German Consulate Hong Kong: How to Apply for the Working Holiday Visa (工作假期签证) for Germany
The Working Holiday Visa for Germany allows citizens of Hong Kong to live in Germany for 1 year. This page lays out exactly how, when and where citizens of Hong Kong can apply for the visa at the German Consulate in Hong Kong.
HKSAR and BNO (British National Overseas) passport holders can apply for a 1-year Working Holiday Visa (工作假期签证) for Germany. This visa offers a fantastic opportunity to experience Germany’s unique culture, learn the language and pick up work to support your stay in Germany. Further to this, Germany offers the perfect launchpad from which to travel and explore the rest of Europe.
❗ 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 Consulate in Hong Kong.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany at the German Consulate in Hong Kong?
Before applying for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany, you must first determine whether you are actually eligible for the visa. In order to be eligible, you must:
✔️ Be between 18 and 30 years old. You can apply right up until your 31st birthday.
✔️ Be an HKSAR passport holder.
✔️ Not be accompanied by dependents (i.e. children).
And that is all there is to it – pretty simple! So, now that you know whether you are eligible, it is time to look at how to apply at the German Consulate in Hong Kong.
How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Consulate in Hong Kong
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Consulate in Hong Kong.
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 Consulate in Hong Kong
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the German Consulate in Hong Kong
📅 Before you can apply, you first need to obtain a visa appointment. This can be secured through the consulate’s appointment booking portal.
Once you have secured a suitable appointment, you are ready to submit your application at the German Consulate in Hong Kong. The consulate is located at:
21/F, United Centre,
95 Queensway,
Admiralty,
Hong Kong
Essential documents for the German Working Holiday Visa application in Hong Kong
At your appointment you will be required to submit a number of documents, which we have outlined in detail below:
✅ HKSAR 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.
✅ Three 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.
✅ Proof of your residency in Hong Kong
This can be a Hong Kong Stay Permit, Hong Kong Identity Card or Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card.
✅ Completed visa application form
The application form is accessible via the consulate website.
✅ Declaration of accuracy
This can be downloaded here.
✅ Travel/expat insurance
Travel/expat insurance is undoubtedly the most important aspect of your Working Holiday Visa application at the German Consulate in Hong Kong.
In short, you need an insurance policy that covers you for the full duration of your Working Holiday Visa and that provides a minimum of €30,000 in medical cover with repatriation included.
Considering the above, our favourite option is Feather’s expat health insurance. We like Feather because:
It is widely accepted by German consulates and embassies worldwide.
It fulfils all the insurance conditions required for the Working Holiday Visa.
It has English-speaking customer support and offers a good level of coverage.
You can sign up for a 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.
✅ Flight booking confirmation
You must provide a copy of your flight itinerary with a confirmed reservation.
✅ Proof of accommodation
Proof of accommodation must be for at least the first week in Germany. It can be a hostel/hotel confirmation or, if you will be staying with a friend/relative in Germany, you need an invitation letter from them with a copy of their passport and proof of their residency in Germany.
Note: when moving to Germany, it is crucial that you book accommodation where you can officially register your address, a process that is known as Anmeldung. Without Anmeldung, you cannot perform most admin tasks in Berlin or receive your tax ID (needed when starting work in Germany).
If you want a quick and easy option for securing accommodation in Germany with address registration, 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.
✅ Proof of funds
To be issued the Working Holiday Visa, you need to prove that you have a minimum level of savings to support your first few months in Germany. If applying at the German Consulate in Hong Kong, you need to show that you have had at least €2,000 in your account over the past three months.
This can be shown on a formal bank statement from your bank with your name clearly displayed on it.
✅ Signed motivation letter and detailed monthly plan for the entire stay in Germany
✅ A CV
When applying for the visa, we recommend that you submit original documents along with two copies of each document.
How long is visa processing at the German Consulate in Hong Kong?
🕓 The visa processing time at the German Consulate in Hong Kong takes between one and two weeks. Once your visa is processed, you will be invited back to the consulate to collect your visa.
🎉 Congratulations! If you have reached this stage, you have successfully applied for the German Working Holiday Visa and can start preparing for your move. For details about what you need to do on arrival in Germany, see step 2 below.
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.
🏠 Complete your 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 working holidaymakers from Hong Kong, an N26 bank account is a great option. The sign-up process is simple and there is only a small fee to set up the account. When you factor in a free Debit Mastercard and free ATM withdrawals, it is definitely a good choice for your working holiday. For a comprehensive review of N26, see here.
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 advice about your best banking options in Germany, see our banking page.
🧑💼 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
Frequently asked questions about applying for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Consulate in Hong Kong
What is the cost of the Working Holiday Visa at the German Consulate in Hong Kong?
The cost for the Working Holiday Visa is €75 payable in cash in the local currency.
Where else can I apply for the Working Holiday Visa as a Hong Kong citizen?
As a citizen of Hong Kong, you can only apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany at the German Consulate in Hong Kong.
You cannot apply at any other German embassy or consulate or after your arrival in Germany.
When should I apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Consulate in Hong Kong?
You can apply at the consulate within 6 months of your intended arrival in Germany.
Is there a quota for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany?
Yes. Per year, there are only 300 German Working Holiday Visas available to Hong Kong citizens.