How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa at the Immigration Office in Berlin
On this page, we cover exactly how to apply for a German Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin. We lay out what the German Working Holiday Visa is and who can apply as well as detail the full visa application and document requirements for applying in Berlin.
The Working Holiday Visa is a fantastic 1-year visa that allows you to travel and experience a new culture while also enjoying flexible working rights to help supplement your funds while living 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 Berlin immigration authorities.
Who is this page for?
🌍 This page is for those from Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand or Israel who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Berlin after entering Germany. Citizens of these countries can enter Germany for 90 days without a visa and apply for the Working Holiday Visa during this time.
🛑 Alternatively, citizens of all eligible countries can apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at a German consulate or embassy in their home country before entering Germany. For further information about applying before entering Germany, see the Working Holiday Visa page for applying overseas.
In Canada, the German Working Holiday Visa is called the Youth Mobility Visa. For simplicity, we will just refer to both as the Working Holiday Visa on this page.
Nationalities that can do a Working Holiday in Germany
Chile, Argentina, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Uruguay, Hong Kong & Canada.
Where can you apply for the German Working Holiday Visa?
✔️ Argentinian citizens can apply: at the German embassy in Buenos Aires / at any Germany embassy abroad
✔️ Australian citizens can apply: in Berlin / at any German embassy abroad / at the German embassy in Sydney
✔️ Canadian citizens can apply: in Berlin / at any German embassy abroad / at the German embassy in Toronto
✔️ Chilean citizens can apply: at the German embassy in Santiago / at any German embassy abroad
✔️ Citizens of Hong Kong can apply: only at the German embassy in Hong Kong
✔️ Israeli citizens can apply: in Berlin / at any German embassy abroad / at the German embassy in Tel Aviv
✔️ Japanese citizens can apply: in Berlin / at any German embassy abroad / at the German embassy in Tokyo
✔️ New Zealand citizens can apply: in Berlin / at any German embassy abroad / at the German embassy in Wellington, New Zealand
✔️ South Korean citizens can apply: only at the German embassy in Seoul
✔️ Taiwanese citizens can apply: only at the German embassy in Taipei
✔️ Uruguayan citizens can apply: at the German embassy in Montevideo / at any German embassy abroad
For information about how to apply at a German embassy or consulate in your home country, see here. For information about how to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin, read on…
Age limit for the German Working Holiday Visa
🌱 You are eligible for the German Working Holiday Visa if you are between the ages of 18 and 30. You are eligible to apply right up until your 31st birthday.
For Canadians, your Working Holiday Visa is called the Youth Mobility Visa and you are eligible if you are between 18 and 35. You can apply right up until your 36th birthday.
Tips for all Working Holiday Visa applications in Berlin
🚑 Travel/expat insurance for your Working Holiday Visa
Before applying for the Working Holiday Visa, you must take out a full-year travel/expat insurance policy which includes a minimum of €30,000 medical coverage with repatriation included.
The policy should start from the date of your Working Holiday Visa appointment if applying in Germany. The travel insurance policy should cover a full 365-day period. If your travel insurance policy covers less than a year, you may either be given a shorter visa (for the period that you have insurance coverage) or be asked to resubmit your application.
You must always bring your insurance documents to your appointment that show the name of the insured person, the length of coverage, the medical insurance sum and the repatriation coverage.
⭐ Our favourite insurance for your Working Holiday
For your Working Holiday Visa application in Berlin, our favourite travel/expat insurance provider is Feather. Having helped 100s of expats apply for their Working Holiday Visas in Berlin, we like Feather’s expat health insurance policy because:
It is accepted and approved as a suitable insurance at the immigration office in Berlin.
It is specifically designed to help Working Holiday Visa applicants meet the insurance requirements for the visa.
It can be paid for and cancelled month-to-month. This offers far more flexibility than paying for a full-year policy in advance, which can cost you upwards of EUR 1000.
You can get full-year coverage. A lot of providers only offer 364-day coverage meaning you need to take out a second policy to cover the 365-day requirement.
Follow the link to quickly sign up for Feather’s expat health insurance policy.
While there are cheaper travel/expat insurances on the market than the one suggested above, these often do not meet the requirements for the Working Holiday Visa or provide shoddy cover that can leave you in a sorry situation in the event that you require medical treatment while living in Germany.
