Paid apprenticeships in Germany

What an Ausbildung is

• 2 to 3½ years, most often 3.
• Paid from day one. You spend 3–4 days a week in the company and 1–2 days at a vocational school (Berufsschule).
• Free. There are no tuition fees for company-based training.
• It ends with an exam at the chamber (IHK or Handwerkskammer). With it you can work in Germany as a skilled worker.

Can I apply?

• German at B1, as a rule, unless the company tests your German itself. Care jobs often ask for B1–B2.
• A school-leaving certificate. Companies decide what they accept. For the visa to search for a place you need one that gives access to university in your country or Germany.
• A training contract with a German company (or a place at a vocational school).
• Enough money to live on, usually covered by your training pay (see below).

How much you earn

The legal minimum training pay for training that starts in 2026 (before tax):

For training starting in 2027 the first-year minimum rises to €764. Many companies pay more under collective agreements, especially in care, industry and banking.

Step by step

1. Choose an occupation

   There are more than 300 recognised training occupations. Pick one that suits you and has many open places: care, electrical, mechanics, plumbing, logistics, hospitality and retail all need people.

2. Learn German to B1 and get a certificate

   As a rule you need German at level B1, unless the company tests your German itself. Take a recognised exam such as the Goethe-Zertifikat, telc or ÖSD. Start with our free German course.

3. Prepare your documents

   A German-style CV (Lebenslauf), a short cover letter (Anschreiben), your passport, and your school certificates with certified German translations.

4. Find a training company and apply

   Apply directly to companies on the official job boards below, or search ApplyAndRise for apprenticeships in Germany. Many interviews happen by video.

5. Sign a training contract

   When a company accepts you, you sign a training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag). The company registers it with its chamber (IHK or Handwerkskammer).

6. Apply for the visa

   Apply online through the Consular Services Portal, then attend an appointment at the German embassy with your original documents. The visa fee is €75. The approval of the Federal Employment Agency is usually obtained during the visa process. You need health insurance to enter.

7. Arrive and get your residence permit

   Register your address (Anmeldung), take out German health insurance, open a bank account, and apply for your residence permit at the foreigners authority before your visa expires (fees up to €100).

8. Train, then work

   During training you may also take a side job of up to 20 hours a week. When you pass your final exam you can stay to work as a skilled worker, or get time to look for a job.

No training place yet? The search visa

You can also come to Germany for up to 9 months to look for a training place in person. You need:

• To be 35 or younger.
• German at B1 or better.
• A school-leaving certificate that gives access to university in your country or in Germany.
• Money to live on: a blocked account with at least €1,091 a month (2026), a scholarship, or a declaration of commitment.

The visa fee is €75. Once you find a place, you switch to a residence permit for vocational training in Germany.

Occupations with many places

Good grades or earlier experience can shorten some trainings.

Where to find training places

• ApplyAndRise searchApprenticeships in Germany from the job boards we collect, with cover letters written for you.
• Federal Employment Agency job board (Jobbörse) Germany's official job board, filtered to training places (Ausbildung).
• IHK Lehrstellenbörse Training places in industry, trade and services from the chambers of commerce.
• Lehrstellen-Radar (Handwerk) Training places in skilled crafts: electricians, mechanics, bakers, builders.
• Make it in Germany The Federal Government's official site for coming to Germany to train and work.

Official sources

• Visa for vocational training Official requirements and steps.
• Consular Services Portal Where you apply for the visa online.
• German Embassy Harare Appointments and local rules for applicants in Zimbabwe. Elsewhere, use the German embassy in your country.
• Recognition in Germany Getting school and professional qualifications recognised.

Figures are the official ones for 2026 from Make it in Germany and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). Rules and amounts change, so check the official pages before you apply.