Work and Holiday Visa in Germany: What it is, how to apply and everything you need to know

Querés travelling to Germany with a 1-year visa and work legally during your stay?
You don't know what is the Work and Holiday Visa, how to fill in the VIDEX form, what kind of health insurance you need o what are the requirements to apply?

The Work and Holiday Visa Germany is one of the most sought-after options for those who want to live in Europe without the need for a previous work contract or European passport. However, the process often raises many questions: what documentation is required, how much money do I need, what insurance is valid, where it is applied, how long does it take, y whether it is possible to apply from Germany.

In this guide we explain everything you need to know about Work and Holiday in Germany, step-by-step, with clear requirements, practical advice, that you can use for sure, a complete checklist and a model letter of motivation so that you can prepare your application without errors.

Table of contents

1. What is the Work and Holiday Visa in Germany?

The Work and Holiday Visa (also called Working Holiday Visa o Working Holiday Visa) is a special authorisation that allows young people from certain countries to travelling, living and working temporarily in Germany for a period of up to 12 months. The main objective is to promote the cultural exchange and international experience, combining tourism with the possibility of working to finance the stay.

With this visa you can:
✅ Viajar por Alemania y explorar sus ciudades, cultura e historia.
✅ Travel within the Schengen Area (as a tourist) for a maximum of 90 days without the need for another visa, in compliance with the Schengen rules.
✅ Trabajar para apoyar tus gastos durante el viaje.
✅ Estudiar o tomar cursos cortos mientras estás allí.
✅ Mientras tengas la visa vigente, pueden entrar y salir cuantas veces quieran de Alemania.
👉 En general, el propósito principal debe ser holidaying and getting to know the country, and labour is complementary.

2. Who can apply?

Currently, eligible countries include:
Argentina - Australia - Brazil - Chile - Hong Kong - Israel - Japan - Rep. of Korea - New Zealand - Taiwan - Uruguay

General requirements

The most important basic requirements are:
🔹 Have between 18 and 30 years old (up to 35 if you are Canadian).
🔹 Possess a valid passport of the eligible country.
🔹 No previous participation in the Working Holiday programme in Germany.
🔹 Not being accompanied by dependent family members.
🔹 Apply no more than 6 months before departure (for Argentinians) and no more than 3 months before departure (for Chileans and Uruguayans).

In the following section we share with you the step-by-step instructions on how to apply and all the requirements well explained.

3. Application requirements and documentation

However, the specific requirements may vary depending on the embassy or country of application, the documents you will commonly be asked to provide are:

  • Valid passport (with at least 2 free pages) together with a copy.
  • Completed and signed application form (VIDEX) and declaration of conformity. You can download them here -> application form and the declaration of conformity. Soon we will share with you the step by step instructions on how to fill out the VIDEX form!
  • Recent biometric photographs (size 3.5 x 4.5 cm)
  • Medical insurance valid in Germany for the entire stay with 30,000 EU coverage and Health Repatriation -> We help you to choose and quote a travel insurance depending on the embassy where you apply that fulfils all the necessary requirements.

👉Write to us without obligation here, we can offer you exclusive discounts.👈 (our help is free of charge)