🏠 Accommodation and Address Registration
Before you can apply for the Working Holiday Visa in Berlin, you must have officially registered at an address, a process that is known as Anmeldung. No Anmeldung = no Working Holiday Visa. Anmeldung is also crucial for all newcomers to Berlin as it is a key requirement for getting a tax ID, setting up most bank accounts and applying for phone/internet/utility contracts. For full details on how to register an address and why it is crucial for a successful relocation to Germany, see our Anmeldung page.
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.
💰 Bank Statement
If you are applying for your Working Holiday Visa in Berlin, you must show that you have at least €2000 in proof of funds. For this, you should show a bank statement or a printout from your online banking showing that you have the required funds.
The most important criteria are that your bank statement or printout shows your name, the date and balance. You can bring bank statements for multiple different accounts to show that you have sufficient funds for the Working Holiday Visa. Your funds do not need to be in a German bank account. Instead, you can show the equivalent of €2000 in an overseas account.
You cannot use a credit card statement for this, it must be a bank statement. Before setting off on your working holiday to Germany, we highly recommend getting a Wise borderless account and bank card (formerly TransferWise) to ensure you have cheap and easy access to your money on arrival in Berlin.
🛂 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.
🛈 General
If you forget a certain document or you do not have time to arrange it before your appointment, the immigration office may not accept your application. If they are feeling generous, they may let you submit additional documents via email or bring the missing documents in at a later date.
Always book appointments in your full name as shown on your passport.
When you come to the end of your Working Holiday Visa, you can change your visa status if you wish to stay/work longer in Germany. For further information about the options available to you after your Working Holiday in Germany, see our other visa guides:
How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa at the Immigration Office in Berlin
1️⃣ Move to Berlin. Enter Germany visa free for up to 90 days and officially register at an address (Anmeldung).
2️⃣ Apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin
3️⃣ Collect your Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin
1️⃣ Move to Berlin. Enter Germany visa-free for up to 90 days and officially register at an address (Anmeldung).
When you arrive in Germany, you will have a 90-day window in which to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin. Before you can apply for the visa in Berlin, it is crucial that you complete one essential step:
🏠 Complete your Anmeldung in Berlin
In order to apply for any form of visa at the immigration office in Berlin, you first have to officially register at an address in the city. This process is known as Anmeldung. Without an Anmeldung certificate, the immigration office will likely not accept your visa application.
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.
Once you have ticked off this all-important step, you can move on to step 2 and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin.
2️⃣ Apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin
So, you have arrived in Germany and officially registered at an address (Anmeldung). Now you need to book a visa appointment at the immigration office in Berlin and submit your Working Holiday Visa application documents. Find out exactly how below…
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the immigration office in Berlin
Follow the link to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment on the immigration office's online booking platform.
Once on the booking platform, click on the ‘Book Appointment’ button to start the process.
Select the visa you wish to apply for. You will then be shown a calendar with available appointments:
Available appointments show up in blue. Select an available appointment from the calendar and enter your personal details in the appointment booking form to complete the booking.
If there are no appointments currently available, you will be shown the following message:
If you are shown this message, you need to wait for the next batch of appointments to be released by the immigration office. Visa appointments are released sporadically throughout the week so we recommend checking the appointment booking platform multiple times a day from around 7 a.m.
Once you have booked your Working Holiday Visa appointment, you will be sent a booking confirmation confirming the time and date for your appointment. The confirmation will also include details of where you need to go for your appointment.
The booking period for Working Holiday Visa appointments in Berlin is generally 1–3 months. Therefore, once you have successfully scheduled your visa appointment, be aware that your appointment date may be up to 3 months away.
📅 For more detailed instructions, see our website guide or YouTube guide on how and when to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the immigration office in Berlin.
Where to apply for the Working Holiday Visa in Berlin?
🧭 As of 01.03.2020, the Working Holiday Visa is processed at the immigration office located at Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24, 13353 Berlin. Always check your appointment confirmation to check where your appointment is scheduled.
The immigration office at Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24 is split into a number of 'Haus' depending on where you are from:
Australia – Haus B, 3rd floor, waiting rooms E 1.1 and E 1.2.
Israel – Haus D, waiting room E 3.1
Canada – Haus C, 2nd floor, waiting rooms E 2.1, E 2.2, E 2.3 and E 2.4
Japan – Haus B, 2nd floor, waiting rooms E 4.1 and E 4.2
New Zealand – Haus B, 3rd floor, waiting rooms E 1.1 and E 1.2.
