Train tool
Find your Ausbildung route
Age, prior education, German level, and funds determine which Ausbildung route fits you and what the visa path looks like.
Train tool
Check your Ausbildung eligibility
Three Ausbildung visa routes for non-EU applicants. We pick the one that fits your age, education, German level, employer status, and funds.
Step 1 of 6
Step 1 of 6, Where are you applying from?
Where are you applying from?
EU / EEA / Swiss citizens skip the visa entirely. Non-EU applicants run through §16a / §17 / §16d.
See your full Germany plan
You have one answer. Now see the Ausbildung steps around it, from eligibility to arrival.
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Frequently asked questions
What German level do I need for an Ausbildung?
B1 is the standard minimum across most Ausbildung fields, set by the chamber that registers your training contract. Healthcare professions (Pflegefachmann, Medizinische Fachangestellte) and a few technical trades require B2. The §17 search visa, used to enter Germany before signing a training contract, requires B2 if your prior education stops at the secondary level. Plan a 4 to 9 month structured course (e.g. Goethe-Institut intensiv) to move from below-B1 to B1 or B2.
Can I do an Ausbildung after a Bachelor's degree?
Yes. Many international applicants enter Ausbildung after a Bachelor's, especially in healthcare and skilled trades where the visa path is well-trodden and income starts immediately. There is no rule against being 'overqualified' for an Ausbildung; some employers actively prefer it. Your degree typically helps the application stand out and may shorten the language-prep period.
What is the §17 search visa and how does it work?
§17 AufenthG (Ausbildungsplatzsuche) lets you enter Germany for up to 9 months to attend interviews and sign an Ausbildungsvertrag locally. Eligibility: at least secondary education, B2 German, sufficient funds (1,091 EUR/mo). Once you sign a training contract, you switch (Wechsel) to a §16a Ausbildung residence permit at your local Ausländerbehörde without leaving Germany.
What's the §16d recognition partnership route?
§16d (Anerkennungspartnerschaft) is a parallel route designed for skilled professionals with a foreign vocational or tertiary qualification. You enter on §16d, your German employer registers a recognition partnership with the relevant chamber, and you complete the missing pieces (Anpassungslehrgang or theory exam) while working. Language threshold can be A2 at start; raise to B1 by the time recognition is complete. Useful when your foreign qualification is partially equivalent.
Do I need to have an employer before I apply?
For the §16a Ausbildung visa, yes; the signed Ausbildungsvertrag is the foundation of the application. For the §17 search visa, no, you enter Germany without an employer to find one. Most successful international applicants start their employer search 6 to 12 months before the planned start date; chambers (IHK / HWK) maintain searchable Ausbildungsplatzbörsen.
What about funds proof? Ausbildung pays a salary already.
True, Ausbildung pays a wage (typically 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per month gross), but the visa application is filed BEFORE you start training. Authorities want proof you can self-support during the gap between visa-issue and the first paycheck (typically 1 to 2 months). The proof bar is the BAföG anchor, currently 1,091 EUR per month for 2026. Options: blocked account, family bank statements showing the equivalent, or a Verpflichtungserklärung from a sponsor in Germany.