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Glossary: Working Holiday Visa
Category: Visa & Residence Permits (Residence permit as a temporary visa according to § 4 para. 1 sentence 2 no. 1 alternative 2 of the Residence Act )
Author: Mirko Vorreuter , LL.B. , Attorney at Law and Specialist Attorney for Immigration Law (License examination via the Federal Official Directory of Lawyers possible)
Image description: The image shows a standardized sample of a Working Holiday Visa issued by a German mission abroad (embassies and consulates general) according to the model of Regulation (EC) No. 1683/95 on a uniform visa format . Regulation (EC) No. 1683/95 on a uniform visa format has been transposed into German law by Section 59 of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) . The visa stamp is printed in Annex D13a of the Residence Ordinance .
Under “Remarks” (or on the supplementary sheet ), the following text must be entered for a Working Holiday Visa: “Holiday work stay. Employment permitted.” The scope of employment permitted must also always be entered under “Remarks” ( § 4a German Residence Act ). It is also generally required to enter as a supplementary provision that employment is only permitted for six months with the same employer . In some cases, further supplementary provisions are entered under “Remarks” at the discretion of the case worker (e.g., conditions for termination in the case of receiving social benefits).
Table of contents
1. What does a Working Holiday Visa look like (picture)?
2. Definition Working Holiday Visa
3. Who needs a Working Holiday Visa?
4. Example: Working Holiday Visa
5. Important information about the Working Holiday Visa
5.1 Duration of Working Holiday Visa
5.2 Extension of Working Holiday Visa
5.3 Costs of the working holiday visa
5.4 Processing time for Working Holiday Visa
5.5 Authority responsible for Working Holiday Visa
6. Rights and opportunities Working Holiday Visa
6.1 Work permit with the Working Holiday Visa
6.2 Studying, school, language course with the Working Holiday Visa
6.3 Family reunification with the Working Holiday Visa
6.4 Travel and stays abroad with the Working Holiday Visa
6.5 Eligible group of persons Working Holiday Visa
7. Requirements for a Working Holiday Visa
8. Required documents for a Working Holiday Visa
9. Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online
10. Advantages of a Working Holiday Visa
11. Permanent residence permit with a Working Holiday Visa
11.1 Path from Working Holiday Visa to Permanent Residence Permit
11.2 Path from Working Holiday Visa to Naturalization
11.3 Next steps Working Holiday Visa
12. Legal basis for the Working Holiday Visa
13. Important laws regarding the Working Holiday Visa
14. Important rulings on the Working Holiday Visa
15. Frequently Asked Questions about the Working Holiday Visa
16. Further information
16.1 Working Holiday Visa in other glossaries
16.2 Related Topics
16.3 Blog posts about the Working Holiday Visa
16.4 Glossary entries for the Working Holiday Visa
16.5 Sources and references for the Working Holiday Visa
Definition Working Holiday Visa
The Working Holiday Visa (also known as the Work and Travel Visa or Youth Mobility Visa ( Canada )) is a temporary residence permit ( visa pursuant to Section 6 Paragraph 3 of the German Residence Act ) for employment in Germany. It authorizes residence, entry, and limited work in Germany. The Working Holiday Visa can generally only be applied for by individuals under 35 years of age living abroad and does not authorize permanent residence in Germany (it is a temporary visa). The Working Holiday Visa is based on international friendship treaties with states that maintain particularly close relations with the Federal Republic of Germany (so-called "Best Friends" states ).
Who needs a Working Holiday Visa?
A Working Holiday Visa is required when a young person from certain countries without German-recognized qualifications wants to work temporarily in Germany (work and travel). The Working Holiday Visa and the Youth Mobility Visa are not intended for long-term stays. The Working Holiday Visa is not widely used in practice, as many third-country nationals can enter Germany with regular work and training visas .
Example: A Korean high school graduate wants to do a year of work and travel in Germany between finishing school and starting university . He applies for a Working Holiday Visa at the German embassy in Seoul.
