“Come to Germany and we will arrange the documents later” is not a sufficient plan for a professional driver. If the required licence or qualification is missing, training, temporary work, examinations and the subsequent driving role must fit together. Responsibility for costs and deadlines needs particular clarity.
Simply mentioning § 24a does not prove an offer meets its requirements. The questions below help assess the substance of an employer's plan. This article is not an individual visa assessment: the responsible authorities evaluate the application, working conditions and permissions.
What does the legal framework require?
Section 24a(2) BeschV requires a contract obliging the employee to participate in qualification measures, working conditions allowing the required licence and qualifications—including document issue—to be obtained within 15 months, a specific subsequent driving job with the same employer, and evidence of the relevant driving entitlement in the country of origin.
Approval is granted for up to 15 months and may be extended by up to six months in a justified individual case. Extra time is not automatic, so do not build it into the initial schedule as a guaranteed buffer. Requirements were checked on 17 September 2026; review the current wording before applying.
In practice, the plan needs more detail than “we will enrol you”. Allow time between passing an examination and actually receiving the required document. The table below is an editorial planning aid for discussions, not a statutory form.
Establish your starting position from documents
List the licence country, categories, dates, existing professional qualifications and language skills separately. Do not summarise every missing element as “starting from scratch”. If you already have qualifications, the competent party must assess how they can be taken into account.
Describe language ability beyond the certificate name. Can you follow lessons, read test instructions and clarify safety directions? Distinguish the employer's and training centre's practical language requirements from immigration documentation requirements.
Verify the receiving organisation before sending a passport or licence. Unnecessary personal identification numbers may not be needed for an initial discussion. At the formal application stage, submit the requested documents in full through the designated channel.
Specify employment during the qualification period separately
The official professional-drivers page states clearly that you cannot work as a professional driver while obtaining the required licence and qualifications. Do not treat a verbal suggestion to “drive in the meantime” as routine practice.
The contract should clearly state the duties, location, hours and pay during this period. Check that the work matches the permitted activity. Changing a job title does not turn actual driving duties into a different activity.
Clarify release from work for lessons. “Study in your spare time” may not work with daytime classes. Put work, lessons and travel into one weekly calendar.
Break the plan into stages and responsibilities
| Stage | Details the plan needs |
|---|---|
| Document assessment | Which authority, what evidence, who follows up |
| Training place | Centre name, start date and available place |
| Licensing process | Application, preparation and examination sequence |
| Professional qualification | Required route and evidence of completion |
| Coordination with work | Class days, duties and pay |
| Final documents | Who applies and how issue is tracked |
| Subsequent employment | Role, conditions for starting and written offer |
Mark each row “confirmed”, “request sent” or “not yet selected”. Naming a training centre does not mean a place has been reserved. Flag unconfirmed dates as a main risk in the plan.
Set interim checks as well as a final deadline: has the document list arrived, has the school confirmed a place, and has the examination application been accepted? These checkpoints reveal delays when they arise rather than at the end.
Discuss costs and unsuccessful attempts
List courses, examinations, retests, translations, official fees and travel separately. “The company pays” does not automatically mean no later salary deduction. Clarify cost coverage, advance payments and any repayment conditions.
What happens financially if employment ends or training is delayed? Each repayment clause needs separate assessment for legality and applicability. Do not sign obligations you do not understand; seek independent employment-law advice if needed.
Do not budget the advertised future driving salary as income during qualification. Gross pay, conditional allowances and housing costs may differ between the two periods. Compare living costs with the income confirmed in writing for the relevant period.
Illustrative example: a schedule that looks good but cannot work
In this example, Akmal is offered daytime warehouse work and a course held at the same time. Both appear in the document, but there is no provision for release to attend lessons. He does not leave the problem at “I will somehow manage”.
Akmal asks the employer to clarify the weekly schedule, pay during lessons and transport. Once the school place is confirmed, the plan is updated and checked for time to issue documents. This correction does not guarantee a visa; it removes an internal contradiction.
Questions and answers
Is success within 15 months guaranteed?
No. This concerns conditions that make completion possible and the official time limit. There is no universal guarantee of exam success, authority processing or personal circumstances. Use a realistic, evidence-based schedule.
Can I rely on the extra six months in advance?
No. This option applies to a justified individual case. If a delay becomes likely, discuss it promptly with your employer and the relevant authority rather than waiting for the deadline to expire.
Is a verbal promise from another company sufficient?
Assess the route's conditions against the specific planned employment relationship. A change of employer is more than a change of contact details. Check how contract or employer changes affect your permissions.
Who can help organise the plan?
You can discuss organisational questions with Alman Visum. Even if you use the commercial driver recruitment service LKW Fahrer Direkt, still require a written plan and checks by the responsible authorities. An intermediary's promise is not an official decision.