On your appointment confirmation, it will specify the exact 'Haus', floor and waiting room that you must go to at the time of your appointment. This information will likely correspond with the 'Haus' details above.
Here is a picture of the immigration office so that you know you are in the right place when arriving at the address!
What documents do I need to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin?
✅ 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.
✅ One current biometric passport photo
Guidelines recommend a 35mm x 45mm frontal shot with neutral facial expression and closed mouth, looking straight into the camera with a light background. You can obtain a biometric photo from the silver photo booths at the main train stations in Berlin. There are three photo booths located at Alexanderplatz train station.
Here is a useful map of all places you can obtain passport photos in Berlin.
✅ Travel/expat insurance that is valid for at least one year from the date of your visa appointment
The travel/expat insurance policy must cover you for the full period of your Working Holiday Visa. Therefore, it must be valid for a 365-day period from the date of your visa appointment, and provide a minimum of €30,000 medical coverage with repatriation included.
As mentioned above, our favourite insurance for the Working Holiday Visa is Feather’s expat health cover as it is approved and recognised by the immigration office in Berlin, meets the requirements for the visa, can be paid for and cancelled month-to-month and is affordable.
✅ Proof of main residence in Berlin
In order to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin, you must first have registered at an address and received your address registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung or Meldebescheinigung). Further information on how to register at an address in Berlin can be found on our Anmeldung page.
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.
✅ Proof of funds totalling at least €2,000
A regular bank statement or printed screenshot of your online bank statement is accepted by the Berlin immigration office. The screenshot must show your name on it, the date and the account balance. Your bank statement should not be more than a few weeks old.
It is fine to submit bank statements from multiple bank accounts so long as they show a combined total of €2,000 or more. Your funds do not need to be in a German bank account. Instead, you can show the equivalent of €2000 in an overseas account.
✅ Completed 'Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels’ form (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit form)
You can download the form here.
Processing of the Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin
📅 Once you have successfully booked an appointment at the immigration office, you will be emailed a booking confirmation detailing the date and time you must attend your immigration office appointment. The confirmation will also include your waiting number (Vorgangsnummer).
When arriving at the immigration office at Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24, bring a copy of your appointment confirmation to show the security guard.
Go to the ‘Haus’ (House), floor and waiting rooms indicated on your appointment booking confirmation and wait for your waiting number to be displayed on the screen. When your number is displayed, it will be accompanied by a room number, which is where your Working Holiday Visa will be processed. All you are required to do is go to your designated room and hand over all of the documents to the immigration office staff member who will check over your documentation.
At the end of your appointment, you will be required to pay at the machine located in the corridor using the plastic pay card you are provided with. The Working Holiday Visa costs €100 and must be paid for in cash or with a German EC card, unless you are from Japan, in which case the visa is free.
Will the Working Holiday Visa be provided on the spot at the immigration office in Berlin?
No. Your physical Working Holiday Visa will take 4 to 6 weeks to be prepared from the date of your appointment.
✉️ However, at your appointment, the caseworker will provide you with a temporary visa letter that permits you to reside in Germany while your visa is processing. This letter will also include details of when you should return to the immigration office to collect your Working Holiday Visa (step 3 below).
3️⃣ Collect your Working Holiday Visa at the immigration office in Berlin
📅 As mentioned above, you will be issued a temporary visa letter at your appointment that specifies a date and time for when you should return to the immigration office to collect your Working Holiday Visa. This will be 4 to 6 weeks after your initial appointment. On the specified day, you should return to the immigration office with the temporary visa letter, your passport and your address registration certificate.
🎉 At this point, you will be issued your Working Holiday Visa for Germany - hooray!
If you have questions specific to the Working Holiday Visa, you can contact the relevant department at the immigration office via their contact form.
How to stay in Germany after your Working Holiday Visa expires
While your Working Holiday Visa only permits you to live and work in Germany for 1 year (2 years if Canadian), you may want to continue living in Germany after your working holiday. To do this, you can apply for another visa type. The most popular options are:
Rather than leaving your new visa application to the last minute, we recommend applying for a new visa while you still have at least two months left on your Working Holiday Visa. This will leave you plenty of time to adjust your application if you do not initially meet the requirements for a new visa. Follow the links above to see the different prerequisites and requirements for the different visas