German Embassy Tokyo: How to Apply for the Working Holiday Visa (ワーキング・ホリデー) for Germany
This page details how to to apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tokyo. We look at the exact application process and requirements for Japanese citizens looking to move to Germany on a working holiday.
If you are from Japan and looking for your next overseas adventure, then look no further. The Working Holiday Visa for Germany allows citizens of Japan to live in Germany for up to 1 year. During this time, you will get to experience Germany’s unique culture and traditions, all the while having the opportunity to work to support 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 Tokyo.
Who can apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tokyo?
In order to apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany (ワーキング・ホリデー), you must meet some basic pre-requisites:
✔️ You must be a Japanese passport holder.
✔️ You must be between 18 and 30 years old. The age restriction permits you to apply right up until the day of your 31st birthday.
✔️ Relatives cannot accompany you on the visa.
These are the only 3 requirements – if you fulfil them, then you are ready to apply for the Working Holiday Visa and can start preparing for your move to Germany!
How to apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tokyo
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tokyo.
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 Tokyo
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the German Embassy in Tokyo
📅 In order to apply for the visa at the German Embassy in Tokyo, you first need to schedule a visa appointment. This can be done on the embassy’s appointment booking platform, which can be navigated to via the following link.
Once you have secured an appointment, the next step is to actually attend the appointment at the embassy, which is located at:
4 Chome-5-10 Minamiazabu,
Minato City,
Tokyo 106-0047,
Japan
Essential documents for the German Working Holiday Visa application in Tel Aviv
At the appointment, you will need to submit a number of documents to be approved for the visa. These include:
✅ A valid passport plus a photocopy of the passport data page
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.
✅ Completed long-term visa application form through VIDEX and a signed visa declaration form
These can be accessed via the German embassy’s website.
✅ Travel insurance
In order to be granted a Working Holiday Visa for Germany, you must have travel insurance for the full duration of the visa. The policy must cover you for a 12-month period from the date you will enter Germany, and provide a minimum of €30,000 medical coverage with dental treatment, repatriation and pregnancy cover included.
Our favourite choice for this is World Nomads. We like World Nomads because:
It is widely accepted by German embassies and consulates worldwide.
It provides all the necessary coverage for the Working Holiday Visa including medical cover, dental treatment, repatriation and pregnancy cover.
It is well regarded amongst travellers around the world.
You must bring a copy of the World Nomads policy confirmation and your policy documents with you to the appointment. The insurance documents should include the following details: name of the insured person, length of coverage, insurance sum and repatriation coverage.
Note: While World Nomads 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.
✅ Liability insurance
In addition to travel insurance, you also require liability insurance that covers you for the full duration of your visa. For this, we like GETSAFE, which offers a great policy for around €4 per month.
✅ Flight booking confirmation
✅ Proof of funds
If staying for the full year in Germany, you must show proof of funds totalling at least €2,000. Bring a formal bank statement from your bank showing your name and account balance over the past three months.
If you have only booked a one-way flight to Germany, you need proof of funds totalling €4000.
✅ A CV
This should be in English or German.
✅ Motivational letter
This should be in English or Germany.
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, make sure you provide original copies of the documents as well as two copies.
Processing of the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Tokyo
🕓 Allow at least 2 weeks for visa processing at the Germany Embassy in Tokyo. Once processed, you will be invited back to the embassy to collect your visa.
🎉 Congratulations! You have now successfully applied for the German Working Holiday Visa and can start planning your move to Germany. Once in Germany, follow the guidance in step 2 below to ensure your relocation goes smoothly.
Do I need to collect my Working Holiday Visa for Germany in person?
📬 No. If you are not living close to Tokyo, you may prefer to have your passport and visa posted to you. If this is your preference, you will also need to bring a 510 yen registered post envelope to your visa appointment.
If you apply at the German Consulate General in Osaka, it can be returned by COD on Takkyubin and you will need to provide an A4-sized envelope.
When to apply at the German Embassy in Tokyo
📅 You can apply within 90 days of your intended arrival in Germany. Earlier applications will not be accepted by the embassy.
Where else can Japanese citizens apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany?
🧭 As a Japanese citizen, there are a number of different places where you can apply for the Working Holiday Visa.
In addition to the German Embassy in Tokyo, you can apply at:
The German Consulate in Osaka.
At an immigration office in Germany after your arrival in Germany. We have put together a guide of exactly how you would apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin.
At any German embassy or consulate that processes Working Holiday Visas. This can be particularly useful if already travelling outside of Japan. Always check with the overseas embassy or consulate that they will process your application prior to applying.
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 Japanese 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 good choice for your working holiday. If you would like further information about N26 and what it can offer, 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 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