Dual training is the most underrated entry into the German labour market for newcomers. It is neither school nor university: it is a contract with a company that pays from the first month.
Dual vocational training: what it is and who can enter
Dual training means a company plus vocational school, paid from the first month. Foreign nationals have a dedicated residence title for it.
✓ Verified: 02/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
DOCUMENTS 3
› Details and tips
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Lea recommends:
Search through the chamber for your sector rather than only the big portals: chambers keep their own lists of companies authorised to train, which filters out random adverts immediately.
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Max recommends:
I spent a year looking for a job in my field and never considered Ausbildung, assuming it was for school leavers. Half my class was over twenty-five.
Useful Tools
- Anerkennung in Deutschland education
Federal portal on recognition of foreign qualifications: which authority handles your profession and what to submit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does dual training differ from university study? ▾
It happens in two places at once: in a company under a contract and at a vocational school. Trainees are not students but a party to a contract, and they receive pay from the first month rather than paying for their education.
Does it require recognition of my school certificate? ▾
The vocational training act sets no formal requirements about certificates; the company makes the selection. In practice firms ask for the certificate with a translation, and expectations about school qualifications vary widely by occupation.
Can foreign nationals start training in Germany? ▾
Yes, a dedicated title exists: a residence permit for the purpose of company-based training and further training is to be granted where the federal employment agency has consented, or where consent is dispensable under the employment ordinance or an intergovernmental agreement.
How long does training last? ▾
Usually two to three and a half years depending on the occupation, with the exact period stated in the contract. Shortening and extension are possible in individual cases, so the contract governs rather than the general description of the trade.