What You Need to Know About the German Working Holiday/Youth Mobility Visa

The German Working Holiday Visa is a great way to travel and experience a different culture while earning money to support your time abroad. Below, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the visa.

 
German Working Holiday Visa
 

❗ Note: We endeavour to keep our visa information up to date. However, before applying, we recommend always cross-referencing our information with the official application information from the German embassy, consulate or immigration office where you will be applying for the visa.

The German Working Holiday Visa offers you a wonderful opportunity to live in Germany and experience the country’s unique culture, while also providing you with the opportunity to pick up jobs to help fund your working holiday.

In the past six years, our free guides have helped a large number of people successfully apply for the German Working Holiday Visa. In addition, we have been in regular contact with German embassies, the immigration office in Berlin and immigration lawyers, and have collated some of our findings in the FAQs laid out below.

Can I apply for the Working Holiday/Youth Mobility Visa?

You can apply for a Working Holiday Visa for Germany if you are between the ages of 18 – 30 (35 for Canada) and from one of the following countries:

  • Hong Kong

  • Israel

  • Argentina

  • South Korea

  • Brazil

  • Chile

  • Canada

  • Australia

  • Uruguay

  • New Zealand

  • Japan

  • Taiwan


You are eligible to apply for the visa right up until your 31st birthday. For Canadians, your Working Holiday Visa is called the Youth Mobility Visa and you are eligible if you are between 18 and 35, and you can apply right up until your 36th birthday.

Where can I apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany?

For a comprehensive overview of exactly where you can apply for the Working Holiday for Germany, see here.

Here is a quick breakdown of where you are permitted to apply for the German Working Holiday Visa based on your nationality:

What documents are required for the German Working Holiday Visa?

The application process varies for different countries and depending on where you apply, and German embassies, consulates and immigration offices request different application documents.

However, there are some requirements that are consistent no matter where you apply:

  • Travel/expat insurance for the full duration of the German Working Holiday Visa (see our verified suggestion below).

  • Proof of funds to show that you can afford your first few months in Germany (this ranges from €1200 – €4000 depending on where you are applying).

  • Visa application forms.

  • A valid passport and biometric passport photos.

Some embassies or consulates will request additional documents, which may include:

  • A signed, motivational letter

  • Proof of accommodation in Germany

  • Flight booking or flight itinerary

  • CV

We have collated our knowledge and experience in a series of visa application guides that have helped hundreds of applicants apply for their Working Holiday Visa for Germany:

What insurance do I need to be approved for the German Working Holiday Visa?

In order to be approved for a Working Holiday Visa for Germany, it is essential that you have suitable travel/expat insurance that is valid for the full duration of the 1-year visa and covers at least €30,000 in medical expenses and repatriation. Without it, your application will be rejected.

For this, our favourite option is Feather’s expat health insurance policy.

We like Feather’s policy because:

  • It is widely accepted by German embassies/consulates worldwide as well as the immigration office in Berlin.

  • It meets all the requirements and coverage levels for the German Working Holiday Visa.

  • It is affordable yet offers suitable coverage in the event that it needs to be used.

Note: While Feather is widely accepted for this purpose, always check the specific insurance requirements with the German embassy or consulate before taking out and paying for an insurance policy.

What is the address registration requirement if applying in Germany?

If you are planning to apply for your Working Holiday Visa at an immigration office after arriving in Germany, you will need to first officially register at an address in Germany, a process that is known as Anmeldung.

In short, you cannot apply for any visa at an immigration office in Germany without first registering at an address.

To register an address, you must find an official place to live and the landlord must sign a form (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) confirming that you live there, after which you must attend an address registration appointment at a local Bürgeramt (town hall). For full details about how to register your address in Berlin, see our Anmeldung page.

As well as being an essential prerequisite for securing the Working Holiday Visa in Germany, address registration is also required to get a tax ID, set up a phone contract and complete most administrative tasks in Germany. Therefore not completing this step quickly can cause you delays to your relocation and unnecessary stress.

If you need to quickly register at an address in Berlin, then you may be interested in booking a furnished apartment with Smartments. Smartments provide well-located, studio accommodation and offer Anmeldung so long as you book for at least 14 nights. By opting for Smartments, you can get registered within days of arriving in Berlin.