  • Proof of sufficient funds to cover your first months (approx. €1200-€2500) + return ticket, by means of bank statements.
    • To see the amount, we recommend that you go directly to the page of the embassy where you are going to apply to see the requirements (below is the link to each one).
    • To be presented by means of CBU or bank statement - NO cash accepted - 
  • Personal motivation letter. 👉Sample Motivation Letter Germany👈
    • Remember that it must be personal and adapted to your personal situation (do not copy exactly the example we leave you).
    • They should state why they want to travel to Germany and indicate that the main reason is to go on holiday and to get to know the country.
    • We also recommend submitting it in German + English or Spanish (depending on where you apply).
  • Curriculum Vitae.
    • As well as the letter of motivation, we recommend that you submit it in German + English or Spanish (depending on where they apply).
    • Use European models such as the Europass format 👉Sample CV in English👈 (para la version en Aleman o ingles, simplemente copien y peguen su versión + el idioma en Chatgpt y lo tendrán traducido)
    • Avoid leaving gaps in your CV. If you did not work in any year, give details of the reason.
  • Airline tickets or proof of funds to purchase the return.
    • One-way ticket. -> We recommend that you do not apply with a reservation, but with a paid ticket from your home country and that the final destination is Germany. 
    • Return ticket. -> To their country of origin or they can also submit funds (approx. additional EUR 1,000)
  • Criminal record certificate from the country where you are residing at the time of application (required according to nationality and embassy where you are applying).
  • Proof of initial accommodation. It can be submitted in several ways:
    • Paid reservation of accommodation (hotel) for 3 months, or,
    • Approx. additional 1200 EUR (depending on embassy), or,
    • Letter of invitation from a resident (also include the person's passport and residence registration-anmeldung-) 👉Sample Invitation Letter👈
      • ⚠️ Tengan en cuenta que algunas embajadas NO aceptan carta de invitacion de otra persona que tenga Work and holiday visa. 
  • Payment of the visa fee (usually around €75, although it may vary depending on the consulate).
    • To be paid directly at the Consulate (Varies according to the consulate, so we recommend that you check where you apply).


ImportantThe requirements vary depending on the embassy where you are applying, so we recommend that you check the embassy's website. At the end of the article you will find the link to each embassy so that you can see it easily. 

4. Step by step: How to apply for a Work and Holiday Visa Germany

  1. Choose where to applyYou can see the embassies and their requirements in the next point. 
  2. Make an appointment: Appointments can take weeks or months, so it is advisable to book well in advance.
  3. Complete the VIDEX formonline, print it out and sign it.
    It is important to check the data carefully, as errors or incomplete fields can delay the process.
  4. Prepare the application folderGather all the requested documentation and arrange it in a clear way. Although it is not always requested, it is advisable to bring printed copies of everything.
  5. Attend the appointment:

    • You present the documentation

    • You submit the VIDEX form

    • You answer basic questions about your trip

    • You pay the consular fee

    In most cases, the interview is short and simple.

  6. Wait for a decision: the response time varies depending on the country, the city and the workload of the migration authority.
  7. Retirar la visa: felicitaciones ya tenes la visa aprobada y listo para viajar a Alemania 🇩🇪 – Les dejamos preguntas y respuestas frecuentes al final de este articulo- 

5. Link to embassies (with requirements and where to make an appointment)

Appointments are released at all embassies at 00.00 (German time).
If you are in Argentina for example it would be at 20.00. 

6. Questions and Answers

How do I apply from a European embassy if I don't have a visa?

In that case, they can travel as tourists.
For this they need:

  • Passport: Valid for the entire journey and up to 3 months after your departure, with blank pages and not issued more than 10 years ago.
  • ETIAS (Coming soon, not yet required): For citizens of visa exempt countries, valid for 3 years.
  • Air ticket: Prove your departure (round trip) in less than 90 days (You can use a cancellable reservation).
  • Accommodation: Confirmed hotel reservation or letter of invitation from a resident.
  • Funds: Sufficient for your stay (approx. €100/day, varies by country).
  • Travel insurance: Recommended (and sometimes compulsory) with minimum coverage for the Schengen area (e.g. €30,000). Quote your travel insurance here:

How do I get insurance if I want to enter as a tourist and apply from a European embassy?

In this case, we recommend that you take out travel insurance for a short stay to present at immigration when you enter as a tourist (for example 1 month) and then when you are in Europe, take out insurance for 1 year from the date you have your appointment at the embassy. 

Can I work in a country other than Germany?

No, with the work and holiday visa Germany, you are only allowed to work in Germany.

I already have my visa and I am about to arrive in Germany. What are the first steps?

Here is a complete guide to the first steps to take upon arrival. Whether you are already in Germany or about to arrive. 

Guide: What do I need to start working in Germany? 

In addition, if you have any specific questions, ->Write to us without obligation here, we can help you with all your queries<- (our help is free of charge)

Do you have any questions? --> Write to us!

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