If you are researching ausbildung in germany for foreigners, you are looking at a paid, structured route into a skilled trade or office career. This guide covers who qualifies, what apprentices typically earn, the visa and language steps, likely costs, and where to search for a training place in 2026. It also gives an honest look at the downsides. The pack behind this guide contains no official wage statistics or live vacancy counts for German apprenticeships, so we use ranges and point you to the official bodies to confirm current figures.
Data updated October 2026 using official wage statistics and live job listings.
Key facts
- Format: the “dual system”, with paid on-the-job training at a company plus classes at a vocational school (Berufsschule).
- Typical length: about 2 to 3.5 years, depending on the occupation.
- Typical language level: usually German at about B1 to B2, set by the employer, school and visa office.
- Visa route: a national visa for vocational training under the German Residence Act, applied for through the German embassy or consulate in your country.
- Popular search topics right now: IT, mechanical engineering and agriculture apprenticeships, plus lists of training occupations.
- Wage statistics and live opening counts: not available in this guide’s data, so verify with the official bodies listed under Sources.
Table of Contents
What an Ausbildung actually is
An Ausbildung is Germany’s vocational training programme. You sign a training contract with a company, work there for most of the week, and attend a Berufsschule for theory. You are paid throughout, and you finish with a recognised qualification that employers across the country understand.
There are hundreds of recognised training occupations. They range from electronics technician, mechatronics, cook and nursing-related roles to IT specialist, logistics, retail and office management. Related searches show strong interest in IT, mechanical engineering and agriculture. The official list of recognised occupations is maintained by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).
The training is not a short course. It typically lasts about 2 to 3.5 years, and the final exam is set by a chamber such as the IHK (industry and commerce) or the HWK (crafts). Passing it gives you a certificate that opens the door to skilled-worker employment, and in many cases to further qualifications such as Meister or Fachwirt.
Requirements for international applicants
Requirements vary by occupation, employer and your country, so treat the list below as the typical picture. Your own checklist should come from the German embassy or consulate and the employer.
- School qualification: Most employers expect a secondary school-leaving certificate that is comparable to a German one. Your certificate may need to be assessed. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and its anabin database are commonly used for this.
- German language: Usually around B1, and often B2 for demanding or customer-facing occupations. Because Berufsschule classes are taught in German, an English-only profile rarely works for an Ausbildung.
- A signed training contract or a firm offer: The vocational-training visa generally depends on having a training place with an approved employer.
- Proof you can support yourself: Apprentice pay is modest, and the visa office may ask how you will cover living costs. Requirements here differ, so ask your consulate.
- Health insurance and a valid passport: Both are standard for the visa process.
- Age: There is generally no strict upper age limit for an Ausbildung, but employers and visa offices may look at your overall plan. Confirm the current rules with the consulate.
Some occupations add extra conditions, such as a medical check, a clean police record for certain roles, or a minimum height or physical fitness for specific trades. Ask the employer before you invest in language classes for one particular path.
What apprentices earn
Apprentice pay in Germany is not a US-style wage that can be looked up in BLS data. It is set by the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) minimum and, in many sectors, by collective agreements between unions and employers. The BLS OEWS wage series does not cover German apprenticeships, so no US median or percentile figures apply here.
| Pay element | What to expect | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory minimum, year 1 | A legal floor per month, in the region of €700 in 2026 for many contracts | BIBB, your chamber (IHK/HWK) |
| Statutory minimum, later years | Rises with each year of training | BIBB |
| Collective agreement sectors (industry, public service, some trades) | Often above the minimum, commonly in the range of roughly €900 to €1,300 per month in the first year, varying by sector and region | The relevant union or employer association |
| IT and technical apprenticeships | Frequently at the higher end of apprentice pay, but it depends on the employer | Employer job ads, IHK |
| After qualifying | A skilled-worker salary, which varies widely by occupation, region and employer | Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) |
These ranges are approximate, so always read the pay line in your actual contract. Pay differs by occupation, region and employer size, and an IT Ausbildung is often better paid than a retail or hospitality one.
Budget carefully. Rent in large cities can take a big share of an apprentice’s income. Some apprentices qualify for state support such as Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe (BAB), but eligibility rules are narrow, so check with the Federal Employment Agency.
How to start an Ausbildung in Germany for foreigners: step by step
Here is a realistic sequence you can begin this month. Plan on roughly 9 to 18 months from first research to your first day, depending on your starting German level and visa processing times.
- Pick two or three occupations. Browse BIBB’s list of recognised training occupations and the “Make it in Germany” portal. Match them to your interests and to demand in the region where you want to live.
- Check your school certificates. Look up your qualification in the anabin database and find out whether you need an official assessment or translation. Start early, since certified translations can take weeks.
