Increase of the Age Limit for Bafög to Finance Vocational Training (Berufsausbildung) in Germany 2025

The age limit for funding through Bafög is generally set at 30 years. However, in certain exceptional cases, the age limit can be raised, allowing funding even after the age of 30. One such exceptional case is caring for one's own children, where the age limit for starting vocational training is increased. This regulation is intended to enable parents to receive financial support despite a later start in their vocational training.

Reason for Increasing the Age Limit Caring for relatives represents a time-intensive and burdensome task for many individuals, often resulting in the postponement of professional plans or Vocational Training (Ausbildung). To take this special life situation into account, the Bafög law provides for an increase in the age limit, allowing caregivers to receive support even […]

An increase in the age limit for BAföG can be granted if the applicant was unable to start vocational training (Ausbildung) before reaching the age of 30 due to illness. This regulation takes into account that severe or long-lasting illnesses can delay the initiation of vocational training. The Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) offers the possibility to increase the age limit to 35 years in such cases, allowing affected individuals access to funding.

The age limit for receiving Bafög is generally set at 30 years. In certain exceptional cases, this age limit is raised to support individuals who, due to special commitments, could only begin their vocational training (Ausbildung) later. One such exception is the completion of a voluntary service. The Federal Training Assistance Act (Bafög) recognizes certain voluntary activities as grounds for raising the age limit, honoring the social engagement of volunteers.