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Visa for vocational training
General Information
You can do vocational training in Germany if you have a training workplace in a company and have German language skills (A2 or B1 depending on the vocational training). However, if you have a lower level of German, you can also take a language course before you start your training or complete the language course together with your vocational training if the training plan provides for this.
Further information on living and working in Germany can be found at: „Make it in Germany“.
What documents must be submitted during the application process?
To apply for a visa at the embassy, you will need the following documents in the original with one set of copies. Please sort the individual sets (original + one set of copies) in the order listed below.
Please do NOT staple the application documents!
A current biometric passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm with a light-coloured background) according to the photo sample table of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The photo should not be older than three months.
Personally signed passport (original with one copy of the passport data page), with at least two completely empty pages and sufficient validity.
If you do not have your habitual residence in Switzerland, the German Embassy in Bern is not responsible for processing your application.
Original training contract (where applicable recognised by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce) signed by the employer and the trainee.
Detailed Training plan.
Proof of language qualification Proof of German language skills (at least B1 for qualified vocational training, otherwise as a rule at least A2) or proof of registration for a preparatory intensive language course.
Proof of financing of at least 939 € gross per month for the first year. If an unpaid preparatory German language course is being completed or if the trainee wage is lower, provision of the monthly shortfall of funds must be proven separately, for example, in the form of a blocked account.
If as a trainee you are subject to mandatory statutory health insurance, you must bear in mind that this insurance can only begin when you take up residence in Germany and begin your training. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out for the period prior to beginning your training and prior to being eligible for statutory health insurance. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurance can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned. So-called incoming travel insurance can also contain such exclusions.
Detailed motivation letter and curriculum vitae in German or English language.
Information sheet with check list to download
The German Embassy Bern reserve the right to ask for additional documents at any time during the processing of your application.
Postage expenses of 7 Swiss Francs
and
Visa fee of 75 Euro payable by cash in Swiss Francs or in Euro by Visa or MasterCard (information here).
Appointment booking
Please book an appointment here to submit your application. New appointments are regularly activated in the appointment system. Unfortunately, there are no additional appointments.
To submit your application, please appear in person at the visa section of the embassy (Willadingweg 78, 3006 Bern) at your pre-booked appointment. Please book one appointment per person - also for children. The visa office will accept your complete application documents and the fee and take your biometric data. It is not possible to submit an application without an appointment.
Processing time
In this visa category, most applications are typically processed within 3-5 weeks (calculated from the day you procided all documents).
During the application process
Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa department and cannot be answered. We will contact you by email as soon as the decision has been made. In principle, all communication can only take place with the applicant themselves, a legal representative or an authorized person.
Decision about the application
You will be informed as soon as the embassy has decided on your application. Your passport is required for the visa to be issued.
Please check your visa label as soon as you have your passport with the visa in your hands. You should inform us immediately of any errors so that we can issue a new visa.