Important information about the Working Holiday Visa
Duration of Working Holiday Visa
The duration of a Working Holiday Visa depends largely on the specific bilateral agreement that Germany has concluded with the country of which the applicant is a citizen . A validity period of one year is typical. Extending or converting a Working Holiday Visa into a residence permit is generally not possible. A list of the possible durations of all Working Holiday Visas can be found, for example, in the public procedural guidelines for residence in Berlin (VAB) .
Working Holiday Visa Extension
The Working Holiday Visa cannot be extended, as it is designed for a temporary stay.
Cost of a Working Holiday Visa
The fee for a Working Holiday Visa can also vary depending on which bilateral Working Holiday Agreement the applicant falls under and their nationality. Generally, the visa fee of €75 applies to both long-term national D-Visas (§ 45 AufenthV) and Working Holiday Visas. Legal fees, potential court costs , and translation and authentication fees may also apply, depending on the specific case.
Processing time for Working Holiday Visa
Working holiday visas have a relatively short processing time of only a few weeks, as they can usually only be applied for in countries that have very good relations and therefore a very well-equipped embassy or consulate (so-called "best-friend" countries ). The processing time for a working holiday visa is therefore usually only 3-6 weeks.
Competent authority Working Holiday Visa
According to Section 71 Paragraph 2 of the Residence Act, the foreign missions (embassies and consulates) authorized by the Federal Foreign Office are responsible for issuing a Working Holiday Visa .
Rights and opportunities Working Holiday Visa
Work permit Working Holiday
The Working Holiday Visa entitles the holder to the employment for which it is issued. Often, the Working Holiday Visa is granted without a specific employer requirement, but with the stipulation that the same job may be performed for a maximum of six months. This is intended to reflect its nature as holiday employment and prevent it from being misused as a regular work visa.
Studies , school , language course , working holiday
Attending university, school, and language courses is possible with any residence permit, including the Working Holiday Visa. No separate permit is required.
Family reunification Working Holiday
Family reunification for the holder of a Working Holiday Visa is not practically relevant, as the Working Holiday Visa is only a temporary stay.
Travel and stays abroad Working Holiday
Entry to and exit from Germany is possible without problems with the Working Holiday Visa, as long as it is valid .
Eligible group of people for a Working Holiday Visa
All younger nationals of the following nations are eligible for the Working Holiday Visa :
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Hong Kong
Canada (Youth Mobility Agreement)
Republic of Korea (South Korea)
New Zealand
Taiwan
Uruguay
It should be noted, however, that Working Holiday agreements are generally only valid until the age of 30 (with the exception of Canadian citizens, who can apply until age 35). In most cases, it is not possible to apply from within Canada, so the Working Holiday visa must usually be applied for from abroad (exceptions: Australia , Israel , Japan , New Zealand, and, in exceptional cases, South Korea). Furthermore, it should be noted that the Working Holiday visa is generally only issued once and cannot be extended (exception: the Youth Mobility visa for Canadian citizens).
Requirements for a Working Holiday Visa
The requirements for a Working Holiday Visa depend on the specific Working Holiday agreement that the Federal Republic of Germany has concluded with the country of which the applicant is a national. The requirements for a Working Holiday Visa are therefore as follows:
The applicant is a national of a country that has a Working Holiday (or Youth Mobility) agreement with Germany.
The applicant is between 18 and 30 years old (35 years in the case of the Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada and 34 years in the case of New Zealand)
Working Holiday Visas are applied for at the embassy abroad and not at the immigration office in the country of residence (exceptions: Australia , Israel , Japan , Canada , New Zealand)
Discretion is exercised in favor of the foreigner ( Sections 29 Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 5 of the Employment Ordinance are discretionary provisions).
Secure livelihood or financial resources ( § 5 para. 1 no. 1 AufenthG )
Valid passport and verified identity (§ 5 para. 1 no. 1a, no. 3 Residence Act)
No ongoing investigations/no pending criminal proceedings against the applicant (see Section 79 Paragraph 2 of the Residence Act )
No grounds for deportation (no negative AZR/SIS/VIS entries ), no security risk, no criminal record (§ 5 para. 1 no. 2, no. 3 AufenthG) and no entry ban ( § 11 AufenthG )
No specific grounds for refusal (e.g., Section 10 of the Residence Act ) and no grounds for expiry ( Section 51 of the Residence Act ) exist.
