Residence Permit for Vocational Training
To whom does this regulation apply?
There are almost 350 state-recognised training occupations in Germany. Qualified vocational training lasts at least 2 years. Vocational training is not linked to a specific age.
If you want to complete vocational training, you can apply for a residence permit for the purpose of training. To do this, you must meet certain requirements, which are explained in more detail below.
Wenn Sie Ihre Ausbildung erfolgreich abschließen, kann die Ausländerbehörde Ihre Aufenthaltserlaubnis für ein Jahr zur Arbeitsplatzsuche verlängern oder in eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Fachkräfte mit Berufsausbildung umwandeln.
What are the requirements?
Apprenticeship
For the issuance of a residence permit for the purpose of vocational training, a training contract must be available. The training must be qualified, i.e. last at least 2 years and must lead to a state-recognised degree. The Federal Ministry of the Interior writes that certain academic achievements are not a prerequisite, but that the training centre itself checks whether the trainee is suitable.
Securing your livelihood
Dual vocational training is usually remunerated, so that the livelihood can be secured from one's own resources. If the remuneration is below the monthly requirement of € 853 (as of 2020), federal training aid can also be applied for. It is also conceivable that the company will provide a room, for example, so that the training allowance is sufficient.
Language skills
In order to obtain a residence permit for the purpose of vocational training, you must be able to prove German language skills at level B1. Usually, even B2 knowledge is required for training as a nurse. However, language skills do not necessarily have to be proven before the visa is issued, because this residence permit also entitles you to attend a job-related German language course in preparation for the training.
Approval of the Federal Employment Agency
As a rule, the Federal Employment Agency must agree before a residence permit for vocational training can be issued. On the one hand, it checks whether the trainee is hired under the same conditions as German trainees. On the other hand, in the so-called priority check, it checks whether another person – from Germany or the EU – is eligible for this position.
Passport and proven identity
For the issuance of the visa and later the residence permit, the identity of the person moving in must be clarified, and a passport must also be present.
No interest in expulsion
There must be no reason for expulsion, such as endangering public security (e.B. in the case of criminal offences).
Einreise mit dem erforderlichen Visum
Für die Erteilung einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu Ausbildungszwecken ist erforderlich, dass die Person mit einem entsprechenden Visum eingereist ist. Dies gilt auch, wenn ein kurzfristiger Aufenthalt mit einem Touristenvisum oder sogar visumsfrei möglich ist.
Kein Einreise- oder Aufenthaltsverbot
Hat eine Person schon einmal in Deutschland oder einem anderen Schengen-Staat z.B. Asyl beantragt, darf sie von dort nicht abgeschoben worden sein, da dann in diesem Fall eine Einreisesperre besteht. Besonders aufpassen muss man nach einer Ablehnung von Personen aus sogenannten „sicheren Herkunftsländern“, denn dann sind bestimmte Aufenthaltserlaubnisse gesperrt, sogar wenn die Person noch nicht abgeschoben wurde. Wenn eine Einreisesperre besteht, muss im Einzelfall geschaut werden, wie diese möglicherweise verkürzt werden kann.