In their free time from studies and walks, students are allowed to work part-time
As of today, a foreign student can obtain a German visa for studying at a university or pre-university college, as well as for attending language courses in Germany. In addition, those who are only planning to apply to a German university but have not yet decided on a choice and have not received an admission response have the opportunity to come to Germany on an applicant visa, submit documents on site, and take entrance exams if required by the field of study. As Deutsche Welle notes, such exams are held, for example, at faculties of arts, design, music schools, and also for future medical students.
With the new law that came into force on March 1, 2020, the opportunity to "test the waters" on site has also appeared for those interested not in higher education but in secondary vocational education.
In Germany, the number of vacancies for those wishing to undergo dual vocational training (Berufsausbildung) is growing. There is a shortage of labor, and the number of German school graduates who acquire a profession through this model is decreasing – partly due to demographic issues. And although under the new law for non-EU foreigners who want to undergo vocational training in Germany, the German Federal Employment Agency will continue to conduct a priority check (i.e., the vacancy will be allowed only if there is no applicant from Germany or the EU), the chances for graduates of our schools to undergo vocational training and then stay to work at a German company are still quite good.
It was possible to obtain a German visa for vocational training at a company in Germany even earlier. For this, it is necessary to present a contract with the employer. Finding a company willing to take a foreigner as an apprentice from a distance is not easy. With the new law, a school graduate, for example from Ukraine, can obtain a visa for six months, come to Germany, and attend an interview.
However, there are several requirements that complicate things. The applicant must be no older than 25 years. And their school certificate must meet the formal requirements that apply to all foreign applicants entering German universities.
You can check whether a school certificate entitles you to study at a German university on the Anabin website. For example, if the certificate of complete general secondary education was obtained after 2015, then you need to study for another year at a university in your own country. And with a diploma from a secondary specialized educational institution, two more years of university are required. Interestingly, if the applicant has already found a company willing to take them for training and has a contract, then the rule for university applicants does not apply to them.
It is also necessary to confirm the availability of funds for living expenses for the entire period of stay (in the amount of 939 euros per month) or provide a financial guarantee. It is important to know that while in Germany for the purpose of finding a place of study or undergoing vocational training, the graduate is not allowed to work. That is, temporary part-time work or internships under this type of visa are not permitted.
In addition, the applicant must have German language skills at a fairly high level – B2. If the knowledge is insufficient for the chosen specialty, the new law allows obtaining a visa to attend a language course – general or professional.
A foreign student who has started studying at a German university can leave the university and begin dual vocational training by re-registering their residence permit. With the new law, opportunities are expanding. In addition, with the consent of the Federal Employment Agency, a student can start qualified work in their specialty after obtaining a work permit.
Non-EU students who have received a German vocational education diploma, like foreign graduates of German universities, receive the right to apply for a residence permit in Germany after working in the country for at least two years.