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Visa for vocational training (Section 16a Residence Act)
Here you will find information on visa applications for vocational training.
General Information
You can do vocational training in Germany if you have a training place in a company and have German language skills (A2 or B1 depending on the vocational training). However, if you have a lower level of German, you can also take a language course before you start your training or complete the language course together with the vocational training if this is provided for in the training plan.
The official website of the Federal Government of Germany Make it in Germany contains a lot of helpful information about working and living in Germany.
Required Documents
Section 16a of the Residence Act (AufenthG)
To apply, you will need the following original documents plus one set of copies to present at your appointment at the Embassy. We highly recommend to use the information sheet as a checklist and bring it as a print out for your appointment.
Please pay attention that all Tanzanian documents issued by an authority of the state needs to be Legalizations
Please sort the individual sets in the order listed below.
Information Sheet
In your application form (VIDEX) you enter all the information about your entry and your stay in Germany. You must complete this form and print it out once, sign and date it.
If you are a minor, your legal representatives must sign the application and declare their consent.
A recent biometric photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm with a light background)
Information on biometric photos can be found here
Your passport must be signed and valid for at least one year from the date your visa is issued.
Please note that the document must still have at least two blank pages (if the decision is positive, your visa will be affixed here later).
Do you not have Tanzanian citizenship?
If you are not a Tanzanian citizen, please provide us with your Tanzanian residence permit.
Proof of your residence in Tanzania can be, for example, a copy of your electricity bill, water bill or gas bill.or a rent contract.
For non- Tanzanian nationals: Tanzanian residence permit
Training contract in German (where applicable recognised by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce) signed by the employer and the trainee Or school-based vocational training place
Training Plan
If stated in the deficit notification: registration for theoretical courses, in-company training measures (with further training plan) or exam preparation courses (original and one copy)
Letter of motivation in German stating the professions and where you are looking for an apprenticeship.
Curriculum Vitae
Please provide us with your CV in English or German. Please use the Europass format.
Information on the Europass format: Europass.
If not already confirmed by the training company: Proof of existing German language skills (usually at least B1 level depending on the vocational training) or proof of registration for an intensive language course in preparation for training.
Proof of language proficiency must have been issued by an ALTE-certified institution.
Exceptions are persons whose families speak German as their mother tongue or colloquial language, or who have demonstrably lived in Germany for several years and therefore obviously speak fluent German.
e.g. hotel booking, signed letter of invitation, etc.
Proof of financing of at least € 903 gross per month for the first year (2024). If a preparatory German course is initially completed without payment of wages, or the training salary is lower the monthly shortfall must be proven separately, for example by means of a blocked account or a so called formal letter of obligation (‚Verplfichtungserklärung‘).
In the case of financing in the form of a blocked account: Open the blocked account in good time BEFORE applying for a visa. When applying for a visa, only the official opening confirmation stating the total amount paid in and the monthly amount available will be accepted. A confirmation without stating these amounts is not sufficient. The deposit or transfer receipt without the bank confirmation is not sufficient.
Employers in Germany can apply for pre-approval from the ZAV (International Placement Services) before applying for a visa in Germany. If you have this document, please submit it.
Further information can be found here.
Note: German employers have the option of applying directly to the Federal Employment Agency / ZAV in advance for the approval required for issuing a visa together with the training contract. If this is already submitted during the visa procedure, the processing times at the visa office will be considerably shorter.
Persons with statutory health insurance cover are adequately insured from the first day of work. Please provide proof of your statutory insurance cover.
If you arrive before the statutory health insurance cover begins, you must take out appropriate supplementary insurance.
If a long or permanent stay is planned, some travel health insurance policies may exclude insurance cover in their terms and conditions. This restriction may also apply to an “incoming” insurance policy, so please ensure that your supplementary insurance policy provides adequate cover. Further information here
In certain cases, additional documents may be required.
Processing time:
Due to the regular need for approval from the authorities in Germany, you should generally allow eight weeks for your visa application to be processed (calculated from the time you submit the complete application documents to the diplomatic mission abroad).
Please do not request a status update – these will not be answered but ignored.
Fees
Appointments
Appointments are made via an online system. It is not possible to make an appointment by telephone. You can find all information here