Vocational training in Germany

The average gross monthly Ausbildungsvergütung in companies bound by collective agreements was €1,209 in 2025 according to BIBB, and the legal minimum for training starting in 2026 is €724 in year one. Pay rises each year of the program, and it varies widely by trade and employer.

Yes. Almost every Ausbildung is taught in German because the workplace and the Berufsschule (vocational school) are German-speaking. As a rule the Consular Services Portal names B1, the India missions ask for at least A2 (B1 for medical professions), and a preparatory German course in Germany can help (§16a(3) AufenthG); some employers ask for more. For medical professions, the India missions ask for at least B1.

Yes. India is one of the largest sending countries for Ausbildung visas. You apply with §16a Residence Act paperwork: a signed apprenticeship contract from a German employer, German certificate (usually B1; the India missions ask for at least A2), your school certificates, and proof that your training salary (topped up with a blocked account or sponsor declaration if needed) covers your living costs. In India you apply online through the Consular Services Portal with the German mission for your place of residence (New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru or Kolkata).

Most Ausbildungen run 3 years. A handful are 2 years (basic retail, simple care assistant roles) and a few stretch to 3.5 years (mechatronics, electrical engineering technicians, complex IT specialist tracks). You can shorten by 6 to 12 months if you have prior relevant qualifications, with employer and chamber approval.

You receive an IHK or HWK state-recognized certificate. You can apply for a job-search permit of up to 18 months to find skilled work in your trained field, then transition to a Skilled Worker visa under §18a. After 2 years with that permit, 24 months of pension contributions and B1 German, you can apply for permanent residency (§18c(1) AufenthG).

Yes for the trainee. There is no tuition fee. The employer pays your training salary, and your share of statutory health, long-term care, pension and unemployment contributions is deducted from your gross salary like any regular German job. The Berufsschule (vocational school) is also free. You typically only pay for textbooks, work clothing, and transport.