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You can obtain a residence permit to complete in-company vocational training or further training in Germany regardless of your school requirements.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU) or a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you will need a residence permit for training purposes if you wish to undergo vocational training or further training in Germany.

You can apply for a residence permit both

• for qualified vocational training and
• for vocational training that is not qualified.

This is qualified vocational training,

• if the vocational training is recognized by the state or is a comparably regulated training occupation and
• if a training period of at least 2 years is stipulated by federal or state law.

If these requirements are not met, it is not qualified vocational training.

In-company further training includes, for example, qualification measures, internships, practical phases following a course of study or trainee programs.

The residence permit can be issued regardless of your previous qualifications, i.e. it is not linked to any special educational requirements. The training company will check whether you are suitable for training.

In the case of qualified vocational training, you must always provide proof of sufficient German language skills, unless you have attended a German language course beforehand. A German language course prior to the qualified vocational training is covered by the residence permit and can be attended before the start of the actual training measure. For other training or further education, you must first apply for a residence permit for the language course and then for a residence permit for training and further education purposes.

During qualified vocational training, you are entitled to work up to 20 hours per week in employment that is independent of your vocational training. Self-employment is not permitted under any circumstances.

You can apply for a vocational training allowance for the duration of your training or further training and thus contribute to your livelihood.

Training and further education companies that would like to train or further educate a person from abroad can apply for the accelerated skilled worker procedure at the foreigners authority on behalf of the person, which can facilitate and accelerate the entry of skilled workers.

The residence permit for the purpose of in-company training and further education is limited in time and is generally issued for the duration of the training or further education. The Federal Employment Agency must approve your residence permit.

If your qualified vocational training is terminated prematurely for reasons for which you are not responsible, you do not have to leave Germany immediately. You must then be given the opportunity to look for another training place for a period of up to 6 months.

Before entering Germany, you usually have to apply for a national visa for Germany in your home country. Once you have entered the country, you will have to apply for a residence permit.

The residence permit must be applied for at the Foreigners' Registration Office responsible for your place of residence before your visa expires.

The procedure is as follows:

- Depending on the Foreigners' Registration Office and your concerns, it may be possible to apply via the Internet. Find out whether your Foreigners' Registration Office offers electronic applications.

In the case of an electronic application, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you after receipt of your application to make an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office. During the appointment, your certificates will be checked (bring the original with you to the appointment).

- If the application is only possible in person, make an appointment with the Foreigners' Registration Office. During the appointment, your application will be accepted and your supporting documents will be checked (bring the original with you to the appointment).

- If the approval of the Federal Employment Agency is required, the Foreigners' Registration Office usually obtains it in an internal administrative procedure.

- You will then receive either the residence permit you applied for or a rejection notice.

- The residence permit is issued for a limited period of time and is only valid for this purpose of stay.

- If the purpose of your stay changes, you must inform the responsible immigration office immediately.

- The residence permit is issued in credit card format with additional electronic functions (eAT card). Your fingerprints will be taken at the Foreigners' Registration Office. You will also need to provide a signature.

- After about six to eight weeks, you can pick up the eAT card at the Foreigners' Registration Office. The pick-up must always be done in person.

- Fees are charged for the issuance of the residence permit and the issuance of the eAT card. The timing and form of payment vary depending on the authority.

- You must apply for the extension of your residence permit in good time before the expiry of the validity period.

In order to carry out the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, the training and continuing education company contacts the Foreigners' Registration Office responsible for the place of training or further training. It is possible that a central office for the implementation of the procedure has been set up in your federal state.

The residence permit should be applied for no later than eight weeks before the expiry of your visa or residence permit that is still valid.
- The residence permit is usually issued for the duration of the training or further education
- Deadline for appealing against the decision of the Foreigners' Registration Office: one month

• Application notes of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community on the Skilled Immigration Act (as of 30.01.2020), including on job-related German language courses under No. 16a.1.2 et seq. https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/downloads/DE/veroeffentlichungen/themen/migration/anwendungshinweisefachkraefteeinwanderungsgesetz.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3
• Information from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees on job-related language support https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/DeutschBeruf/deutsch-beruf.html?nn=282656
• Information from the Federal Employment Agency on vocational training allowance (BAB)
  https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/bildung/ausbildung/berufsausbildungsbeihilfe-bab
• Portal of the Federal Government for skilled workers from abroad, here on the accelerated procedure for skilled workers
  https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/unternehmen/gezielt-rekrutieren/einreise-beschaeftigung-regeln/das-beschleunigte-fachkraefteverfahren/

• During the validity of your residence permit for in-company training and further education, you can also change to another qualified vocational training program. If the purpose of your stay changes, you must inform the relevant immigration authority immediately.
• After successfully completing qualified vocational training, the residence permit can be extended for up to 12 months in order to find a job.
• If the qualified vocational training or further training ends prematurely for reasons for which you are not responsible, it is possible to look for another training place for a period of up to 6 months.
• The procedure is usually carried out in German. If your knowledge of German is insufficient, you can use the help of a translator.

• An appeal against a negative decision of the Foreigners' Registration Office can be brought before the competent administrative court.
• A preliminary procedure (opposition) does not take place in Lower Saxony.

Detailed information can be found in the rejection notice.

• Residence permit can be applied for for the purpose of vocational training and further education
• Residence permit can be issued regardless of previous education, it is possible to take up qualified vocational training or vocational training that is not qualified
• Qualified vocational training: Vocational training in a state-recognized or comparable regulated training occupation, duration of training: at least 2 years
• In-company further training: qualification measures, internships, practical phases following a course of study, trainee programs
• Prerequisites:
  • for qualified vocational training: German language skills that generally correspond to level B1, unless a German language course is to be attended in advance
  • A preliminary German language course is included in the residence permit and can be attended before the start of the actual training program
  • for vocational training that is not qualified: German language skills that generally correspond to level A2
  • no requirements for language skills for in-company further training
• Residence permit is issued for a limited period and is only valid for training and further education
• The Federal Employment Agency (BA) must usually give its approval
• After completion of qualified vocational training, a residence permit can be issued for up to 12 months to look for a job
• If the qualified vocational training ends prematurely, a training place can be sought for up to 6 months
• Training and further training companies can apply for the accelerated skilled worker procedure on behalf of employees who are not yet in Germany
• Responsible for issuing the residence permit: the immigration authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence
• Responsible for accelerated procedure for skilled workers: Foreigners' Registration Office at the place of work where the person from abroad is to be employed if no central office has been set up for the procedure
• The residence permit is limited to the duration of the training program.
• A fee is charged for issuing the residence permit; the time and form of payment vary depending on the authority