German Embassy Tel Aviv: How to Apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany
This page details exactly how to apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv. We take a look at eligibility for the visa as well as detail the process for being successfully granted the visa at the embassy in Israel.
Israeli citizens can live in Germany for up to one year on a Working Holiday Visa. The visa is a fantastic opportunity to learn the German language, enjoy German culture and pick up work to help fund your stay.
❗ 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 Tel Aviv.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv?
To be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany, you must first fulfil some basic requirements:
✔️ You must be between 18 and 30 years old. The age restriction permits you to apply up until the day of your 31st birthday.
✔️ You must have a valid Israeli passport.
✔️ You must not be moving with dependents.
Those are the 3 main eligibility requirements for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany. If you meet them, you are ready to start preparing for your visa application and move! 🎉
How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv.
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 Tel Aviv
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv
📅 First off, you need to secure an appointment at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv. This can be booked on the embassy’s appointment booking platform.
Once booked, you then need to attend the appointment at the embassy, which is located at:
3 Daniel Frisch Street,
Tel Aviv
Israel
Essential documents for the German Working Holiday Visa application in Tel Aviv
At your appointment, you will be required to submit the following:
✅ A valid Israeli 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. You should also provide a photocopy of your passport data page.
✅ 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.
✅ Completed visa application form and declaration of accuracy form
These can be downloaded from the German consulate’s website.
✅ Proof of funds
To be approved for the visa, you must show that you have a basic level of savings to support your stay in Germany. For Israeli citizens, you must show that you have had at least €1,200 in your account over the past three months.
To prove this, you must bring a formal bank statement from your bank showing your name and account balance over the past three months. You are also required to show that you have additional proof of funds to cover accommodation costs in Germany.
✅ Travel/expat insurance
Note: travel/expat insurance is one of the most important aspects of your application.
In short, you must present a travel/expat insurance policy that covers the full 1-year duration of the Working Holiday Visa. In addition, the policy must include at least €30,000 in medical coverage and repatriation. The insurance documents you submit should include the following details: name of the insured person, length of coverage, insurance sum and repatriation coverage.
For this, our favourite policy is Feather’s expat health insurance. We like Feather because:
It is widely accepted by German embassies and consulates worldwide.
It fulfils all the requirements for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany.
It offers English-speaking customer support and offers a decent level of coverage.
You can quickly sign up for a Feather 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
✅ Proof of accommodation
This can be for any length of time but must at least cover the first few weeks of your stay. The proof of accommodation can be a booking confirmation or an invitation letter from a friend/relative living in Germany plus a copy of their passport and proof of their residence in Germany.
Note: when arriving in Germany, it is essential that you officially register at an address, a process that is known as Anmeldung. Without Anmeldung, you cannot receive your German tax ID (needed for starting work in Germany) or complete most administrative tasks, which can significantly hamper your relocation.
If you need accommodation with address registration in Germany, 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.
✅ A full, signed CV
For tips on creating a German-style CV, check out our free job-hunting advice.
✅ 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.
When submitting your application, ensure that you provide original copies of the documents as well as two copies of each document.
How much does the Working Holiday Visa cost at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv?
💰 The cost of the visa is €75 and is payable in cash in the local currency.
How long does a Working Holiday Visa application take to be processed at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv?
🕓 The standard process time for a Working Holiday Visa for Germany is two weeks if applying at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Once processed, you will be invited to collect your visa at the embassy.
🎉 Congratulations, at this stage you will have successfully applied for the Working Holiday Visa and are all set to move to Germany! See step 2 below to find out what you need to do on arrival in Germany.
When should I apply at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv?
📅 You can apply for the Working Holiday Visa within 90 days of your intended arrival in Germany. You cannot apply before this.
Where else can Israeli citizens apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany?
🧭 As an Israeli citizen, there are a number of places you can apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany. These include:
At an immigration office in Germany. We have provided full step-by-step guidance on exactly how to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin.
At any German embassy or consulate overseas that processes Working Holiday Visas. This can be a good option if you are already travelling outside of Israel but you have not arrived in Germany yet.
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 Israeli working holidaymakers in Germany, a Vivid bank account is a great option. The account is 100% free to set up and maintain. When you factor in a free Debit Mastercard and free ATM withdrawals, it is definitely a good choice for your working holiday. For further details about why Vivid might be a good option for you, check out our Vivid 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 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