Ausbildung in Germany requirements 2026: the complete checklist

Before you pay for a class, a translation or an agent, find out whether your plan actually holds up. The requirements for an Ausbildung in Germany are set by the German Residence Act (section 16a AufenthG) and the Vocational Training Act. They are much clearer than the rumours suggest. In 2026, three requirements decide almost everything: a training place, German at B1, and enough money to live on. The rest (certificates, age, documents) depends on your profile and the trade you choose. Here is the complete checklist, point by point, for a candidate starting out from Bamenda, Buea, Limbe, Douala, Yaoundé or anywhere else in Cameroon.

Requirement 1: a concrete training place

The training visa does not exist in a vacuum. You need a training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag) signed with a German company, or an admission to a school for school-based training.

For company-based training, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) must approve the position. This happens internally between the authorities: you do not file anything yourself.

Getting that place is the real work. You need a strong Lebenslauf (German-style CV) and Anschreiben (cover letter), then a successful interview in German. At ILC our team prepares and sends the applications with you, whatever the sector.

Requirement 2: German at B1

The law normally requires level B1 of the European framework, unless the training provider tests your German itself or a preparatory course is planned. In practice, the German embassy in Yaoundé applies precise rules:

• all four modules passed: Lesen (reading), Hören (listening), Schreiben (writing) and Sprechen (speaking);
• an ALTE-recognised certificate: Goethe, telc, ÖSD, TestDaF or ECL;
• recent results: the oldest module should not be more than one year old;
• you may combine modules from different providers.

B1 is a real level. It takes months of regular classes and plenty of practice. And certificates bought without an exam are fraud: false documents lead to immediate refusal and an entry in the visa warning database. To prepare properly, read our article on how to pass the Goethe B1 exam and see our German courses in Cameroon.

Requirement 3: enough money to live on

This is the most misunderstood requirement. For company-based training, your living costs count as covered if your allowance reaches at least 1,048 EUR gross or 822 EUR net per month (2026 rule). If it is lower, the gap must be covered by:

• a blocked account (Sperrkonto, a German account from which you can only withdraw a fixed amount each month);
• or a Verpflichtungserklärung (a formal commitment by someone in Germany to cover your costs).

For school-based training you need at least 959 EUR net per month, through a blocked account, a Verpflichtungserklärung or a scholarship.

Now, the legal minimum for an Ausbildung starting in 2026 is 724 EUR gross in the first year (about 475,000 FCFA). That is below 1,048 EUR, so a trainee on minimum pay needs a top-up. Many positions paid under collective agreements clear the bar: the average collectively agreed first-year allowance was 1,117 EUR in 2025. Check the exact figure in your contract. Pay by trade is covered in our article on Ausbildung salary in Germany.

Can I do an Ausbildung with GCE A-Level, or O-Level only?

Yes, in most dual trades both can work. The Vocational Training Act sets no minimum school certificate for starting an Ausbildung, and the visa requirements do not list recognition of school certificates. No official page states this in one sentence, so stay cautious, but this is how it works in practice.

That does not mean your school record is irrelevant. The company chooses, and it compares transcripts. With O-Level you can apply, but A-Level results (or a Bac) make your file stronger against other candidates. Subjects matter too: good maths grades help for technical trades.

The exception: nursing

To train as a Pflegefachmann or Pflegefachfrau (registered nurse), the Nursing Professions Act (section 11 PflBG) requires:

• a mittlerer Schulabschluss (German school certificate after year 10) or an equivalent;
• or a Hauptschulabschluss plus at least 2 years of vocational training (or a 1-year care assistant course);
• or another 10-year general school education.

So your Cameroonian certificates will have to be assessed. How GCE O-Level, the BEPC or the Probatoire map to the mittlerer Schulabschluss is not published on any official page: the authority in each German state decides case by case. See our diploma recognition page.

Age: is there a limit?

The law sets no age limit for the § 16a training visa. Some companies prefer younger candidates, but that is not a legal rule.

If you are under 18, you cannot apply alone: all your legal guardians must appear and sign, or give notarised consent. The visa fee then drops to 25,000 FCFA instead of 50,000 FCFA.

The under-35 limit applies only to a different visa: the one for searching for a training place (see below).

Health insurance

You must have health insurance. In company-based training, trainees are generally covered by statutory health insurance through their employer. Check with the embassy which proof you need for the period before your contract starts.

Documents to prepare

The exact list depends on your file, but plan at least for: a valid passport, the training contract, your B1 certificate, school certificates and transcripts, your CV, sworn translations and proof of funds. The full list is on our documents page.

Where and how to apply

Since May 2026, registration for training and work visas goes through the Auslandsportal (digital.diplo.de). You submit in Yaoundé, at the embassy or at VFS Global (school-based training goes through the embassy). There is no German visa centre in Douala, Bamenda or Bafoussam. Fees are paid only at the counter against an official receipt: the embassy never asks for phone transfers. All the steps are in our Ausbildung visa guide for Cameroon and on the § 16a visa page.

What if I do not have a contract yet?

There is a visa to search for a training place (section 17). Its conditions are tougher:

• you must be under 35;
• you must have B1;
• you need a certificate giving university access in your home country (GCE A-Level or the Bac qualify);
• a blocked account of 1,091 EUR per month in 2026 (about 716,000 FCFA per month);
• a stay of up to 9 months, with work allowed up to 20 hours per week.

The Chancenkarte (opportunity card) also exists, but it has other conditions, and the embassy notes it is not suited to running a recognition procedure. For most Cameroonian candidates, the realistic route is still to secure the contract from Cameroon.

Summary

Frequently asked questions

Can I do an Ausbildung with GCE O-Level only?

For many dual trades, yes, because the law sets no minimum certificate. But companies compare candidates. For nursing your certificate will need to be assessed.

Is A2 enough for an Ausbildung?

As a rule, no. The visa normally requires B1, apart from special cases set out in the law. At ILC we prepare candidates up to a full B1.

Do I need my GCE A-Level recognised for an Ausbildung?

For most dual trades it is not required for the visa. For nursing, the equivalence of your school level must be established.

Is there a maximum age for Ausbildung?

Not in the law for the § 16a visa. The age limit of 35 only applies to the training-place search visa.

Any other question? Check our FAQ.

Sources

• Section 16a AufenthG: vocational training
• Section 17 AufenthG: search for a training place
• Make it in Germany: visa for vocational training
• Make it in Germany: training search visa factsheet (January 2026)
• Section 11 PflBG: entry requirements for nursing training
• BIBB: minimum training allowance 2026
• German Embassy Yaoundé: work and training visas
• Section 20a AufenthG: Chancenkarte

Last checked: 19 October 2026.