You have made it through two or three years of work, Berufsschule and cold winters. You passed your final exam. Now what? Many Cameroonians wonder how to stay in Germany after the Ausbildung, which residence permit to apply for and how long it takes to settle for good. The good news: German law opens several doors to people trained in Germany, and some of them are faster than for other foreigners. Here are the steps, in order, with the exact durations set out in the law.
Why a German qualification changes everything
During your training you hold a residence permit for training (section 16a of the Residence Act). It is tied to your training. When the training ends, that permit is no longer enough: you have to move to a different status.
Your big advantage is your certificate. A qualification earned in Germany does not need to be recognised the way a foreign one does. In legal terms you are now a Fachkraft mit Berufsausbildung (skilled worker with vocational training). Everything that follows builds on that.
Scenario 1: your company keeps you on
This is the simplest scenario, and a common one. Many companies train apprentices precisely so they can hire them afterwards.
If your company offers you a skilled position, you apply for a new residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde (the foreigners' office in your town). The law is clear: a skilled worker with vocational training is granted a residence permit to take up any qualified employment (section 18a). Start the paperwork well before your current permit expires, because appointments can take time.
Practical tip: talk about your future with your company during your final training year. Do not leave it to the last month.
Scenario 2: you look for a job elsewhere
If your company does not keep you, or you want to change city or employer, the law gives you time. After successfully completing qualified training in Germany, you can get a residence permit to look for work for up to 18 months (section 20).
What you need to know:
- you must be able to support yourself during the search;
- you are allowed to work during this period, which helps you get by;
- the permit cannot be extended beyond 18 months.
If you completed a care assistant or helper training (a shorter programme), the rule is different: 12 months, extendable once by 6 months.
Those 18 months go fast. Update your Lebenslauf (German-style CV) as soon as your exam is over and apply widely.
What if the training stops before the end?
Sometimes a training ends early: the company closes, or the relationship breaks down. If it is not your fault, the law gives you up to 6 months to find a new training place (section 16a). Act straight away: contact the Ausländerbehörde and search actively. You cannot get those 6 months back.
Permanent residence: faster after an Ausbildung
For many people the real goal is the Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent settlement permit). It never needs renewing and gives you real stability.
The skilled worker fast track (section 18c)
As a rule, a skilled worker can get it after 3 years on a qualified work permit with 36 months of pension contributions. After vocational training in Germany, those numbers drop to 2 years and 24 months of contributions.
Watch out for a point many people misunderstand: the training years themselves (under section 16a) do not count towards those 2 years. The clock starts when you work as a skilled worker.
The general route (section 9)
The general route requires 5 years with a residence permit and 60 months of pension contributions. Here, training periods count for half.
| Route | Duration | Pension contributions | Ausbildung years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 18c after training in Germany | 2 years as a skilled worker | 24 months | Do not count towards the 2 years |
| Section 18c standard rule | 3 years | 36 months | Do not count |
| Section 9 general route | 5 years | 60 months | Count for half |
Other conditions apply on top (housing, language skills, income). The Ausländerbehörde will tell you what your file needs.
German citizenship
After 5 years of lawful residence in Germany, you can apply for German citizenship, with German at B1 among other conditions (section 10 of the Nationality Act). The old 3-year fast track has been abolished.
Be careful with dual nationality. Germany is understood to accept multiple citizenship since its 2024 reform, but we have not confirmed this on an official page. More importantly, check Cameroon’s own position on dual nationality with the Cameroonian authorities before you take any step.
A typical timeline, from final year to permanent residence
To help you plan, here is the order of the steps, without fixed dates, since everything depends on your town and your company:
- Final training year: talk to your company about what comes next. Update your CV and look at openings in your trade.
- Before your § 16a permit expires: book an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde. Bring your employment contract if you have one; otherwise apply for the job search permit.
- After the final exam: keep your exam certificate and your company reference (Arbeitszeugnis) safe. You will be asked for them often.
- First qualified job: you receive the section 18a permit. From that point the 2-year clock for permanent residence starts.
- During those years: check that your pension contributions show up on your payslips. They are what counts towards the 24 months.
- After 2 years as a skilled worker: you can apply for the Niederlassungserlaubnis if all the other conditions are met.
A common mistake: letting a residence permit expire while waiting for the Ausländerbehörde to write to you. It is your job to apply on time. Save your permit’s expiry date in your phone from day one.
Money after the Ausbildung
Once you are a skilled worker, you earn an employee’s salary, generally higher than the training allowance (at least 724 EUR gross in year 1 for training starting in 2026). This is often when you can really start saving, support your family in Cameroon or plan a project. The training figures are in our article on Ausbildung salary in Germany.
Budget for small admin costs too: issuing a residence permit in Germany costs up to 100 EUR.
Keep growing
Your Ausbildung certificate is not the finish line. You can:
- specialise in your trade through further training;
- aim for the Meister or an equivalent title in the crafts, to supervise others or open your own business;
- go to university later, with experience and a salary behind you.
If you were torn between training and university at the start, our article Ausbildung or university in Germany shows how the two paths meet again.
What you can prepare from Cameroon
All of this starts before you even leave. Good German, a carefully chosen trade and a solid contract put you on the right track from day one. At ILC we support candidates in Bafoussam and Douala all the way to the visa, and we explain from the start what comes after the training. The full route is in our guide to Ausbildung in Germany from Cameroon and on our Ausbildung in Germany guide page. The steps with ILC are on how it works.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in Germany after my Ausbildung?
Yes. With a qualified job you get a skilled worker residence permit (section 18a). Without a job straight away, you can stay up to 18 months to find one, as long as you can support yourself.
Which residence permit do I need after the Ausbildung?
The job search permit (section 20) while you are looking, then the skilled worker permit (section 18a) once you have a position. Later, permanent residence.
How soon can I get permanent residence?
After an Ausbildung in Germany: 2 years as a skilled worker with 24 months of pension contributions, plus other conditions. Your training years do not count towards those 2 years.
Can I work while looking for a job?
Yes, the law allows you to work during the 18-month job search period.
Sources
- Section 16a AufenthG: vocational training
- Section 18a AufenthG: skilled workers with vocational training
- Section 20 AufenthG: job search after training
- Section 18c AufenthG: settlement permit for skilled workers
- Section 9 AufenthG: settlement permit, general route
- Section 10 StAG: naturalisation
- Make it in Germany: visa factsheet (residence permit fees)
Last checked: 19 October 2026.