- Start learning German now. Aim for B1 as a minimum and B2 if you can. Course costs range from free or low-cost online options to a few thousand euros for intensive classes. Exam fees for providers such as the Goethe-Institut or telc vary, so check the official sites for current fees.
- Prepare German-style application documents. You need a tabular CV, a cover letter (Anschreiben), certificates and translations. Keep it factual, and have a German speaker proofread.
- Search for training places. Use the Federal Employment Agency’s job board, the IHK and HWK apprenticeship exchanges, and company career pages. Apply to many employers, since competition for popular occupations is real, and start about 6 to 12 months before the usual autumn start.
- Interview and sign the contract. Many interviews happen by video. Ask about pay, working hours, the Berufsschule location, accommodation help and what happens if you fail an exam.
- Apply for the visa. With a contract and your documents, apply for the national visa for vocational training at the German embassy or consulate. The visa fee is typically around €75, but check the official site for current fees. Appointment waits and processing times vary a lot by country.
- Arrive, register and begin. Register your address, set up health insurance and a bank account, and convert your visa into a residence permit at the local foreigners’ authority.
- Complete the training and sit the exams. After you qualify, skilled-worker residence options generally open up. Graduates typically get time to look for a job, but confirm the current rules with the foreigners’ authority.
Total upfront costs for most applicants include language courses and exams, certificate translations, the visa fee, travel, and a few months of living money. Because these vary so much by country and city, we won’t give one fixed total. Add up your own figures before committing.
Where the jobs are right now
This guide’s data does not include a live vacancy count or a list of top hiring employers, so we will not name any. What you can do is search the places where nearly all German training places are advertised.
- Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit): its job and apprenticeship board is the largest official source.
- IHK and HWK apprenticeship exchanges: regional chambers list companies that are approved to train and actively seeking apprentices.
- Make it in Germany: the government portal for international skilled workers, with guidance on recognition and visas.
- Company career pages: large industrial, logistics, healthcare and IT employers often run dedicated apprenticeship pages.
Sector demand differs by region. Technical and craft trades, healthcare-related roles and IT are commonly mentioned as areas with training places that go unfilled, but check the current listings in your target region rather than relying on general claims.
Also be careful about scams. A real employer will not ask you to pay for a training place. Verify any agency or recruiter before sending money or documents.
Is this career right for you?
Pros
- You are paid while you learn, and the qualification is widely recognised.
- It is a structured route into skilled employment, and it can lead to further qualifications.
- It lets you build German language skills and a local network through real work.
- Tuition at a public Berufsschule is generally not charged to the apprentice.
Cons
- Apprentice pay is low compared with a full salary, and housing in big cities is expensive.
- The German requirement is real, and classes and exams are in German.
- Visa and document processing can be slow, and nothing is guaranteed even with strong applications.
- You commit to a multi-year contract, and changing occupation midway can be hard.
- The work can be physically or mentally demanding, depending on the trade.
If you are happy to learn German, live on a modest income for a few years and work with your hands or in a practical technical role, this route can be worth it. If you need a high income immediately or cannot study German, consider other options first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for foreigners to do an Ausbildung in Germany?
Typically you need a recognised school-leaving certificate, German at roughly B1 to B2, a training contract with an approved employer, health insurance and a vocational-training visa if you are not an EU citizen. Employers can set additional conditions. Check with the German embassy or consulate and the Federal Employment Agency for the current rules.
Which country is best for vocational education?
There is no single best country. Germany, Austria and Switzerland are well known for their dual systems that combine paid work with classroom study. The right choice depends on your language skills, your occupation and the visa options available to you.
What is the average salary for an IT Ausbildung in Germany?
No official average is included in our data. IT apprenticeships are often at the better-paid end of apprentice pay, but amounts depend on the employer, region and year of training. Read the pay line in the job advert or contract, and compare it with the statutory minimum published by BIBB.
What jobs can I get in Germany if I only speak English?
Some roles in international companies, startups and tech teams use English at work, but an Ausbildung almost always requires German because vocational school and exams are in German. If you only speak English now, plan to study German first or look at other work routes. The Make it in Germany portal explains the options.
Can I stay in Germany after finishing my Ausbildung?
Graduates commonly have options to stay and work as skilled workers, and there is typically a period to search for a job in your trained field. The exact permit rules change, so confirm them with your local foreigners’ authority before you finish.
Sources
- Google search results and “People also ask” data for “ausbildung in germany for foreigners”, October 2026
- BLS OEWS (https://www.bls.gov/oes/): referenced only to note that it does not cover German apprenticeships
- Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)
- Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit)
- Make it in Germany (German government portal)
- IHK and HWK (chambers of industry and commerce, and of crafts)
- Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and the anabin database
- German embassies and consulates, and local foreigners’ authorities
- Goethe-Institut and telc (German language exams)
Start with one occupation, one language goal and one set of applications this month, and you will be well on your way.
