquired in a preparatory German course (§ 16a (3) S. 2).
• Living costs secured: €959 a month for company-based and school-based training under § 16a (Federal Gazette BAnz AT 29.08.2025 B1). €822 net / €1,048 gross is only a Make it in Germany working value.
• Minimum training pay for contracts starting 2026: €724 / €854 / €977 / €1,014 in years 1 / 2 / 3 / 4. Collective agreements often pay more.
• For starts in 2027: €764 / €902 / €1,031 / €1,070 (BIBB, 7 Oct 2026).
• Side job: up to 20 hours a week (§ 16a (3) S. 1).

Searching for a place (§ 17)

The permit to look for a training place (§ 17 (1)) requires a school qualification giving access to university, age under 35, German at B1 and €1,091 a month (§ 2 (3)). Whether a WASSC counts as university access: see Study and ask the authority. Beware fake training offers: Scams.

Information: Make it in Germany, BA.