VISAHJELP

Visa for a qualification measure toward skilled-worker status

If your professional qualification has only been partially recognised in Germany, you can apply for a visa to obtain the necessary qualifications in Germany. Prerequisite is a deficit / partial-recognition notice (Defizit- bzw. Teilanerkennungsbescheid) from the responsible state authority or chamber of industry and commerce, which lists the essential differences from German training and the necessary adjustment measures. With this visa you can complete the adjustment and compensatory measures in Germany and at the same time already start working. After completing the training and obtaining full recognition, you can apply for permanent residence in Germany. Legal basis is § 16d of the Residence Act. IMPORTANT — scope: if you do not yet have a deficit notice, first apply for the recognition procedure with the responsible body (see visa for recognition of foreign vocational qualifications). Since 1 March 2023 it is also possible, with the employer's support, to complete the recognition procedure only after entering Germany — see visa for the recognition partnership.

LAST VERIFIED · 2026-05-02 SOURCE: Auswärtiges Amt · Independent · not affiliated

From Auswärtiges Amt

“The visa fee is 75 euros, payable in Vietnamese Dong. The VFS service fee is in addition. Applications in this category can only be filed via the external service provider VFS. Note on retirement provision from age 45 (verbatim from the Merkblatt): applicants aged 45 and over must show evidence of adequate retirement provision. Provide suitable proof of retirement security at the time of application (e.g. real estate, securities, insurance). We cannot guarantee a specific processing time, as the procedure involves domestic German authorities. In individual cases further documents may be requested. After entry: Everyone who lives in Germany must be registered. Within two weeks of moving in at the latest, you should do this at the Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt. After entry, contact the foreigners-authority at your place of residence in Germany. There you apply for your residence title.”
— Federal Foreign Office of Germany · German diplomatic missions

What you need

  • You must submit a VIDEX application form, biometric photos, and a valid passport. Core prerequisite: a partial-recognition / deficit notice (Teilanerkennungs- bzw. Defizitbescheid) from the responsible state authority or chamber of industry and commerce. For the qualification measure, submit evidence appropriate to the measure type — for predominantly theoretical training, the provider's invitation / registration with programme details and language evidence (typically ≥ A2; possibly higher for healthcare professions); for predominantly practical training, an employer-completed Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis incl. Zusatzblatt A. If you additionally take up employment outside the measure, an additional Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis. Plus: a completion certificate of your vocational training / studies, a CV, a language certificate (typically A2; B1 for healthcare professions; ≤ 12 months old; modules taken with a single provider), livelihood evidence (employment contract or a blocked account with ≥ EUR 1,091 net per month), private medical insurance in the three standard alternatives, and optionally a Vorabzustimmung from the Federal Employment Agency or the foreigners-authority (shortens processing materially).

Checklist

12
01

Application and identity

  • Application form (VIDEX). Fill in completely, print, and sign yourself *
  • Two recent biometric photos (45 mm x 35 mm). See the photo specifications template. Glue only one onto the application form and bring the second loose *
  • Valid passport (or recognised substitute travel document). Must have at least two blank pages (your visa will be glued in here later if approved) *
02

Recognition and measure

  • Partial-recognition / deficit notice. A notice from the responsible state authority or chamber of industry and commerce listing the essential differences from German training and the necessary adjustment measures *
  • Evidence on the qualification measure. Depending on which deficits the notice identifies, submit information on the planned adjustment or compensatory measure. (a) Predominantly theoretical training (e.g. theory course, language course): • provider's invitation or registration confirmation; • details on type and duration of the measure with reference to the identified essential differences, information on the required minimum language level, and on the format (in-person, hybrid, online); • language-skills evidence required to participate (typically ≥ A2; possibly higher for healthcare professions); • where applicable, provider's self-disclosure (e.g. state-recognised / AZAV-accredited / publicly funded / list of participating companies); • for courses by private, non-certified, or non-publicly-funded providers: confirmation by the responsible body that the measure is suitable for obtaining recognition (exception: language courses, exam-preparation courses). (b) Predominantly practical training (e.g. practical course, internship): employer-completed Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis incl. Zusatzblatt A with • the establishment's binding confirmation that the qualification measure can be completed there; • the establishment's training plan showing who supervises you and how the deficits identified in the notice are to be closed; • where applicable, planned remuneration; • for predominantly establishment-based preparation courses: confirmation by the qualification-measure provider that the establishment's practical phase is part of the preparation course *
  • Where applicable, employment evidence. If, during the qualification measure, you wish to take up employment that is not part of the qualification but is related to the target occupation, submit the Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis incl. Zusatzblatt A, fully completed by your future employer, in original. The job description must show the technical connection between the employment and the target future occupation
  • (Optional) Pre-approval (Vorabzustimmung). If your employer has already obtained the consent of the Federal Employment Agency or the responsible foreigners-authority in Germany before the visa procedure begins, the consular post's processing time is materially shorter. The pre-approval must be submitted in original. Exception: if the pre-approval has an AZR number, a copy is sufficient
03

Personal profile

  • Completion certificate. Certificate of your vocational training or studies completed in Vietnam *
  • CV. Tabular and complete CV, in particular setting out your prior education and where applicable employment *
  • German-language certificate. You must show sufficient German skills for the planned measure, typically at A2 level. For qualification measures in the healthcare sector, B1 is typically required. Submit a certificate from a recognised examiner: • Goethe-Institut e.V.; • telc GmbH; • Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD); • „TestDaF" from the TestDaF-Institut e.V. (institute of FernUniversität Hagen and Ruhr-Universität Bochum; exam level starts at B2 CEFR); • ECL Prüfungszentrum. The certificate must not be older than 12 months at the time of application. If you took the exam in modules / partial exams, all modules must have been taken with a single examiner — evidence from different exam parts at different providers is not sufficient *
04

Livelihood

  • Financing evidence. During your stay in Germany your livelihood must be secured. As a rule, you evidence this through your employment contract and the job description for the period before and after recognition. If you do not take up employment during the adjustment measure, you must have at least EUR 1,091 net per month available for the planned recognition-procedure period. As evidence, set up a blocked account *
05

Medical insurance

  • Medical insurance. Three alternatives: (1) proof of a private German insurance that meets the requirements below and starts on the expected travel date; OR (2) proof of statutory German insurance, consisting of a letter from your German Krankenkasse, plus travel insurance for the first three weeks; OR (3) proof of a private foreign (including Vietnamese) insurance, including the policy you have chosen, that meets the requirements below and starts on the expected travel date. When is an insurance equivalent to a statutory German one? • No limit on reimbursement in case of illness; • If the insured person falls ill, no deductible higher than EUR 300 per year may be required; • Pre-existing conditions must be covered; • No termination clause upon reaching a certain age, change of residence permit, or loss of residence permit; • The insurance cover may not have a time limit (or must renew automatically) *

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