How to Find and Apply for an Ausbildung in Germany From Abroad

You've come to love the idea of an Ausbildung (dual vocational training) in Germany, and you've even chosen your field. Now the real question: how do you find an Ausbildung placement (Ausbildungsplatz) from abroad, before you're even in Germany? Let's be honest — this is the hardest part of the whole journey. But it's not impossible; thousands of international applicants pull it off every year. This article realistically walks you through where to look, how to apply, and the visa steps that follow the contract.

For the basics I'd suggest first reading the what is an Ausbildung article and, to see the easier fields, the most in-demand Ausbildung fields article.

#The hardest part: getting the contract

In the Ausbildung journey there's the visa, the move, and the language — but the real bottleneck is this: nothing starts without a signed Ausbildung contract (Ausbildungsvertrag). The §16a visa, the move, everything hangs on that contract.

Why is it hard? Because you're abroad. The employer can't meet you in person, can't test your German level, and hesitates: "will they really come, will they fit in?" The good news: in bottleneck professions (IT, trades, hospitality, care) employers can't fill their placements and are taking on more and more international candidates. So the right field + good German + patient applications = a real chance.

#Where to look: the sources

When hunting for an Ausbildung placement, don't rely on a single place — use several channels in parallel. The most reliable official sources:

Strategy: apply directly on the "Ausbildung" or "Karriere" pages of large firms (Bosch, Deutsche Bahn, Lufthansa, hotel chains, IT companies). Portals are good for browsing, but a direct application is often more effective.

#The application: CV, Anschreiben and German

German application culture is its own thing. A typical application package:

• Lebenslauf (CV): short, chronological (reverse order), one to two pages, a photo is common. Factual and clear.
• Anschreiben (cover / motivation letter): "why this profession, why this company, why Germany" — personal and company-specific. Copy-paste is obvious.
• Diploma/transcript: translated; your school diploma is usually enough.
• Language certificate: if you have a Goethe/telc/ÖSD German certificate, include it by all means — your strongest card.

Prepare everything in German if you can. An English application is accepted at some IT/international companies, but the Ausbildung mostly runs in German, and a German application shows you're serious.

#Language requirement: German first

I can't stress this enough: language is the backbone of the whole journey. Most employers and the visa generally expect B1–B2 German; the Berufsschule (vocational school) runs entirely in German. Without German, neither the contract nor the visa arrives.

Practical plan: reach at least B1, ideally B2, before arriving in Germany. Get your certificate before applying — it reassures the employer and strengthens your visa file. Language is not a "I'll sort it out later" thing; it should be your first investment.

#§16a visa: steps after the contract

Once you have the contract, the visa is next. For non-EU citizens the path via the §16a visa (vocational training visa) works like this (general outline; be sure to confirm the exact and current steps with the official source):

1. Signed Ausbildungsvertrag — the basis of the visa.
2. Proof of language — usually a B1–B2 German certificate.
3. Financial security — in a paid duale Ausbildung the wage is often deemed sufficient; in schulische (school-based, unpaid) training a Sperrkonto (blocked account) is usually required.
4. National visa (type D) at the German consulate in your country; appointment + documents.
5. After arriving in Germany, conversion into a residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde.

These steps vary by country, consulate and year. I can't guarantee anything — for current conditions, fees and document lists, rely on make-it-in-germany.com and the official page of the German consulate you'll apply to. You can also find the general logic of the visa process with a job offer in the work visa with a job offer article (the §16a Ausbildung route is a separate path, but the process logic is similar).

#Common mistakes and strategy

The traps applicants from abroad fall into most often:

• Applying too little. Five applications won't do it; dozens, even hundreds, are normal. A numbers game.
• Leaving the language to the last minute. Most candidates who don't handle B1/B2 early get filtered out.
• A generic/copied Anschreiben. Write for each company individually.
• Relying on a single channel. Use portal + direct application + chamber boards together.
• Choosing an over-competitive field outside the bottleneck. Bottleneck fields like IT/trades/care are far more open to overseas candidates.
• Giving up too early. The first rejection emails are normal; the process can take months.

Smart strategy: start early (a year ahead), put the language first, choose a bottleneck field, apply in large numbers and personalized, and follow the official sources.

#Conclusion & honest advice

Finding an Ausbildung placement from abroad is hard, but it's a systematic task — not a matter of luck. The formula is clear: good German (B1–B2) + bottleneck field + many personalized applications + using official sources correctly. Once you have the contract, the §16a path largely opens up; we cover salary, life and the path to permanent residence in the Ausbildung salary and residence article.

My honest advice: take your language seriously today, plan a year in advance, apply widely, and don't be discouraged by rejections. This path takes effort, but at the end there's a real profession — learning while earning, job security, and a route to residence.

This article is for general information as of early 2026; visa conditions, sources, salaries and procedures can change. For binding and current information, rely on make-it-in-germany.com, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, and the official pages of the German consulate you'll apply to. This is not legal advice.