Ausbildung in Germany

These are exactly the kinds of things the specific Ausbildung program organizers should be able to tell you - and nobody else. You need to apply and find out the details. A bit unusual that one would get a bachelor and then become a goldsmith since a bachelor is a higher level of education. But I can imagine one doing a degree in fine arts and expanding their knowledge with such a training. But no idea what "pass for matric" should mean? No such word in English.

Thank you I will find out more and talk to the goldsmith whom I will be doing the Ausbildung through. Bachelor degree pass in South Africa is the the equivalent of a Abitur in Germany and "Matric" is the 12th and final year in school in South Africa. Thanks again for the help!

Knowledge of German is not required for the visa, but it may well be for the practical apprenticeship - and very certainly for the theoretical classes at the Berufsschule, where all lessons (and exams) are held in German.
As Tom said, ask the organiser of the programme you want to attend!

Okay, yes. Well I think it is a good thing to learn the language as I want to move and live there and hopefully become a citizen and i am sure it will help a lot with the Ausbildung. Thanks you very much for the help and hopefully soon I will have some answers from the programme. Ich hoffe, Sie haben einen tollen Abend!

I'd be surprised if a goldsmith knew anything about visa sponsorship and I'd be even more surprised if a state vocational school would either.

Have a look here - you need B1 for the visa but B2 is generally accepted (among the experts of the employment authority, for instance) as being the level one needs to successfully get through the theoretical part of an apprenticeship:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/v … a/training

ALKB wrote:

I'd be surprised if a goldsmith knew anything about visa sponsorship and I'd be even more surprised if a state vocational school would either.


https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/v … a/training

On the contrary, if an Ausbildung (vocational training) is being offered to a foreign person to come to Germany on this basis then the school or training center will have to deal with visa sponsorship - just like an employer would. One can not manage it alone without their cooperation. They have to decide on acceptance and give documentation for the person to apply for the visa, but they don't apply for the person directly of course. Seems to be a confusion about what the word "sponsorship" would entail.

A state Berufsschule, which OP would attend, will of course provide all the usual enrollment papers but they don't get involved with immigration rules. This would not be a private, school-based training program, but a classic apprenticeship in the dual system. The schools simply accept applicants who have secured an Ausbildungsvertrag that falls into their catchment area, the employer (Ausbildungsbetrieb) takes care of the enrollment process. The employer also has to deal with the employment authority and provide documents for the visa process but unless this particular goldsmith has had international apprentices before, he won't be an expert in visa application procedures.

I have worked in an HR department that also dealt with apprentices - although never any who did not already live in Germany with work authorization - and in my experience, state school administration tends to be very clear on what falls into their jurisdiction and what does not and will refuse to even talk about anything they feel is not part of their job.

ALKB wrote:

The employer also has to deal with the employment authority and provide documents for the visa process but unless this particular goldsmith has had international apprentices before, he won't be an expert in visa application procedures.

I doubt anyone can successfully apply for an Ausbildung as a non-resident foreigner unless the people offering the program are able to file out the necessary papers. Thus they would not even accept such an application unless prepared to complete the steps.

I have found that a lot of employers are absolutely clueless about visa requirements. I have heard so many times that employers simply tell the applicant to deal with it all. (And in one memorable case, demanding that an Indian candidate stop stalling and come to Germany right now because several weeks processing time for an employment visa is ridiculous and just can't be right!)

I'd think even more so when it comes to apprentices, since until very recently, there was a huge shortage of apprentice places and nobody would have dreamed of considering someone from outside of Germany.

Now that many apprentice places go unfilled every year, especially in the classic trades and hospitality, this is slowly changing, but also a huge adjustment for employers.

There's a reason why that Saxon hotel owner who was on TV for hiring apprentices from Malaysia, now runs an employment agency for apprentices, the rules are just very much outside the experience of an average company who offers apprenticships.