Applying for a residence permit for company training and further education for training and further education purposes

- For the issue of a national visa before entering Germany: The German diplomatic mission abroad (embassy, consulate)
- For the issue of a residence permit after entry: The immigration authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence

For the accelerated procedure for skilled workers:
Foreigners' Registration Office at the place of employment, unless a central office has been set up to carry out the procedure.

You can also obtain free advice on entry, residence and employment from the 'Hotline Working and Living in Germany' of the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad. Telephone: 030 1815-1111 Service times: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00

• Your livelihood (including health insurance) is secured for the entire duration of the training or further education.
• You can prove that you have sufficient knowledge of the German language for qualified vocational training (level B 1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

If you do not yet have the required language skills, you can attend a job-related German language course to prepare for the training. The residence permit to be issued for qualified vocational training also includes attendance of the language course before the start of the vocational training.

In principle, there are no language proficiency requirements for taking up vocational training that is not qualified vocational training. As a rule, however, at least sufficient German language skills at level A2 will be required.

There are no language proficiency requirements for taking up in-company further training.

• The Federal Employment Agency must check the legal employment requirements (e.g. the training or further training contract) and approve the employment (this is usually arranged by the immigration authority).
• If you have not yet reached the age of 18, a person authorized to take care of you must agree to your planned stay in Germany.

There are no reasons of public safety and order to prevent your stay in Germany. There is no interest in deporting you.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance necessary: Yes

• Recognized and valid identity document (e.g. passport or passport substitute).
• If you have recently entered the country: Visa, if this was required for entry.
• For a previous stay in Germany: Current residence permit.
• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm).
• Proof of health insurance cover (e.g. confirmation of health insurance cover or insurance policy).
• Education or training contract.
• Approval from the Federal Employment Agency (usually obtained from the immigration office).
• In the case of qualified vocational training: Proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language (e.g. language certificate, German school, training or university certificates, proof of successful participation in an integration course, confirmation from the training company of sufficient language skills for the intended vocational training, confirmation of registration for a job-related German language course).
• Proof of means of subsistence (e.g. proof of income, training or employment contract, pension certificate, proof of receipt of benefits such as parental or child benefit, maintenance payments).
• In the case of minors: consent of the person with parental authority to the planned stay.

The documents and information must always be submitted in German. In individual cases, the immigration authority may require less or further proof.

Further documents are required for the accelerated procedure for skilled workers. As an employer, please contact the responsible immigration authority.

Cost amount (fixed):

• 100.00 for adult applicants
• 50.00 for underage applicants

Remark:

Additional fees may apply for the issuing of the residence permit in the form of the electronic residence permit (eAT card), which can also be used as electronic proof of identity.

The time and form of fee collection and payment vary depending on the authority.

In certain cases, fee reductions or exemptions may apply (e.g. for persons entitled to asylum or recognized refugees). Lower fees may apply for Turkish nationals.

• § 45 Nummer 1 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV)
• § 50 Absatz 1 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV

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

Duration (for span): approx. 6 to 8 weeks

Note for further information on the processing time:

The processing time may vary depending on the workload of the immigration office.

The production of the electronic residence permit by the Bundesdruckerei takes about 4 to 6 weeks.

• During the validity of a residence permit for vocational training and further education, it is generally possible to change to another qualified vocational training program. If the purpose of your stay changes, you must inform the relevant immigration authority immediately. If the requirements for this are met, it is possible to change to a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker, for employment with extensive practical vocational knowledge, for studies or other purposes for which there is a legal entitlement.
• After successfully completing qualified vocational training, the residence permit can be extended for up to twelve months in order to look for a job.
• If the qualified vocational training or further training ends prematurely for reasons for which the person concerned is not responsible, they may be given the opportunity to look for another training place for a period of up to six months.

• The procedure is usually carried out in German. If your knowledge of German is insufficient, it is advisable to speak to a person who can act as a translator. All information provided to the Foreigners' Registration Office should be correct and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief so that your application can be processed without major delays.
• Incorrect or incomplete information can slow down the procedure and be detrimental to the person concerned. In serious cases, incorrect or incomplete information that is not completed or corrected in good time vis-à-vis the immigration authority can result in the revocation of residence rights that have already been granted, a fine, a prison sentence of up to three years or expulsion from the federal territory.
• Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.

• 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/

• Application notes of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community on the Skilled Immigration Act (Federal Law Gazette I2019, p.1307) on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community
• Information on job-related language support "German für den Beruf" on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
• Information on vocational training allowance (BAB) on the website of the Federal Employment Agency
• Portal of the Federal Government for skilled workers from abroad, here on the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, on the website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

• § 16a Absatz 1, 3 und 4 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)

• 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.