Vocational training (dual apprenticeship)

From Auswärtiges Amt

“The visa decision is made by the German consular post in Vietnam. Vocational-training visas typically require the consent of the foreigners-authority responsible for your future training location; a Vorabzustimmung from the Federal Employment Agency or the responsible foreigners-authority materially shortens processing. Incomplete applications can prolong processing or lead to a refusal. False or incomplete information can constitute grounds for expulsion.”

— Federal Foreign Office of Germany · German diplomatic missions

What you need

You must show a training contract with a German training employer, vocational-school proof (training contract / place reservation / enrolment confirmation / IHK or HWK registration), the completed Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (employer's declaration of the employment relationship, including the company number), a tabular CV in German, a motivation letter, proof of prior education, German at CEFR B1 (or evidence of a pre-training language course), and financing of at least 990 EUR gross per month. A Vorabzustimmung from the Federal Employment Agency or the local foreigners-authority shortens processing if your employer obtained one.

Checklist

Application and identity

Application form for national visas, completely filled out and signed by the applicant (online application form „VIDEX") *
Two recent biometric passport photos (45 mm x 35 mm) (photo specifications template). Please glue only one photo onto the application form and bring the second loose *
Valid passport (or a recognised substitute travel document) *

CV, motivation, and education records

Tabular and complete CV in German *
(Optional) 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 shortened. If a preparatory language course is planned before the training, this should be stated in the Vorabzustimmung. The Vorabzustimmung must be submitted in original. Exception: if the Vorabzustimmung carries an AZR number, a copy is sufficient
Motivation letter. In a self-written letter, set out why you want to undertake training in the chosen occupation. Also describe how this training fits with your prior training and work history, and what future plans you have after successfully completing the training *
Evidence of prior education. School-leaving certificate, plus where applicable additional evidence of prior vocational training or university studies *

Training contract and vocational school

Training contract. Training contract with the future training employer, including the training plan. The contract must be signed by all parties and submitted in original. The contract should be stamped by the training employer. If the training contract has already been stamped by the vocational school, the stamp impression must be legible *

Vocational-school proof — one of the following documents

Vocational-school contract
Place reservation at the vocational school
Registration confirmation at the vocational school
IHK or HWK registration confirmation — confirmation from the relevant Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or Chamber of Crafts (HWK) in Germany that the training contract is registered with them

Employment relationship

Declaration of the employment relationship (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis). The official form (link: Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) must be completely filled in by the training employer and submitted. The company number (Betriebsnummer) must be filled in on the declaration *

Proof of financing

a) Blocked account

Opening a blocked account (Sperrkonto)

b) Sponsor's declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung)

Formal sponsor's declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung). In individual cases, where the training salary is not sufficient to cover living costs

Language skills

Language certificate. You need German skills corresponding to at least level B1. Currently recognised are certificates from the following examiners: Goethe-Institut e.V.; telc GmbH; Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD); „TestDaF" of the TestDaF-Institut e.V. (institute of FernUniversität Hagen and Ruhr-Universität Bochum, exam level starts at B2 CEFR); ECL examination centre. The certificate must not be older than 12 months at the time of application. Exception: if a language course in Germany precedes the training, knowledge at a lower level is sufficient. In that case you must, in addition to the language certificate at your current level, submit evidence for your language course *
If applicable, evidence of the language course. If a preparatory language course is part of the training, please submit a confirmation. The confirmation must show the duration of the course, the hours per week, what kind of language course it is (general or occupational), and the target level to be reached. If this is not already evident from the employment contract or training plan, please submit a confirmation from your training employer that the language course is intended as part of the training. If it is a BAMF-funded language course, the following documents are mandatory for the visa procedure: BAMF participation authorisation; pre-approval (Vorabzustimmung) from the responsible ZAV

Medical insurance

Proof of adequate medical insurance for entry, valid from your intended entry date until the start of the training, or for the entire duration of the language course *