How to Apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at a German Consulate in Brazil
This page details how Brazilian citizens can apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany in Brazil. We not only take a look at eligibility for the visa but also detail where, when and how to apply at a German consulate in Brazil.
If you are a Brazilian citizen looking to move to Europe, then the Working Holiday Visa for Germany offers you the perfect opportunity to live in Germany for up to 1 year. As well as getting to experience Germany’s unique culture and language, the Working Holiday Visa will also allow you to pick up work to help fund your stay.
❗ 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 in Brazil.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa at a German consulate in Brazil?
In order to be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany, you must first meet some basic pre-requisites. Notably, you must:
✔️ Be a Brazilian passport holder.
✔️ Be between 18 and 30 years old. You can apply up until the day of your 31st birthday.
✔️ Not be travelling with children.
If you meet these three basic requirements, then you are eligible for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany.
Where can I apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany in Brazil?
To apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany, you need to apply at your local German consulate. To find out which is the local consulate for the area you live in, see here. This will be one of the following:
✔️ German Consulate in Porto Alegre
✔️ German Consulate in Recife
✔️ German Consulate in Rio de Janeiro
✔️ German Consulate in Sao Paolo
How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at your local German consulate in Brazil?
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at a German consulate in Brazil.
2️⃣ Move to Germany. Register at an address, set up a bank account, find a job.
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at a German consulate in Brazil.
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at a German consulate in Brazil
📅 Once you have determined that you are eligible to apply for the visa and identified your local German consulate in Brazil, the next step is to actually apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany.
The first step in this process is to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at your local German consulate. This can be done via the consulates’ appointment booking platforms.
Once booked, the next step is to prepare your application documents and submit them to the German consulate. We have laid out the documentation requirements below.
Essential documents for your Working Holiday Visa application in Brazil
At your appointment, you will be required to submit a number of documents, including:
✅ A valid Brazilian passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months longer than the intended stay, have at least 2 free pages, and not be older than 10 years old.
✅ Two current biometric passport photos
Guidelines recommend a 35 mm x 45 mm frontal shot with neutral facial expression, closed mouth, looking straight into the camera, with a light background.
✅ Two completed visa application forms
✅ Proof of residency in Brazil
This can be a utility bill (e.g. water bill).
✅ Travel/expat insurance
Travel/expat insurance is perhaps the most important aspect of your Working Holiday Visa application.
In short, you need travel/expat insurance that covers you for the full duration of the visa, i.e. valid for a full year from the date you will enter Germany. As a minimum, the policy must also include €30,000 in medical cover and repatriation.
Our favourite choice for this is Feather’s expat health insurance. We like Feather because:
It is widely accepted by German embassies and consulates worldwide.
It meets all the requirements for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany.
It is affordable and provides a good level of coverage.
You can quickly sign up for a Feather policy here.
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.
✅ Proof of funds
To be awarded the Working Holiday Visa, you must show a basic level of savings to show that you can support your life in Germany. For this, you must show proof of funds totalling at least €2400 (€600 per month for the first four months).
These funds must be in a blocked account (escrow account) – the simplest and easiest way to set up a blocked account is online with Fintiba.
✅ Signed motivational letter
This can just be a typed/written signed letter stating your plans for your Working Holiday.
Standard things to include are that you would like to experience German culture, learn the language and work to supplement your stay. You can also include details about where you will be staying after you arrive, etc. There is no set format for this although the letter should be in English or German.
✅ A copy of your CV
This should be in English or German. The consulate requests that you use the Europass format for this.
✅ Return flight ticket to Brazil
Do not book your return flight prior to being approved for the Working Holiday Visa by the German consulate in Brazil.
You can show your flight booking when collecting your Working Holiday Visa. While you can buy a standard return flight, the consulate also accepts proof that you have sufficient funds to purchase a flight back to Brazil at a later date.
When applying, make sure you submit the original documents as well as two copies of each document.
Processing of the Working Holiday Visa at a German consulate in Brazil
🕓 Processing can take up to 6 weeks so we recommend you factor this in when scheduling your appointment at the consulate. Once your visa is processed, you will be notified and invited back to the consulate to collect your visa.
🎉 Congratulations! If you have made it this far, you have successfully applied for the German Working Holiday Visa and can start preparing for your move to Germany from Brazil. For guidance on what you need to do on arrival in Germany, see step 2 below.
How much does the Working Holiday Visa for Germany cost?
💰 The cost is €75 payable in local currency.
When can I apply for the visa at a German consulate in Brazil?
📅 You can apply for the Working Holiday Visa within 90 days of your intended arrival in Germany. You cannot apply before this date.
How many German Working Holiday Visas are granted to Brazilian citizens per year?
⏳ 1000 German Working Holiday Visas are available to Brazilian citizens per year. Before applying, always check with the consulate that the quota has not already been filled for the year.
2️⃣ Move to Germany. Register at an address, set up a bank account, find a job.
Once you have successfully applied for the Working Holiday Visa in step 1 above, you are ready to make the move to Germany. On arrival in Germany, there are a number of key things you should do to ensure you have a smooth relocation.
🏠 Officially register at an address (Anmeldung)
Once you arrive in Germany, it is essential that you officially register at an address in Germany, a process that is known as Anmeldung. Without Anmeldung, you cannot receive your German tax ID (which you need when starting work in Germany) or perform most administrative tasks, such as signing up with an internet or energy supplier.
If you are struggling to find 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.
We have also put together a guide on securing longer-term accommodation in Berlin, which may come in handy.
💰 Set up a German bank account
When starting out on your working holiday, it is important to have easy and (preferably) free access to your funds in Germany. To ensure this, we highly recommend that you set up a German bank account shortly after your arrival.
For Brazilian working holidaymakers in Germany, a Vivid bank account is a great option. The account is 100% free to set up and maintain. When you factor in a free Debit Mastercard and free ATM withdrawals, it is definitely a good choice for your working holiday. For further details about why Vivid might be a good option for you, check out our Vivid review.
If you are also interested in doing lots of travel around the rest of Europe during your working holiday in Germany, then you may also benefit from getting a free borderless account with Wise, formerly TransferWise. Wise’s borderless account allows you to spend money in any currency at a market-leading exchange rate.
For further banking options in Germany, see here.
🧑💼 Find a job in Germany
One of the great benefits of the Working Holiday Visa is that it permits you to pick up work in Germany to help fund your stay. But you will still need to land a job – to get you started, we have put together some free job-hunting resources:
👍 Best board job boards in Germany
👍 Startup jobs, hospitality jobs and teaching jobs in Berlin