According to Section 29 Paragraph 3 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) in conjunction with the respective agreements, taking up holiday employment does not require the approval of the Federal Employment Agency . However, regarding the requirements for a Working Holiday Visa, it should be noted that the Working Holiday agreements may contain some variations. Therefore, it is not a completely standardized visa. For example, the Working Holiday agreement with Hong Kong has a maximum quota of 100 visas, and the Working Holiday agreement with Taiwan has a maximum quota of 200 visas per year.
Required documents for a Working Holiday Visa
The required documents for a Working Holiday Visa always depend on whether the visa is applied for domestically or abroad (usually, it is applied for abroad ) and at which issuing authority the application is submitted. However, there is a general administrative practice according to which the requirements for a Working Holiday Visa can usually be proven with the following documents:
VIDEX application form including instructions according to § 54 AufenthG , fully completed and signed in English or German (applying for the Working Holiday Visa via the foreign portal is usually not possible)
Valid passport (valid for at least 3 months after planned departure from Germany, the passport must have at least 2 blank pages and must have been issued within the previous 10 years)
Proof of financing/securing livelihood in accordance with Section 5 Paragraph 1 No. 1 of the Residence Act : blocked account or bank statements showing corresponding assets.
Proof of accommodation as part of securing one's livelihood in accordance with Section 5 Paragraph 1 No. 1 of the Residence Act: Letter of invitation from a private individual or rental agreement
Plausibility check : Individualized letter of motivation and evidence of the planned employment , if already available (e.g., job offer)
Proof of health and accident insurance in accordance with EU standards (valid for the entire EU area; minimum coverage: €30,000 including repatriation in case of illness or death; valid from the day of entry for the entire stay)
When applying for a visa in a country other than the country of origin: valid residence permit of the respective country.
Other formalities:
Only required if applying through an authorized representative (e.g., a lawyer ): Power of attorney
When applying for a visa in a country other than the country of origin: valid residence permit of the respective country.
Fees for the residence permit
Photograph (passport photo) that complies with the standards of Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 ; see also sample photos of the Federal Foreign Office
Depending on the authority: Data protection declaration/Consent to data processing
If the foreigner's name in the submitted documents differs from the name in the passport: Certificate of name change
These documents represent only the standard case of the necessary documentation. Significant variations may occur depending on the authority, so the documents should always be obtained from the respective authority's website.
Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online
The Working Holiday Visa cannot currently (01/2026) be applied for online via the German Federal Foreign Office's international application portal . To apply for the Working Holiday Visa, the VIDEX form must be completed according to the instructions on the website of the relevant German mission abroad (embassy or consulate) and submitted at the appointment. The online application forms for Working Holiday Visas can be found on the respective embassy websites as follows:
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Argentina
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Australia
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Brazil
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Chile
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Hong Kong
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Israel
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Japan
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from Canada (Youth Mobility Agreement)
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from the Republic of Korea (South Korea)
→ Apply for a Working Holiday Visa online from New Zealand
Advantages of a Working Holiday Visa
Entry, residence and work in Germany are permitted.
The Working Holiday Visa does not require recognized training.
The requirement to provide sufficient means of subsistence is handled and checked relatively generously for the Working Holiday Visa.
Opportunity to gain work experience in Germany and to get to know employers .
An opportunity to learn about German culture and language.
The path from Working Holiday Visa to permanent residence permit
The Working Holiday Visa is not intended for applying for a permanent residence permit , as it is only meant for temporary stays. Therefore, the Working Holiday Visa must first be converted into a residence permit , if possible.
The path from Working Holiday Visa to naturalization
In theory, naturalization is possible with a Working Holiday Visa , since Section 19c Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act and the Employment Ordinance are not excluded in Section 10 Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 Number 3 of the Nationality Act . In practice, however, the Working Holiday Visa is a temporary residence permit, so the authorities will refuse to extend it for a period long enough to allow for naturalization.
