Argentina: How to Apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the Embassy in Buenos Aires (Embajada Alemana en Argentina)
This page is for Argentinian citizens looking to apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany. Specifically, this page will look how to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Buenos Aires (Embajada Alemana en Argentina).
As an Argentinian citizen, the German Working Holiday Visa provides you with the opportunity to live in Germany for up to 1 year. The visa not only provides you with the perfect base for exploring Germany but also a launchpad for seeing the rest of Europe.
Citizens of Argentina are permitted to live in Germany for one year on a Working Holiday Visa whilst picking up work to help fund their stay.
As well as applying at the immigration office in Buenos Aires, you can also apply at any other German embassy or consulate abroad that processes Working Holiday Visas. You cannot apply after your arrival in Germany.
❗ 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 Argentina.
Who can apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the Embassy in Buenos Aires (Embajada Alemana en Argentina)?
You are eligible to apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany at the Embassy in Buenos Aires if:
✔️ You are an Argentinian passport holder
✔️ You are between the ages of 18 and 30. You can apply right up until the day of your 31st birthday
✔️ You are not travelling to Germany with dependents (i.e. children)
How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany at the German Embassy in Argentina (Embajada Alemana en Argentina)?
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Argentina
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 the German Embassy in Argentina
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the German Embassy in Argentina
📅 First up, you need to secure an appointment at the Germany Embassy in Buenos Aires. This can be secured via the booking platform on their website.
Note: the German Embassy in Buenos Aires only release 22 appointments per week and these are quickly snapped up by applicants. If there are no appointment available, you need to keep checking back until the next batch of 22 appointments are released the following week.
Once you have booked your appointment, you then need to go to the German Embassy in Buenos Aires at the time and date listed on your appointment confirmation. The embassy is located at:
Villanueva 1055,
C1426BMC Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Essential documents for the German Working Holiday Visa application in Argentina
At your appointment you will be required to submit a number of documents, which we have outlined in detail below:
✅ A valid passport and Argentine ID document
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 and declarations of conformity
✅ Travel/expat insurance
Travel/expat insurance must be for a full year. The policy must cover you for the full period of your visa from the date you will enter Germany and provide a minimum of €30,000 medical coverage with repatriation included.
For this, our favourite option is Feather’s expat health insurance. We like Feather because:
It is widely accepted by German embassies and consulates worldwide.
It meets all the regulatory requirements required for the German Working Holiday Visa.
It offers suitable coverage and great English-speaking customer support.
You must bring a copy of the policy confirmation and your policy documents with you to the appointment. Follow the link to quickly sign up for a Feather policy.
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
You must show proof of funds totalling at least €1200. This must be shown on a formal bank statement from your bank with your name clearly displayed on it. Your bank statement should show that you have had at least €1200 in your account for the previous three months.
On top of this, you must show that you have additional funds to cover accommodation costs in Germany for three months.
If you have already booked accommodation in Germany for at least a three-month period when applying for the Working Holiday Visa, then a booking confirmation and confirmation of payment is a sufficient substitute to having the additional funds for accommodation in your account.
✅ Accommodation reservation
This can be for any length of time. It can be a hostel or hotel booking confirmation or a letter from a relative/friend you will be staying with along with a copy of their passport and proof of their residence in Germany.
Note: if you do not book 3 months of accommodation in advance, and show confirmation that you have paid for this at your visa appointment, then you must show that you have additional proof of funds to cover at least 3 months of accommodation.
✅ 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.
✅ Flight booking to Germany
Only book this once you have booked your visa appointment. If you only book a one-way flight, you must show an additional €1000 in proof of funds.
✅ A copy of your CV
✅ Information about the planned stay
This could be an employment contract (if available but definitely not mandatory), proof of accommodation, etc.
✅ Certificate of good conduct
How much does the Working Holiday Visa for Germany cost if applying at the German Embassy in Buenos Aires?
💰 The Working Holiday Visa costs €75 and is payable in local currency.
How long does it take the German Embassy in Buenos Aires to process your Working Holiday Visa for Germany?
🕓 The processing time is generally very quick at the Germany Embassy in Buenos Aires although it can take up to 1 month.
Once your German Working Holiday Visa application has been processed, you will be notified and invited to collect the visa at the German Embassy in Buenos Aires.
🎉 Congratulations! At this stage, you will have successfully applied for the German Working Holiday Visa and can start preparing for your move to Germany.
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 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.
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 Argentinian working holidaymakers in Germany, an N26 bank account is a great option. The sign-up process is simple and the account is completely free to open and maintain. When you factor in a free Debit Mastercard and free ATM withdrawals, it definitely is a good choice for your working holiday. For more information, see our N26 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.
🧑💼 Find a job in Germany
One of the great benefits of the Working Holiday Visa is that it permits you to 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
Frequently asked questions about applying for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Argentina
✅ Can I apply at the German Embassy in Buenos Aires without an appointment?
No. You must have an appointment scheduled at the German Embassy in Buenos Aires in order to apply for the Working Holiday Visa.
✅ Is there a quota on the number of Argentinian citizens that can do a German working holiday?
No. There is no limit to the number of German Working Holiday Visas awarded to Argentinian citizens.
✅ As an Argentinian citizen, do I have to apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany in Argentina?
No, you can also apply at any German embassy or consulate in the world that processes Working Holiday Visas for Germany.
✅ Can I apply for the German Working Holiday Visa in Germany?
No. Argentinian citizens must apply for their Working Holiday Visa prior to their arrival in Germany.
✅ Once I receive my Working Holiday Visa for Germany, when can I actually enter Germany?
Your Working Holiday Visa start date is listed on the visa. This should coincide with your travel/expat insurance start date and inbound flight to Germany.
✅ When my Working Holiday Visa expires, can I stay in Germany for 90 days as a tourist?
Yes. However, you must first leave the Schengen area and then re-enter in order to get an entry stamp in your passport showing that you are a tourist.
✅ Can I move with family on the Working Holiday Visa for Germany?
No. You cannot move with family members unless they have their own visas that permit them to reside in Germany.
✅ Can I study on the Working Holiday Visa for Germany?
Yes, although this is not the primary purpose of the visa. As an Argentinian citizen, you can study and attend training courses for a maximum of 6 months.
If you are planning to study longer term in Germany, we recommend you apply for the Student Visa for Germany.