General information

You can apply for a visa to complete an in-company vocational training or a training course at a vocational school in Germany acc. to § 16a I, III AufenthG, § 8 I BeschV.

If you are a graduate of at least two years of in-company vocational training or a vocational training school or a technical college or university education you can apply for a visa for further education in companies in Germany acc. to § 16a I AufenthG, § 8 I BeschV.

To apply for a national visa, the following documents have to be provided by the applicant. Documents that are not presented either in German or English have to be submitted together with a translation into German or English by a certified translator.

Please note:

• Laminated documents are not accepted.
• You are required to submit one copy of every provided original document. Copies that are damaged or stapled are not accepted.
• Incomplete applications may be denied.

General documents needed:

• One completely filled and signed application form. Please use the VIDEX long term application form in order to speed up the application process and to reduce your waiting time.
• One recent biometrical passport photograph with a bright background (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm). The photo has to show the facial features from the chin to the hairline as well as the left and right half of the face: sample chart for passport photos
• A valid passport or other valid travel document as well as one copy of the first and all stamped pages. Please note that the passport/travel document has to be valid for at least three months after the end of the intended journey
• Ethiopian ID-Card or residence permit
• Civil birth certificate
• Pre-approval from the competent German employment authority OR pre-approval for the accelerated procedure for skilled workers of the competent foreigner’s authority (if available)
• Your vocational training contract or further education agreement with details of the occupation you are training for, the duration of the training and the start date of the training, the number of weekly working hours, the training location and the amount of the training allowance. The contract must be signed, stating the place and date.
• Training plan of your vocational training or further education (if available)
• Proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself during your training in Germany.
  Monthly income of 990 EUR gross (822 EUR net) for in-company vocational training or monthly income of 1.030 EUR gross (855 EUR net) for further education in companies:
  • Training allowance stated in your training contract or further education agreement
  • OR Formal obligation letter (“Verpflichtungserklärung” - original and one copy):
    Pursuant to Sections 66 and 68 Residence Act to the German foreigners authority in which a third person undertakes to cover all costs.
  • OR Blocked account:
    Please open the blocked account in good time before you apply for a visa. When applying for a visa, only the official confirmation of the opening of the account issued by the bank, including information on the amount paid in and the amount available per month, will be accepted. Confirmation which does not cite these amounts is not sufficient, nor is proof of lodgement or transfer of funds without confirmation from the bank.
  • OR Secondary employment:
    You may work a maximum of 20 hours per week in addition to your vocational training or further education in Germany. If you have a concrete opportunity for secondary employment in Germany, please submit the employer’s declaration ('Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis') - to be completed by your employer (download form here).
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• letter of motivation, stating the reasons for choosing your desired training in Germany and your intentions or considerations for the time after you have completed your training
• School leaving certificate and, if available, other available university / vocational training diploma(s)
• Language requirements:
  • for a qualified vocational training in a state-recognized training occupation with a training period of at least two years (e.g. nurse, baker, hotel manager): Recognized German language certificate level B1. The certificate should not be older than one year OR alternatively a recognized German language certificate level A2 and a confirmation of your employer that the language skills required for the vocational training have been tested by the educational institution or are to be acquired through a preparatory German language course.
  • for a vocational training of less than two years or a further education: Recognized German language certificate level A2 OR a confirmation of your employer, see above. The certificate should not be older than one year.
• If applicable civil marriage certificate and civil birth certificate of children
• Proof of health insurance:
  • German statutory health insurance with indicated confirmation of the validity of the health insurance coverage from the date of entry
  • OR private health insurance company with indicated confirmation of the validity of the health insurance coverage from the date of entry, if the type and scope of health insurance coverage corresponds to that of a statutory health insurance,
  • OR incoming health insurance for the period between the arrival and start of employment subject to social security contributions, if the type and scope of health insurance coverage corresponds to that of a statutory health insurance
• Visa fees of €75 (payable in ETB at the Embassy’s exchange rate at the time of the application)

Additional documents needed in case of a preparatory language course

• Confirmation of a language school in Germany that you are registered and have paid for an intensive German language course
• Proof of health insurance covering your whole stay in Germany, see above.
• Proof of sufficient financial means, see above.

Further Information on the visa application process

To speed up the process, we recommend having your employer apply for a pre-approval from the competent German employment authority (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and to submit your visa application together with the pre-approval letter.

Alternatively, your employer in Germany can also submit an application for you in accordance with § 81a AufenthG (accelerated procedure for skilled workers) at the competent foreigners authority and then send you the preliminary approval of the foreigners authority (Fast Track Application).
You can also apply without a pre-approval of German authorities. Approval will then be obtained during the visa process.

During the appointment, digital finger prints of all fingers will be taken.

Please find the Embassy's address here.

For questions beyond the detailed information provided on the website, please contact the visa section via the contact form.