GermanyWork
Germany working holiday visa
Working Holiday visa (bilateral programmes)
In short
Young people from Germany’s partner countries can spend up to 12 months in Germany and take holiday jobs to fund the trip. Applicants are usually 18 to 30 (18 to 35 for Canadians), can take part only once, and pay the EUR 75 national visa fee.
checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 12 months, once
- Fee
- €75National visa fee, not refunded if the visa is refused or the application withdrawn.
- Funds required
- €442 per monthExample from the Embassy in Buenos Aires: EUR 442 a month for the first three months plus accommodation costs; other missions set their own amount (Zagreb: EUR 2,500 in total).
- Processing time
- Depends on the mission: at least ten working days in Zagreb, at most one month in Buenos Aires.
- Work
- Holiday jobs to supplement travel funds; the holiday must remain the main purpose.
- Family
- No. Dependants may only come with a residence permit of their own.
- Where to apply
- At a German mission; citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan and New Zealand may also apply after arrival at the local foreigners authority.
Partner countries
Germany has working holiday arrangements with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Uruguay. The arrangement with Brazil has been signed but is not yet in force because national implementing measures are still pending. With Canada the programme runs as a Youth Mobility Agreement, which also covers young professionals, interns and students on vacation work.
Who qualifies
You must hold the nationality of a partner country and be 18 to 30 when you apply; Canadians can apply until the day before their 36th birthday. Each person can take part only once, so a previous working holiday visa for Germany rules out a second one. The main purpose of the trip must be a holiday, and you cannot bring dependants who lack their own residence permit. Hong Kong applicants must also live in Hong Kong.
Documents
Besides the documents listed below, health insurance valid in Germany must cover hospital treatment and repatriation with at least EUR 30,000 for the whole stay. Some missions add a CV or a signed instruction sheet on the programme.
Required documents
Identity
- Passport of a partner country, valid for the whole stay, with a biometric photo
- Completed and signed national visa application form
Travel
- Return ticket or funds to buy one
Money
- Proof of funds in your own name, as set by the mission
Insurance
- Health insurance valid in Germany, minimum EUR 30,000 including repatriation
Other
- Motivation letter and recent criminal record certificate
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Other
- Proof of first accommodation, such as a hostel booking or invitation letter
How much money you need
There is no single German figure; each mission sets the amount for its applicants. The Embassy in Buenos Aires asks for EUR 442 a month for the first three months, EUR 1,326 in total, plus accommodation for that period, and a return ticket or EUR 1,000 in your own account. The Embassy in Zagreb asks for a bank balance equivalent to at least EUR 2,500. Funds must be in your own name.
Where and how to apply
Citizens of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay can apply at any German mission that issues visas. Koreans must apply at the Embassy in Seoul, Taiwanese only at the German Institute in Taipei and Hong Kong residents only at the Consulate General in Hong Kong. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan and New Zealand can apply at any mission or, after arriving, at the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) where they live. You attend in person, pay EUR 75 and give fingerprints; there is no legal entitlement to the visa.
- Check that your nationality is a partner country with an arrangement in force and that you are within the age limit.
- Read the information sheet of the German mission responsible for you, which sets the documents and the amount of funds.
- Book an appointment or join the mission’s waiting list; booking is free of charge.
- Attend in person with all documents, pay the EUR 75 fee and give fingerprints.
- If your nationality allows it, you may instead apply after arrival at the foreigners authority, without working until the permit is issued.
After arrival in Germany
If you apply in Germany, first register your address at the registration office (Meldebehörde) with the landlord’s confirmation, then book the foreigners authority; you may not work until the permit is issued. Canadians who apply to Toronto by post receive a visa for the first 90 days only and must ask the foreigners authority for the extension after arrival, which costs an extra fee.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take part twice?
No. A working holiday stay in Germany is granted only once.
Is there an age limit?
18 to 30 at the time of application; Canadians can apply up to their 36th birthday.
Is the programme with Brazil open?
Not yet. The arrangement is signed but awaits national implementing measures.
Official sources
- Federal Foreign Office (German Embassy Zagreb) – Working Holiday Programme
- Federal Foreign Office (German Embassy Buenos Aires) – Working Holiday programme
- Federal Foreign Office (German missions in Brazil) – Working Holiday visa
- German Missions in Canada – Youth Mobility and Working Holiday Visa Program
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Germany
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Validity: Up to three years.
Study and training
- Student visa Validity: The visa is usually issued for several months; the residence permit in Germany is normally granted for two years at a time, at least one year, and renewed while studies progress.
- Language course visa Validity: For the length of the course.
- Researcher visa Validity: At least one year, or the length of the research project if shorter.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Up to six months for the EU internship permit
- Au pair visa Maximum stay: Six to twelve months
Work
- Work visa Processing time: Appointment waiting times depend on the mission; after submission the Federal Employment Agency approval adds a few weeks. The accelerated skilled-worker procedure shortens this.
- Skilled worker visa Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the employment contract plus three months if shorter.
- EU Blue Card Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the contract plus three months.
- Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to one year; a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years is possible for a qualified job that does not yet meet another permit.
- Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Length of the transfer, at most three years (one year for trainees).
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Visa for entry; the residence permit is then issued in line with the sponsor's permit.
- Spouse and partner visa Processing time: Same appointment system and waiting times as other family reunification visas at the mission responsible for you.
Residence
- Permanent residence Validity: Unlimited.
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Recognition authority: decision within two months; Federal Employment Agency: one week; mission: appointment within three weeks and decision usually within three weeks of a complete application.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Processing time: Regular procedure: six months from the application; accelerated procedure: at most three months; border procedure: at most twelve weeks.