How much do I need in savings to be approved for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany

To apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany, you need to show proof of funds to demonstrate that you can afford your first few months of work and travel in Germany. You do not need to show the amounts given below in euros, but you must show that you have the equivalent savings in your local currency.

The minimum savings amount varies from country to country and depending on where you are applying:

To demonstrate that you have the necessary savings for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany, always bring a recent full bank statement issued by your bank to your visa appointment showing your name, the date and balance. You can bring bank statements for multiple different accounts to show that you have sufficient funds for the visa. You cannot use a credit card statement for this, it must be a bank statement.

Best bank for your working holiday in Germany

When arriving on your working holiday in Germany, it is important that you have easy and (preferably) free access to your money. There is nothing worse than being stung by ATM fees, crummy exchange rates and foreign transaction fees – using your regular bank card from your home country will almost certainly lead to you needlessly squandering money at the start of your year abroad.

To combat this, a good idea is to sign up for a free Wise borderless account (formerly TransferWise) before you depart for Germany. Having a Wise card means you can benefit from extremely low fees when transferring your money to euros, withdrawing cash or making payments on your Wise Debit Card in Germany. This is a great temporary measure prior to getting set up with a German bank account and will work out far cheaper than initially using your home bank card in Germany.

Once actually living in Germany, you can then switch to a German bank account and continue using your Wise card for travelling. With regards to German bank accounts, we like N26, Vivid and bunq. For a more thorough rundown of your best banking options in Germany, see our reviews:

How far in advance can I apply for the Working Holiday Visa?

In general, you can apply for the Working Holiday Visa within 90 days of your intended arrival date if you plan on applying at a German embassy or consulate before arriving in Germany.

To apply at the immigration office in Berlin, you first need to have a registered address (Anmeldung) in the city – if you need to quickly register at an address in Berlin before applying for your visa, then you may be interested in booking a furnished apartment with Smartments. Smartments provide well-located, studio accommodation and offer Anmeldung so long as you book for at least 14 nights. By opting for Smartments, you can get registered within days of arriving in Berlin.

How much does the Working Holiday Visa for Germany cost?

The Working Holiday Visa costs €100 if applying at the immigration office in Berlin.

If applying at a German consulate or embassy overseas, the cost varies but is between €56 and €100 and is payable in local currency.

When I start working in Germany, do I need to apply for German insurance even if I already have travel insurance?

Yes. It is a catch 22 unfortunately. You need travel/expat insurance (see our suggestion above) to apply for the Working Holiday Visa, but to start working for a company in Germany, you must have German public health insurance instead of travel insurance. It is compulsory in Germany to be covered by German health insurance if you are working for an employer. We have gone into more detail on this in our German health insurance guide.

Will I find a job in Berlin if I do not speak German?

The majority of people who move to Berlin on a Working Holiday Visa find work in the German capital. Berlin is a very international city with many opportunities for young people and English-speaking jobs are on the rise. The city has a thriving start-up scene and roughly 50% of all employees at start-up companies in Berlin are international employees. When combined with a booming tourism and hospitality sector, employers are increasingly looking for English-speakers to service their international customers.

To help you with your job hunt, we have put together a range of resources for finding working in Berlin:

Being invited to interviews in Germany is heavily dependent on the quality of your CV. If you feel your CV needs some improvement or you want detailed guidance on how to create a German-style CV, then you may be interested in our CV tips listed here.

Is there a chance my Working Holiday Visa will be declined?

There are a number of reasons why your Working Holiday Visa for Germany may be rejected:

  1. Unsuitable travel/expat insurance for the visa

    Opting for a mega-cheap insurance policy with insufficient coverage will heighten the chances of your visa being declined. To combat this, our favourite option is Feather expat health insurance as it is widely accepted by German embassies/consulates worldwide as well as at the immigration office in Berlin.

    When it comes to insurance, it is always best to have a policy that not only meets the requirements for the visa, but that will also hold up in the event of illness or an accident while you are living in Germany.

    Note: Always check the specific insurance requirements with the German embassy or consulate before taking out and paying for an insurance policy.

  2. Incorrect paperwork completion

    Not completing visa paperwork correctly or providing insufficient documentation can be a reason for your visa being declined. To ensure that you know exactly what to submit at your visa appointment, see our free visa guides, which provide a comprehensive overview of the documentation requirements and application process.

