For candidates whose Philippine training does not pass the two-year test — and for employers who want to grow their own skilled workers — the vocational-training visa is the route: B1 German, a signed Ausbildungsvertrag, and three years to a German qualification.
Germany's training system is the reason its trades are good, and the reason foreign short-course certificates do not translate. Recruiting apprentices resolves both: a Filipino candidate with secondary education, an NC II and B1 German starts a German Ausbildung, is paid the training wage, and finishes with a German qualification that needs no recognition. Employers in nursing, SHK, electrical, hospitality and logistics use it to build a pipeline rather than fill one vacancy.
Prime Search sources candidates with secondary education, an NC II in the trade and motivation for three years of training; German to B1 in Manila with partner schools; aptitude tests you watch live; your interviews; MWO Berlin accreditation and the Philippine exit chain run in parallel with the visa. Cohorts of five to twenty per employer are typical. Everything here is subject to applicable German recognition, immigration, licensing and labour-law requirements.
Yes — § 16a has no upper age limit; the age cap of 25 applies to the training-place search visa (§ 17).
Yes — the three-year Pflegefachfrau/-mann training is school-based with practical placements and is covered by § 16a; B1 German is required.
Nine to twelve months, driven by German to B1; the visa itself takes weeks once the certificate exists.
General information for employers, not legal or migration advice. Rules change; we re-verify before each hire.