Apply for educational toleration

If your application for asylum has been rejected and you would like to continue an apprenticeship you started during the asylum procedure, or if you are in possession of a tolerated status and would like to start an apprenticeship, you can, under certain conditions, obtain a tolerated status for apprenticeships for the duration of the apprenticeship.

A training toleration (Ausbildungsduldung) is a special form of toleration that you can receive if

• your asylum application has been rejected, you have started vocational training during the asylum procedure and would like to continue it, or
• you are in possession of a Duldung (i.e. you are obliged to leave the country) and would like to start an apprenticeship.

In order to receive a training toleration, the vocational training must meet certain requirements (see Requirements).

The training toleration is issued for a specific training company. A (seamless) change of the training company is possible. In these cases, an application for the "Umschreibung" (transfer) of the Ausbildungsduldung to the new company is required prior to the change of company.

With the training toleration you are allowed to stay and work in Germany for the entire time of your training. You cannot be deported during this time.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: Yes

• You started your training during your asylum procedure and would like to continue it after your asylum application has been rejected, or you have been in possession of a tolerated status for at least three months and would like to start training.
• You already have a training place or have one in prospect that meets the following criteria:
  • It is a qualified, at least two-year, in-company or school-based vocational training in a state-recognized or comparably regulated training occupation, or
  • It is a state-recognized or comparably regulated assistant or helper training followed by qualified vocational training.

Please note:

In the case of assistant or helper training, you also need a training place commitment for the subsequent qualified vocational training. In addition, the occupation must be a so-called "shortage occupation" (for example, occupation in geriatric care and nursing).

The "Ausbildungsduldung" cannot be granted for vocational preparation measures or school measures (e.g. language courses) that are intended to introduce you to vocational training. You can find a list of recognized training occupations under "Further information".

• Your identity has been clarified.

Please note: Persons who came to Germany before December 31, 2016, must clarify their identity when applying for a training toleration.

Individuals who arrived in Germany between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2020 and who wish to apply for a training toleration now or later had to have their identity clarified by June 30, 2020. The deadline is met if it can be proven that all reasonable measures to clarify the identity have been taken by then. Even if the identity is not clarified until later.

Persons who arrived in Germany on or after January 1, 2020 must clarify their identity within the first six months in Germany.

The reasonableness is assessed according to the circumstances of the individual case, whereby you should cooperate in all actions that the authorities require of you.

• If you have not yet reached the age of 18, your legal guardians must consent to your stay in Germany.
• You have no ties to extremist or terrorist organizations and do not support them. You have not yet been convicted of a criminal offense. There is no deportation interest against you.

Your deportation has not yet been prepared by the Aliens Department (preparation is to be assumed if, for example, a medical examination to determine your fitness to travel has already been arranged, a state subsidy for your voluntary departure with state funds was approved prior to the issuance of the educational toleration, a passport document has been applied for, a deportation date has been set or a Dublin procedure is underway).

You may file a lawsuit against the decision of the Foreigners' Registration Office within one month of notification.

• Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to apply online or has a special application form.
• If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the Aliens' Registration Office. In the case of online application, the Aliens' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to schedule an appointment.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents, if possible in original, to the appointment).
• If your application is approved, you may be issued the educational toleration at the appointment. If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice. In this case, you may not start the training.

The processing time may vary depending on the workload of the Foreigners' Registration Office. Since the Ausbildungsduldung is produced at the Aliens' Registration Office, it can in principle be issued during the appointment.

Cost amount (fixed):

• 58.00 for the training permit as an adhesive label
• 62,00 for the training permit as a carrier printout

Remark:

The Aliens' Registration Office may charge a fee for the issuance of a "Ausbildungsduldung". The time and the form of charging as well as the payment vary depending on the authority.

In certain cases, fee reductions or exemptions may be considered (for example, if the livelihood cannot be secured without recourse to public benefits).

• During the asylum procedure, you cannot apply for a training permit. During this time, it is sufficient to have a residence permit, which can also be used to start school or company-based training.
• The "Ausbildungsduldung" is not a prerequisite for starting an apprenticeship. You can already start an apprenticeship if you are allowed to work - i.e. if you have been granted an employment permit. If you have a "normal" Duldung in accordance with Section 60a of the Residence Act with permission to work, however, this does not grant you the long-term protection against termination of residence during the period of training, nor does it grant you the special rights associated with the Ausbildungsduldung.
• If you successfully complete your vocational training, you may be eligible for a residence permit for two additional years ("3+2" regulation). If you are not taken on by the training company, you will initially be granted a toleration for six months to look for work.
• If you break off your training relationship or end it prematurely, your tolerated period of training expires. You may be granted a one-time toleration for six months to search for a new training position. Training companies and educational institutions are obliged to inform the Foreigners' Registration Office within two weeks of the termination of the training.
• You are not allowed to travel abroad with the training toleration.
• The Ausbildungsduldung expires if you are convicted, if you are expelled or if you are ordered to be deported in order to avert a special danger, in particular a terrorist danger, against you.
• The procedure is usually conducted in German. If you have insufficient knowledge of German, you are advised to appear with a person who can act as a translator.
• You must make all your statements to the Aliens' Registration Office to the best of your knowledge and belief correctly and completely, so that your request can be processed without major delays.
• If you provide incorrect or incomplete information, this may slow down the procedure and be of disadvantage to you. In a serious case, incorrect or incomplete information that you have given and have not completed or corrected in time vis-à-vis the Aliens' Registration Office may result in the withdrawal of residence rights already granted to you, a fine, a prison sentence of up to three years or expulsion from the Federal territory.
• Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.