Vocational Training Allowance (Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe, BAB)

Vocational training or pre-vocational training measures in another country are eligible for financial assistance under the following conditions:

For vocational training partially in another country:

• if the part of the vocational training in another country does not last for more than 1 year, and 
• the part of the vocational training in another country appears appropriate with regard to the entire duration of the programme.

For vocational training completely in another country:

• if the vocational training in another country is particularly well-suited to the applicant’s intended future profession, and

• the vocational training in another country has been officially certified as equivalent to vocational training in Germany.

For pre-vocational training measures partially in another country:

• if the portion in another country does not exceed half of the scheduled overall duration eligible for funding, and
• the portion in another country appears appropriate with regard to the entire duration of the measure.

Yes, the pre-vocational training measure must be organised and conducted on behalf of the Federal Employment Agency.

If your application is approved, you will receive vocational training allowance for: 

• 18 months for vocational training
• 12 months for other training measures

After that, you may extend your vocational training allowance if your vocational training (excluding pre-vocational measures) is not over. You can also receive vocational training allowance for a shorter period of time, regardless of whether you are receiving training through an employer or a school. However, the vocational training must be for an officially recognised trade.

An allowance for pre-vocational training measures offered by a school is not available.

The amount of BAB you receive depends on your income, which is deducted in part from any BAB payments. Any income from a mini-job paying EUR 538 a month or less in addition to your training will not be deducted from your BAB payments.

Your parents’ income will only be deducted in part if it is above a certain amount. The same applies to income earned by persons with whom you are married or living in a civil partnership. In most cases, income will not be deducted if you are taking part in a pre-vocational training measure.

Vocational training allowance is paid monthly in arrears. If you are not entitled to vocational training allowance for a full month, you will receive one-thirtieth (1/30) of the monthly amount for every calendar day.

• your vocational training contract
• proof of income (a note from your employer stating that you receive payment for your vocational training)
• proof of your parents’, spouse’s or civil partner’s income (tax notice or annual wage statement for the calendar year before last, i.e. two years ago)

The Federal Employment Agency may request additional documents.

If you take time off your vocational training because you are sick, you will receive BAB until the end of the third calendar month following the start of your illness.

No, BAB is paid as an allowance. You do not have to pay it back.

Nadine is 17 years old and single. So far, she has lived with her parents in Rostock. Now she has found a vocational training position in Kiel that starts in September 2020. The room she plans to rent there costs EUR 260 a month. In her first year of training, she will earn EUR 515 a month.

Her monthly cost of living is based on:

• Need for accommodation outside a parent’s or family member’s home: EUR 723
• Need for work clothing: EUR 14
• Cost of travel to and from her place of work and training (monthly ticket): EUR 45
• Need for one trip home a month: EUR 14

Total need: EUR 796

The total need is offset against Nadine’s income:

• Exempt amount deducted from Nadine’s income: EUR 65
• Net deductible income: EUR 450

Remaining need : EUR 346 (total need of EUR 796 less deductible income of EUR 450)

If you receive BAB, you can also claim commuting to work by bicycle as an expense. To do so, you must cycle to the site of your vocational training at least four times a month. Then you can claim a monthly lump sum of EUR 5.