German Embassy Seoul: How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa (워킹 홀리데이 비자 ) for Germany
This page details how to apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the Germany Embassy in Seoul, including when and where to apply for the visa and a detailed breakdown of the application requirements.
For South Korean citizens, the German Working Holiday Visa offers a wonderful opportunity to live in Germany for 1 year. On the visa, you not only get to experience Germany’s fantastic culture, but you can also pick up employment to help fund your stay. On top of this, Germany also provides the perfect base from which to explore the rest of Europe!
If this is something that interests you, then read on to find out if you are eligible and how to apply for the visa at the German Embassy in Seoul.
❗ 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 Korea.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Seoul?
While the Working Holiday Visa offers a fantastic opportunity to live in Germany, not everyone is eligible for the visa. In order to be eligible, you must be:
✔️ Between 18 and 30 years old (Western age). You can apply right up until the day of your 31st birthday.
✔️ A South Korean passport holder.
✔️ Not accompanied by dependents.
If you meet these simple prerequisites, then you are in luck – you are eligible for the German Working Holiday Visa and can start preparing for your application at the German Embassy in Seoul! 🎉
How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Seoul
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Seoul.
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 Seoul
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the German Embassy in Seoul
📅 To apply for the visa, you need to book a visa appointment at the German Embassy in Seoul. This can be done via the embassy’s appointment booking platform, which can be navigated to via this link.
Once you have an appointment, it is then time to prepare your application and submit your documents at the embassy, which is located at:
416 Hangang-daero,
Hoehyeon-dong,
Jung-gu,
Seoul,
South Korea
서울특별시 중구 회현동 한강대로 416
Essential documents for your Working Holiday Visa application at the German Embassy in Seoul
At the appointment, you will need to submit a number of documents to be approved for the visa. These include:
✅ A valid 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 and signed visa application forms
✅ Relevant insurances (must be valid for the entire duration of the intended stay in Germany)
Travel and accident insurance. The policy must cover you for the full period of your visa and provide a minimum of €30,000 medical and accident coverage with repatriation included. You must bring a copy of the policy confirmation and your policy documents with you to the appointment. The insurance documents should include the following details: name of insured person, length of coverage, insurance sum and repatriation coverage.
Proof of liability insurance valid for Germany (coverage of at least €30,000).
With regards to these insurances, here are our favourites:
For travel and accident insurance, we like a 12-month policy with World Nomads. It is widely recognised and approved by German embassies and consulates worldwide and meets all the requirements for the Working Holiday Visa.
For liability insurance, we like using Feather. As with World Nomads, their policies are widely approved by German embassies and consulates worldwide and meet all the requirements for the Working Holiday Visa.
You must bring a copy of the policy confirmation and your policy documents with you to the appointment.
Note: While World Nomads and Feather are 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
Proof of funds showing at least €2,000.
Bring a formal bank statement from your bank showing your name and account balance.
When applying, you should bring the original documents as well as two copies of each document.
How much does the Working Holiday Visa for Germany cost?
💰 The cost is €75 and is payable in cash or by credit card (Visa and Mastercard) in the local currency.
If the visa is refused or the application is withdrawn by the applicant, the fee will not be refunded.
Processing of the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Seoul
🕓 Once you have submitted the above documents at your visa appointment, the German Embassy in Seoul will process your application. This usually takes between three and five days if all the correct documents are submitted. Proof of a job offer is not required.
Once the embassy has processed your application, you will be notified and invited to collect your visa at the embassy.
🎉 Congratulations! At this stage, you have successfully applied for the German Working Holiday Visa and you can start planning your move to Germany. For guidance on what you need to do on arrival in Germany, see step 2 below.
Where else can South Korean citizens apply for the German Working Holiday Visa?
🧭 South Korean citizens can only apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Seoul.
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 Korean working holidaymakers in Germany, an N26 bank account is a great option. The sign-up process is simple and completely free. When you factor in a free Debit Mastercard and free ATM withdrawals, it is definitely a great choice for your working holiday. For further info, check out 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.
For further banking tips for 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 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