Ausbildung in Germany: A Complete Guide for Persian Speakers
Ausbildung is Germany's dual vocational training: 2 to 3.5 years, split between a company and a vocational school (Berufsschule), with a monthly training allowance. For the visa you need a training contract and usually B1 German. After you finish, you can stay and work in Germany as a skilled worker. German is the one requirement you can start working on today.
What is Ausbildung and why is it an attractive migration route?
In a dual Ausbildung (duale Ausbildung) you sign a training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag) with a company, spend most of the week learning on the job, and attend vocational school (Berufsschule) one or two days a week or in block periods. Depending on the trade, it usually lasts 2 to 3.5 years and ends with a final exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or the Chamber of Crafts (HWK).
Unlike university study, a dual Ausbildung pays a training allowance (Ausbildungsvergütung) from the first month; it rises each year and the law sets a minimum for most trades. Some school-based programmes (schulische Ausbildung) are unpaid, so check the type of programme carefully before applying.
The fields with the biggest shortages, and so the best chances for foreign applicants: nursing (Pflegefachmann/Pflegefachfrau), hotels and restaurants, electronics (Elektroniker), plumbing and heating (Anlagenmechaniker SHK), professional driving and logistics, and IT (Fachinformatiker).
The language requirement: why B1 is the real minimum
In practice, almost every company and immigration office expects at least B1 German for an Ausbildung, because you must follow Berufsschule lessons and sit the final exam in German. For nursing and customer- or patient-facing trades, many employers prefer B2.
Certificates from Goethe, telc or ÖSD are accepted. A common mistake is studying only to pass the exam; someone who starts Berufsschule with a weak B1 struggles badly with technical vocabulary and lesson pace in the first months. Aim for a real, conversational B1, not just a certificate.
The Ausbildung visa and the training-search visa
If you have a training contract, you apply at the German embassy for an Ausbildung visa (Section 16a of the Residence Act). Core documents usually include the training contract, approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), a language certificate, your school certificate and proof that your living costs are covered. If your training allowance is below the required minimum, you must cover the gap with a blocked account (Sperrkonto) or a formal financial guarantee (Verpflichtungserklärung).
If you don't yet have a contract, the training-search visa (Section 17) lets you look for an Ausbildung place in Germany for several months. Under current rules it is aimed at people under 35 with B1 German, an acceptable school-leaving certificate and fully covered living costs. Because these conditions can change, always check the current version on make-it-in-germany.com or the embassy website.
Iranian or Afghan school diplomas must be submitted with certified translations; where needed, the school-certificate evaluation office of the relevant federal state (Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle) determines the German equivalent. Embassy appointments for national visas can take months, so prepare your documents early.
What happens after Ausbildung, and where Deutsch30 fits in
Once you pass the final exam, you hold a German vocational qualification that makes you a skilled worker (Fachkraft). You can stay on a skilled-worker residence permit, and if you haven't found a job yet you usually get up to 12 months to look for work matching your qualification. Years spent in training and work also shorten your path to permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship.
Deutsch30 is a structured A0–C1 course with a Persian interface that gets you to a real B1 day by day: short lessons, an AI conversation partner for practising employer interviews, and simulated Goethe and telc exams. Start with the placement test to see how many months you are from B1.
Frequently asked questions
Do I definitely need a B1 certificate for an Ausbildung in Germany?
In most cases, yes. The training-search visa explicitly requires B1, and almost all employers and vocational schools also expect at least B1 for the Ausbildung visa. For nursing and contact-heavy trades, B2 noticeably improves your chances.
Do I get paid during Ausbildung, and is it enough to live on?
In a dual Ausbildung, yes: you receive a training allowance from the first month, it rises every year, and the law sets a minimum. In many cities the allowance alone does not cover rent and living costs; if it is below the minimum required for the visa, you must cover the gap with a blocked account or a financial guarantee.
Is there an age limit for Ausbildung?
The Ausbildung visa itself (with a contract) has no fixed legal age limit, but under current rules the training-search visa is for people under 35. In practice employers also accept motivated adult applicants with good German, especially in shortage fields such as nursing.