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Federal Republic of Germany · study

Seeking a vocational-training place — Section 17(1)

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Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Up to nine months to find a qualifying vocational-training place, for applicants under 35 who meet the school, German-language, livelihood and residence conditions.

Under 35, qualifying school evidence, B1 German, search-period funds and insuranceDoes not lead to permanent residencyUp to nine months. A repeat grant under Section 17(1) requires an intervening stay abroad at least as long as the previous stay on this search permission.In flux
Processing time
No national application-to-decision time is established for this purpose. The Federal Foreign Office says long-stay visa decisions can take several months; mission appointments, local residence review and electronic-card production are separate stages.
Government fees
Where a national visa is required, the standard adult charge is EUR 75. A subsequent residence permit has a separate standard initial charge of EUR 100; a qualifying change of residence purpose is EUR 98. The actual transaction, age and statutory reductions or exemptions control. Insurance, translations, document and living costs are additional.
Typical duration
Up to nine months. A repeat grant under Section 17(1) requires an intervening stay abroad at least as long as the previous stay on this search permission.
Required support
Under 35, qualifying school evidence, B1 German, search-period funds and insurance
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Official German federal legislation portal — Gesetze im Internet ↗

In short

Up to nine months to find a qualifying vocational-training place, for applicants under 35 who meet the school, German-language, livelihood and residence conditions. Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/germany/vocational-training-place-search#answer

What is the Seeking a vocational-training place — Section 17(1) in Federal Republic of Germany?

Under 35, qualifying school evidence, B1 German, search-period funds and insurance. Follow the actual search basis, entry or local process, duration and issued work conditions. Indicative government fees are Where a national visa is required, the standard adult charge is EUR 75. A subsequent residence permit has a separate standard initial charge of EUR 100; a qualifying change of residence purpose is EUR 98. The actual transaction, age and statutory reductions or exemptions control. Insurance, translations, document and living costs are additional; indicative processing time is No national application-to-decision time is established for this purpose. The Federal Foreign Office says long-stay visa decisions can take several months; mission appointments, local residence review and electronic-card production are separate stages; typical duration is Up to nine months. A repeat grant under Section 17(1) requires an intervening stay abroad at least as long as the previous stay on this search permission. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Official German federal legislation portal — Gesetze im Internet on 15 November 2026.

Overview

Section 17(1) is a distinct search purpose before a qualifying training place has been secured. Applicants must be under 35, have sufficient German at B1 level, hold the specified German-school-abroad qualification or a school certificate giving higher-education access in Germany or the country where it was obtained, and secure their livelihood. It is different from admission to begin an already secured training programme under Section 16a and from job search after completed German training under Section 20.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Confirm age, school qualification and B1 German

    Check all Section 17(1) conditions before making travel or financial commitments.

  2. Establish funds, insurance and the actual entry process

    Use the responsible mission and its current channel; entry exemptions and the correct local filing basis need an individual check.

  3. Search within the nine-month permission

    Section 17(3) permits employment up to 20 hours per week and trial employment for up to two weeks in total. It does not provide an unrestricted self-employment permission or two weeks for every trial employer.

  4. Apply separately for the appropriate next title

    During Section 17 search, a change of residence purpose is normally limited to Sections 16a, 16b or 19c(2), or cases involving a statutory entitlement. A qualifying offer or admission requires the appropriate separate grant; it does not automatically convert the search permission.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Seeking a vocational-training place — Section 17(1), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Coordinate enrolment and attendance with the institution. Check the actual work conditions before accepting a job or freelance work.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Seeking a vocational-training place — Section 17(1) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to GermanyFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Germany. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check the training-place search requirements ↗

    Use the section on seeking a training place, rather than the checklist for an already secured training programme.

    Federal Government of Germany — Make it in Germany · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Confirm your responsible mission and filing channel ↗

    Check the actual visa requirement, documents and available online or paper process. An in-person identity/biometric stage may still be required.

    German Federal Foreign Office · verified

  3. Official guidanceApplicant
    Confirm residence and any later change of purpose ↗

    Check the actual permission, work conditions and separate training residence application with the competent authority.

    Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a training contract before using this search route?+

The purpose is to seek a qualifying training place before one has been secured. Once a place is found, the separate training-residence requirements and grant must be assessed. A contract itself does not automatically convert the search status.

Does under 35 include my 35th birthday?+

No. Section 17(1) requires that you have not yet reached 35. It also requires the specified school qualification, secured livelihood and sufficient German; meeting only the age condition is insufficient.

How much money does the 2026 guidance require?+

The official purpose-specific overview gives EUR 1,091 per month for seeking a vocational-training place, with a blocked account or declaration of commitment as examples. Insurance and the individual livelihood assessment remain relevant. The lower amounts for actual training or studying are different categories.

What work is allowed during the search?+

Section 17(3) permits employment up to 20 hours per week and trial employment for up to two weeks in total. It does not provide an unrestricted self-employment permission or two weeks for every trial employer.

Can I change to any other residence purpose?+

During Section 17 search, a change of residence purpose is normally limited to Sections 16a, 16b or 19c(2), or cases involving a statutory entitlement. A qualifying offer or admission requires the appropriate separate grant; it does not automatically convert the search permission.

Can I leave briefly and immediately start another nine months?+

Section 17(1) allows a repeat grant only after an intervening stay abroad at least as long as the previous stay under this permission. A brief border crossing does not meet that condition; other eligibility requirements still apply.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Official German federal legislation portal — Gesetze im Internet

Last checked: 15 November 2026

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