Applying for vocational training (Ausbildung) in Germany: documents, timing and tips for international applicants
Vocational training, known as Ausbildung, is a recognised route into a skilled career in Germany – including for people from abroad. If you understand how the process works and tailor your documents to German expectations, your chances of securing a training place improve considerably.
The short answer: you apply for an Ausbildung directly to a training company, usually with a cover letter, a CV and your school certificates. Many companies recruit trainees around a year before training starts, which is often in August or September. International applicants usually also need sufficient German, an evaluation of their school-leaving certificate and – if they come from outside the EU – a visa for vocational training.
An Ausbildung application is quite different from applying as a skilled worker: employers do not expect professional experience. Instead, they look at your motivation for the occupation, your reliability, your school background and whether you can realistically complete the programme.
This article explains the process step by step. It does not replace advice from the Federal Employment Agency, the chambers of commerce or the German embassy or consulate. Visa rules can change, so always check the current requirements with official sources.
How the dual system works
Most vocational training programmes in Germany are “dual”: you work at a company and attend a vocational school (Berufsschule) at the same time. Depending on the occupation, training lasts two to three and a half years and ends with an exam held by the responsible chamber, such as the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or the Chamber of Crafts.
During dual training you receive a training allowance. Many programmes are covered by a statutory minimum training allowance under the Vocational Training Act; companies bound by collective agreements often pay more. There are also school-based programmes, for example in some health and social care occupations, where the rules on pay can differ.
Legal text (German): Section 17 Vocational Training Act
Dual and school-based training at a glance
| Feature | Dual training | School-based training |
|---|---|---|
| Where you learn | Company and vocational school | Mainly vocational school, with placements |
| You apply to | The training company | The school (sometimes also placement providers) |
| Pay | Yes, a training allowance | Varies by occupation, sometimes none |
| Examples | Industrial clerk, electronics technician, chef | Varies by federal state, e.g. some assistant occupations |
| Qualification | Chamber exam | State exam |
The right timeline
Many larger companies advertise training places twelve to fifteen months before the start date. Smaller businesses and craft trades often fill places at shorter notice, sometimes shortly before training begins. For international applicants an early start is especially important, because language courses, certificate evaluation and the visa process all take extra time.
A realistic plan looks like this: first choose an occupation and region, then improve your German and have your certificates translated and evaluated, then apply, attend interviews and – once you have a signed training contract – apply for your visa.
- 12 to 18 months before: research occupations, learn German, prepare certificates
- 9 to 12 months before: send applications to companies
- 6 to 9 months before: interviews, aptitude tests, trial work days
- After an offer: training contract, visa application, finding accommodation
Requirements for international applicants
German language skills: vocational school and exams take place in German, so most companies expect solid German. For the vocational training visa, sufficient language skills are usually required, often at B1 level. Some occupations and companies expect more.
School-leaving certificate: many training programmes typically expect an intermediate school certificate (Mittlere Reife) or an equivalent, although not every occupation legally requires a specific qualification. Have your foreign school certificates translated and, where possible, evaluated by the responsible certificate recognition office so that employers can understand your level.
Visa: citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland usually need a residence permit for vocational training (Section 16a Residence Act). Requirements include a training contract, proof that you can support yourself and often approval by the Federal Employment Agency.
Official information: Make it in Germany – vocational training
Legal text (German): Section 16a Residence Act
Your application documents
A typical Ausbildung application consists of a cover letter, a tabular CV and your last two school reports. Add internship certificates, language certificates and proof of courses if you have them. Many companies use online forms; upload your documents as PDFs.
Your CV is usually one page long. List your schooling, internships, part-time jobs, language skills, computer skills and interests that relate to the occupation. A photo is not mandatory in Germany, but it is still common in Ausbildung applications.
- Cover letter: one page, focused on the occupation and the company
- CV: tabular, without unexplained gaps, most recent first
- School reports: translated and ideally evaluated
- Language certificate: e.g. Goethe, telc or TestDaF
- Proof of internships or work, if available
The cover letter: show why you want this occupation
In the cover letter, companies mainly want to know why you want to learn this particular occupation. Describe how you came to it – for example through an internship, a hobby or work in your home country – and which skills you already have.
Also explain briefly why you want to train in Germany and what your plan looks like: language course completed, certificates evaluated, move planned. This shows the company that you have thought the process through realistically. In most cases the cover letter should be in German, because the training itself will be.
Example: motivation before and after
Before
I am interested in technology and would like to do an apprenticeship.
Generic, with no link to the occupation or the company.
After
During a three-week internship at a car repair shop in Tunis, I handled brake jobs and oil changes. I would like to build on this with training as an automotive mechatronics technician at your company. I have completed my German course at B1 level.
Concrete experience, a clear link to the occupation and your language level in three sentences.
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Selection: tests, interviews, trial work
Larger companies often use online tests covering general knowledge, maths, logic and German. These are followed by an interview and, at some companies, a group day or assessment centre. Smaller businesses and craft trades frequently invite candidates for a trial work day (Probearbeiten).
Prepare for typical questions: why this occupation? What do you know about our company? What do you imagine your working day will look like? How did you learn German? Answer honestly and with examples. Video interviews are common for applicants who are still abroad.
Where to find training places
The largest overview is the job portal of the Federal Employment Agency with the “Ausbildung” filter. You can also use the apprenticeship exchanges of the chambers of commerce and chambers of crafts, company career pages and the “Make it in Germany” portal, which is aimed specifically at people from abroad.
In many regions and occupations, training places remain unfilled every year – for example in craft trades, hospitality and logistics. If you are flexible about location and occupation, your chances increase.
Official job portal: Federal Employment Agency
Common mistakes
- Starting too late and missing application windows
- Using one cover letter for every occupation
- Submitting certificates without translation or evaluation
- Overstating your German level
- Thinking about the visa only after training should have started
- Not explaining why you chose this occupation
- Applying only to large companies and overlooking smaller businesses
Checklist for your Ausbildung application
- Occupation and region chosen deliberately
- German skills proven with a certificate
- School certificates translated and ideally evaluated
- Cover letter tailored to the occupation and company
- Tabular CV without unexplained gaps
- Applications sent well before the start date
- Visa and finances clarified
- Documents in one sensibly named PDF
FAQ on vocational training in Germany
Can foreigners do an Ausbildung in Germany?
Yes. EU citizens can apply under the same conditions as Germans. Applicants from other countries usually need a vocational training visa, which requires a training contract and German skills, among other things.
What level of German do I need?
Often at least B1, because vocational school and exams are in German. More is useful for some occupations.
When should I apply?
Many companies recruit about a year before training starts. Smaller businesses often fill places at shorter notice.
Do I get paid during an Ausbildung?
In dual training, yes. There is a statutory minimum training allowance, and many companies pay more. School-based training varies.
Is there an age limit?
There is no legal age limit, and adults also start training programmes. Additional conditions can apply for the visa.
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