Administrative services A-Z

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: Yes

If you have not yet reached the age of 25 and want to complete qualified vocational training in Germany, but still have not found a training position, you can obtain an extension of your residence permit to seek training if you meet certain requirements.

Make sure that the residence permit is issued for a maximum of six months. An extension of your residence permit is only possible if this 6-month period has not yet been exhausted. The extension must be applied for in good time before the expiry date of your previous residence permit.

If you have already been in possession of a six-month residence permit, the residence permit can only be issued again if you have stayed abroad after leaving Germany for at least as long as you have previously stayed in Germany to seek training.

The residence permit will be issued again for a limited period, but for no longer than a total of six months.

In principle, the same requirements must be met for the extension of the residence permit as for the initial issuance of the residence permit. This means:

• You are still looking for a training place to carry out qualified vocational training (vocational training in a state-recognized or comparably regulated training occupation for which a training period of at least two years is specified).
• This total period of validity of your residence permit of six months has not yet been exhausted. Alternatively, after leaving Germany you have stayed abroad for at least as long as you were previously in Germany on the basis of your residence permit.
• You have not yet reached the age of 25 at the time of application.
• You have a good knowledge of German at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• You have one of the following school-leaving qualifications:
  • Graduation from a German school abroad: the graduation obtained at a German school abroad must be a secondary school graduation (such as Hauptschulabschluss, Realschulabschluss, entitlement to transfer to the gymnasiale Oberstufe, Fachhochschulreifeprüfung, Hochschulreifeprüfung or foreign school graduation entitling to study in Germany or, in any case, to study in the state in which the German school abroad is located).
  • School-leaving certificate entitling the holder to admission to higher education in the Federal Republic of Germany: This can be a German school leaving certificate acquired in the Federal Republic or a foreign school leaving certificate. The decisive factor is that the school-leaving qualification entitles the holder to access higher education (university and university of applied sciences) in Germany.
  • School-leaving qualification that entitles the holder to admission to higher education in the country in which the school-leaving qualification was obtained: This is to be determined by means of the anabin database. If the degree is listed in the anabin database, a formal examination of the certificate is not required. Only if the degree is not listed in the anabin database can it be examined on a case-by-case basis by way of individual examination by the competent certificate recognition bodies of the Länder.
• You can secure your livelihood and health insurance coverage from your own resources without recourse to public benefits.
• There is no interest in deportation against you.

In principle, the extension of your residence permit requires the submission of the same documents as for the initial issuance:

• Recognized and valid identity document (for example, passport or passport replacement).
• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
• Proof of subsistence (e.g. from own assets, payment of a security deposit into a blocked account, bank guarantee, letter of commitment, scholarship, allowances from third parties)
• Proof of health insurance coverage (for example, confirmation of health insurance coverage or insurance policy).
• Evidence of active search for an educational position.
• For minors: Consent of all persons entitled to custody to the planned stay (declaration of consent); if the parents entitled to custody cannot submit the application jointly for their child, a written power of attorney from the absent parent is required; if only one parent is entitled to custody, the signature of this parent is sufficient.
• Proof of German language skills on level B2 (for example language certificate)
• Proof of school-leaving qualification entitling the holder to university admission.
• Proof of departure and duration of stay abroad

The documents and information must generally be submitted in German. In individual cases, the Aliens' Registration Office may require less or further proof.

Cost amount (fixed):

• 96,00 for a further stay of up to three months
• 48,00 Euro for underage applicants for a further stay of up to three months
• 93,00 for a further stay of more than three months
• 46,50 Euro for underage applicants for a further stay of more than three months.

Remark:

Additional fees may apply for the issuance of a new residence permit in the form of the electronic residence permit (eAT card), which can also be used as electronic proof of identity.

The timing as well as the form of fee collection and payment vary depending on the authority.

In certain cases, fee reductions or exemptions may be considered (for example, for persons entitled to asylum or recognized refugees). Lower fees may apply for Turkish nationals.

• § Section 45 Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
• § Section 50 Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)

• Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to submit the application online or provides a special application form.
• If you have not yet reached the age of 18, you may not submit the application yourself, but require a representative (as a rule, the application is submitted by the custodial parent).
• If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the Aliens' Registration Office. In the case of online application, the Aliens' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
• If you have not yet reached the age of 18, you must be accompanied by at least one legal representative (usually one parent) at the personal visit. In the case of joint custody, the parents must always appear together at the authority and jointly file the application on your behalf. If one parent cannot appear in person, the other parent with custody must issue a written power of attorney for the application.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents, originals if possible, to the appointment).
• If your application is granted, your fingerprints will be taken for the production of the residence permit in the form of a new electronic residence title (eAT card).
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will order the production of the eAT card from the Bundesdruckerei. After completion, you will receive information and can pick up the eAT card at the responsible office. The eAT card must always be collected in person.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice.

Application deadline

Duration (for span): 6 to 8

Remark (for further information on the deadline):

At least six weeks to eight weeks before the expiration of the current residence permit, the application should be received by the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Duration (for fixed time): maximum 6

Remark (for further information on the time limit):

The residence permit will be limited again, but for a maximum total duration of six months.

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible for processing the application.

In the state of Brandenburg, this is if you

- live in a town or municipality belonging to the district: the district administration,

- live in a district-free city: the city administration.

• Find the authorities in Brandenburg

• § Section 17 Residence Act (AufenthG)
• § Section 8 Residence Act (AufenthG)
• § Section 5 Residence Act (AufenthG)

• The extension of the residence permit is at the discretion of the competent foreigners authority. Applicants are therefore only entitled to a decision free of discretionary errors.
• While holding the residence permit, gainful employment is not permitted.

• If the search for a training place is discontinued, a change in the purpose of residence is generally only possible to employment as a skilled worker in accordance with §§ 18a (skilled workers with vocational training) or § 18b (skilled workers with academic training) of the Residence Act and in cases of legal entitlement (for example for the purpose of studying). This does not affect the possibility of changing to a residence for the purpose of qualified vocational training (Section 16a Residence Act) after the search has been successfully completed.
• The procedure is usually conducted in German.
• All information provided to the Aliens' Registration Office should be correct and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief so that the request can be processed without major delays.
• Incorrect or incomplete information can slow down the procedure and be disadvantageous for the person concerned. In a serious case, incorrect or incomplete information that is not completed or corrected in time vis-à-vis the Aliens Department may result in the revocation of residence rights already granted, a fine, a prison sentence of up to three years, or expulsion from the Federal territory.
• Due to the complexity of the right of residence, this description is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.

Portal of the federal government for skilled workers from abroad

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/visum-aufenthalt/arten/berufsausbildung

Multilingual information portal on life in Germany for people who are new to Germany. Sponsored by the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, The Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Racism

https://handbookgermany.de/de/visa-seeking-vocational-training

Information on the assessment of foreign school-leaving qualifications from the Central Office for Foreign Education

https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html

Ministry of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg