How to Apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Montevideo
This page looks at how, where and when to apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany as a Uruguayan citizen. We not only take a look at eligibility for the visa, but also detail the exact application requirements for applying at the German Embassy in Montevideo.
The German Working Holiday Visa offers Uruguayan citizens a fantastic opportunity to reside in Germany for up to 1 year. In this year, working holiday participants have the opportunity to experience German culture, learn the German language and earn money to support their 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 Uruguay.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Montevideo?
To be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany, you must be:
✔️ A Uruguayan passport holder.
✔️ Between 18 and 30 years old. For clarity, this means that you can apply right up until the day of your 31st birthday.
✔️ Not travelling with children.
It really is that simple – these are the only 3 basic requirements you must fulfil in order to be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany. If you meet these criteria, then the next step is for you to apply for the visa at the German Embassy in Montevideo! 🎉
How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Montevideo?
1️⃣ Prepare your application documents, book a visa appointment and apply for the German Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Uruguay.
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 Uruguay
How to book a Working Holiday Visa appointment at the German Embassy in Uruguay
📅 Once you have confirmed you are eligible based on the criteria above, you then need to schedule a visa appointment at the German Embassy in Montevideo. This can be done via the embassy’s appointment booking platform.
Next, you should prepare your application and apply at the German Embassy, which is located at:
La Cumparsita 1435
Plaza Alemania
11200 Montevideo
Uruguay
Essential documents for your visa application at the German Embassy in Montevideo
At your appointment, you will be required to submit a number of documents, including:
✅ 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 visa application forms and declarations of conformity.
✅ 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.
✅ Uruguayan identity document (Cédula de Identidad)
✅ Travel/expat insurance
To be granted a Working Holiday Visa, it is essential that you have a travel/expat insurance policy that covers you for the full duration of the visa. As a minimum, it must include €30,000 in medical cover and repatriation.
For this, our favourite choice is Feather’s expat health insurance. We like Feather because:
It is widely accepted by German embassies and consulates worldwide.
It meets all the requirements for the German Working Holiday Visa.
It is affordable while still offering a good 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.
✅ Proof of funds
You must show proof of funds totalling at least €1200. This must be shown on a formal bank statement from your bank with your name clearly displayed on it. Your bank statement should show that you have had at least €1200 in your account for the previous three months.
On top of this, you must show that you have additional funds to cover accommodation costs for three months. If you have already booked and paid for accommodation in Germany for at least a three-month period when applying for the visa, then a booking confirmation and proof of payment is a sufficient substitute for having the additional funds for accommodation in your bank account.
If you have free accommodation with a friend or relative in Germany, you can instead provide a letter of invitation. The letter of invitation must be signed and must state that you can stay at their address for free for your first 3 months in Germany. A photocopy of your host's passport or identity document must also be provided.
✅ Flight booking confirmation
If you only book a one-way flight, you need to show an additional €1,000 in proof of funds on top of those mentioned in point 6 above. If you have a return flight booked, then you only require the proof of funds stipulated in point 6.
✅ Letter of motivation and supporting documents/information about the planned stay in Germany
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 but you can include employment contracts, accommodation reservations, language school enrollment letters, etc.
✅ Recent police clearance certificate
Processing of the visa at the German Embassy in Montevideo
🕓 The maximum processing time is 1 month although it usually takes considerably less. Once your visa has been processed, you will be notified and invited back to the embassy to collect the visa.
🎉 Congratulations! Once you have reached this stage, you will have successfully applied for the Working Holiday Visa and can start preparing for your move to Germany. For guidance on what to do once in Germany, see step 2 below.
How much does the Working Holiday Visa for Germany cost?
💰 The visa costs €75 and is payable in cash in the local currency.
When can you apply for the German Working Holiday Visa?
📅 You can apply within 90 days of your intended arrival in Germany. You cannot apply earlier than this.
Where else can Uruguayan citizens apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany?
🧭 In addition to the German Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguayan citizens can also apply for the Working Holiday Visa at any German embassy or consulate around the world that processes this visa type. Before going down this route, always check with the overseas embassy or consulate where you intend to apply to confirm that they will process your Working Holiday Visa application.
Applying outside of Uruguay can be a particularly useful option if you are travelling outside of Uruguay at the time you would like to apply.
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 Uruguayan 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 options in Germany, see here.
🧑💼 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