Qualification/further training

People with a residence permit can take part in the integration courses run by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). They teach German language skills up to level B1 as well as knowledge about life in Germany.

Participation must be applied for directly at the BAMF. It is free of charge for people with a residence permit. You can also be obliged to attend an integration course.

More information on integration courses can be found here.

Vocational language courses serve to improve German language skills and focus on communication in the workplace. They are offered by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

If your annual income is less than €20,000, participation is free of charge. The employment agency or job center decides on eligibility for participation.

Further information on vocational language courses can be found here.

The BAMF also offers job-related language courses (Job-BSK) directly in a company. These are flexible, job-related language courses with a short duration. They are tailored to the needs of the company and the employee. Participation is free of charge for annual incomes of less than €20,000.

Detailed information can be found here.

A pre-vocational training measure is intended for people who do not yet know which profession suits them best. They should get to know different professions and companies and be able to try them out, as well as gain practical experience and improve their social skills. Participation is free of charge. It is an offer from the employment agency.

The prerequisite is that the person with a residence permit has already been in Germany for 15 months.

Further information can be found here.

For people with a residence permit who are not ready for training, an introductory qualification may be an option. It serves as an introduction to a possible future apprenticeship in a company. This is an internship that lasts six to twelve months. The content is based on the first year of training and can be credited towards a later apprenticeship.

The approval of the foreigners authority must be obtained for participation. A minimum stay of 3 months is required.

Further information can be found here available here.

Assisted training is a service offered by the Federal Employment Agency and helps people with support needs to get into training and complete it successfully. It consists of a training preparation phase and a training support phase. Participation is free of charge.

The training support phase is only open to people with a residence permit after a 15-month stay.

Further information can be found here.

The "Measure at the employer" (MAG) is an offer from the Federal Employment Agency. It is used to gain an insight into companies, try out professional activities and make contact with employers. It can last from a few days to a few weeks.

MAG is open to people with a residence permit if they are registered as unemployed or looking for work .

Further information can be found here.

"Perspectives for Young Refugees" (PerjuF) is a measure of the Federal Employment Agency aimed at young people without training who have already completed compulsory schooling. They are taught about the training and labor market so that they can decide on a suitable apprenticeship. Among other things, they work in various companies to test their skills.

Further information can be found here.

Work opportunities serve to gain professional experience, acquire additional knowledge and try out new professional activities. They can improve your chances of finding a job. You can find out more here.

If you are allowed to work, you can also complete further vocational training . This can be, for example

• Adaptation training to maintain or expand existing professional knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Retraining to obtain a new vocational qualification.

• Vocational qualification measures that prepare you to retake a final examination, for example.

• Partial qualifications that are compatible with the profession, whereby further training is completed in individual units and leads to a vocational qualification.

Further training that leads to a recognized vocational qualification may be funded by the Federal Employment Agency. You can find here Information.

The Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) is a practical educational and orientation program. It is aimed at young adults who have completed compulsory full-time schooling and are under the age of 27. The FSJ can be completed in areas such as elderly care, care for the disabled, healthcare, culture, heritage conservation, sport, politics or education.

The FSJ usually lasts 12 months. Participants receive a monthly allowance. Voluntary service benefits are offset against asylum seeker benefits and allowances for pocket money apply.

A work permit from the foreigners authority is required. People who are prohibited from working are therefore not able to do voluntary service. Approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required.

You can find out more about the FSJ in Saxony here.

The Voluntary Ecological Year (FSJ) is a practical educational and orientation program in the field of nature and the environment. It is aimed at young adults who have completed compulsory full-time schooling and are under the age of 27. The FSJ can be completed, for example, in forestry, horticulture and landscaping or nature and environmental protection.

The FSJ usually lasts 12 months. Participants receive a monthly allowance. Voluntary service benefits are offset against asylum seeker benefits and allowances for pocket money apply.

A work permit from the foreigners authority is required. People who are prohibited from working are therefore not able to do voluntary service. Approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required.

You can find out more about the FÖJ in Saxony here.

The Federal Volunteer Service is an opportunity to get involved for the common good - in social, ecological and cultural areas or in the fields of sport, integration , civil protection and disaster control. It is also a good way to gain practical experience, get to know professional fields and gain professional orientation.

As a rule, the Federal Volunteer Service lasts 12 months. It is open to anyone who has completed compulsory full-time schooling. There is no age limit.

Participants receive pocket money of up to €644 per month. Voluntary service benefits are offset against asylum seeker benefits and allowances apply to the pocket money.

A work permit from the foreigners authority is required. People who are banned from working are therefore not eligible for voluntary service. Approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required.

Further information on the Federal Voluntary Service can be found here.