  3. Not having a registered address in Berlin

    If you are planning on applying for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin, this will only be possible if you have first officially registered at an address in Berlin, a process that is known as Anmeldung.

    If you need an address to register at in Berlin, then you may be interested in booking a furnished apartment with Smartments. Smartments provide well-located, studio accommodation and offer Anmeldung so long as you book for at least 14 nights. By opting for Smartments, you can get registered within days of arriving in Berlin. This will help ensure you meet the requirements for applying for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin.

Can I study on a Working Holiday Visa?

You can study German at a language school, but if you wish to enrol in a German university, you should switch to a German Student Visa. If you are living in Berlin on a Working Holiday Visa, you can usually switch to a Student Visa at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) and are not required to return to your home country to lodge your application.

You may study or complete training for 6 months on a Working Holiday Visa.

Can I stay in Germany after my working holiday?

If you wish to continue living in Berlin when your Working Holiday Visa expires, it is possible to then apply for a further visa at the immigration office in Berlin. Some of the popular options include:

Can I travel before my Working Holiday in Germany?

Yes, but this might use up time on your German Working Holiday Visa as your visa will have a start date if you applied at a German consulate or embassy.

If applying for your Working Holiday Visa after your arrival in Berlin, take note of how much time you have already spent travelling in the Schengen Zone and ensure that you have sufficient time left in your 90-day visa-free period to apply for the Working Holiday Visa in Germany.

Can I book an inbound flight to somewhere else in Europe?

Yes. You can fly to another Schengen country and travel for up to 90-days visa-free in the Schengen Zone before your move to Germany.

If you are applying for the visa after you enter Germany, it is no problem to travel around Europe before you arrive, just always ensure you have enough time left on your 90-day visa-free period to register your address and apply for the visa at the immigration office in Berlin.

If you are flying to a non-Schengen country (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), you must present an onward flight to Germany.

If applying for the Working Holiday Visa at a German consulate or embassy before arriving in Germany, travelling before you enter Germany may eat into your Working Holiday Visa time as you may be asked to put your visa start date from the day you enter Europe, this depends on the embassy/consulate though.

Do I need to do anything when I enter Germany?

No. Customs will look at your passport and Working Holiday Visa, that is it.

If you are eligible to apply for the Working Holiday Visa after you arrive in Berlin, customs will just look at your passport.

Am I allowed to enter Germany on a one-way flight?

Yes. Customs officers in Germany know that citizens of Canada, Japan, Israel, New Zealand and Australia can apply for the visa after entering Germany. If they ask you what the purpose of your visit is, you can say you will be applying for a Working Holiday Visa.

If you apply for the visa at a German consulate or embassy before entering Germany, you can also arrive on a one-way flight.

If you hold a Working Holiday Visa, do you also need to apply for a residence permit?

No. A Working Holiday Visa is a type of residence permit and entitles you to stay in Germany for the duration of the visa.

Can I apply for the Youth Mobility Visa (Canada) after I arrive in Germany?

Yes, as of 2017 it is now possible to apply for the Youth Mobility Visa after arriving in Germany.

Can I apply for the Youth Mobility Visa (Canada) twice and how do I do this?

Yes. You can apply for the Youth Mobility Visa twice under different categories. You can also apply for the second year directly in Germany.

The categories are:

a) Young professionals who wish to obtain further training under a contract of employment and increase their knowledge of Germany’s language, culture and society.

b) Young citizens who wish to do a work placement in a business in Germany as part of their studies or training.

c) Canadian post-secondary students who wish to engage in an occupational activity during their academic vacation.

d) Young citizens who wish to stay in Germany for tourism and cultural discovery purposes while being authorized to work to supplement their financial resources.

This post is written based on our experiences with Working Holiday Visas. Our visa guides have helped a large number of people successfully apply for Working Holiday Visas in Germany and abroad and we are in regular communication with local embassies as well as the immigration office in Berlin.

As rules and regulations are constantly changing, we will endeavour to update this post as regulations change. Due to the frequent changes, even immigration office staff are not always kept up to date. Before applying, always double-check the official application information from the embassy, consulate or immigration office where you will be applying.

For extensive information and tips about moving to Berlin, check out our relocation guides and resources on our homepage.

Lana Zee