Next steps for the Working Holiday Visa
If you wish to apply for a Working Holiday Visa , you should first check whether a corresponding Working Holiday agreement exists between your country and Germany. Not all nationalities can apply for a Working Holiday Visa; this is country-specific. If you have a nationality that qualifies for a Working Holiday Visa, you should consider how you can support yourself financially (e.g., with a blocked account or through holiday work ( employment contract )). If you meet all the requirements for the Working Holiday Visa , you can submit your application to your respective embassy. Our lawyers will be happy to advise you on the specific requirements and assist you with the application process. → Book an appointment
Legal basis for the Working Holiday Visa
The legal basis for a Working Holiday Visa at the national level is Section 19c Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) in conjunction with Section 29 Paragraphs 3 and 5 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) . These provisions refer to the respective international Working Holiday agreements. The legal basis for Working Holiday Visas is therefore as follows:
Bilateral agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel of 25 February 2014
Programme on youth mobility between the Federal Republic of Germany and Canada of 06.04.2017 (“Youth Mobility Agreement”)
Working Holiday Programme between the Federal Republic of Germany and South Korea
Joint Declaration on a Working Holiday Programme between the Federal Republic of Germany and Taiwan of 11 October 2010
Important laws Working Holiday Visa
all Working Holiday agreements between Germany and partner countries
Key rulings on the Working Holiday Visa
There is very little published case law specifically concerning the working holiday visa in Germany. This is mainly because this visa has a special legal status.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Working Holiday Visa
What do you need for a Working Holiday Visa?
To obtain a working holiday visa for Germany, applicants generally need to be between 18 and 30 years old (for Canadians, the age limit is often 35) and hold a specific nationality. Key documents include a valid passport, biometric passport photos, and proof of special international health insurance that is valid for the entire duration of the stay and covers repatriation costs. Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves for the initial period; in 2026, authorities typically required savings of at least €2,400 to €2,500 (approximately €800 per month for the first three months), as well as additional funds for a return flight. A letter of motivation and a CV are also common components of the application.
How much does the Working Holiday Visa cost?
The fee for applying for a national visa (category D) at a German embassy or consulate abroad is a flat rate of €75 in 2026 (standard D visa fee according to the Residence Ordinance). Additional costs include individual expenses for insurance, translations, and possibly consultation fees.
Am I allowed to work in Germany with a Working Holiday Visa?
Yes, the visa allows you to take up employment; however, the main purpose of the stay is officially a holiday and experiencing the culture. Work is merely intended to supplement your travel funds. Therefore, work with a specific employer is usually limited to shorter periods (e.g., 3-6 months) to maintain the character of a "holiday job." Continuous full-time employment throughout the entire year with only one employer often contradicts the principles of working holiday agreements. In such cases, a regular work visa would be the appropriate choice.
Which countries offer Working Holiday Visas?
Germany has working holiday or youth mobility agreements with an exclusive group of partner countries. These currently include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Uruguay. Only citizens of these countries can use this specific program to travel and work in Germany for up to 12 months. For young people from other countries, there are sometimes similar programs such as the Federal Volunteer Service or au pair stays, but no classic working holiday visa.
How often can I apply for a Working Holiday Visa?
Generally, a working holiday visa for Germany can only be applied for once per person in their lifetime. It is a unique opportunity to get to know the country in this way, and an extension beyond 12 months is legally prohibited.
Working Holiday Visa in other glossaries
The Working Holiday Visa can also be found in the following glossaries:
Sources and references for the Working Holiday Visa
( Government resources and literature )
[1] Visa Handbook, Working Holiday Visa, 76th Supplement, Version: 03/2023
[2] Administrative Instructions on Residence in Berlin (VAB), as of 18 February 2025, Working Holiday
[4] Klaus in BeckOK AuslR | BeschV § 29 Rn. 33-37a.1 | 46th Edition | Status: 01.10.2025, 1. Working Holiday Agreements
Last updated: February 20, 2026
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