Residence permit - Working Holiday or Youth Mobility Programme

If you want to explore Germany for up to a year and finance part of your stay through work, please note the following information.

Course description

What kind of residency is meant here? In order to give young people from outside the European Union the opportunity to familiarise themselves with Germany, its culture, population and geography, there is the possibility of a stay of up to one year for cultural education. During this stay, you also have the opportunity to finance part of your living expenses through gainful employment. Who can take part? The prerequisite for such a residence permit is an agreement between your home country and the Federal Republic of Germany. Such agreements currently exist with

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Hong Kong
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • Republic of Korea (South Korea)
  • Taiwan
  • Uruguay

The agreements may use different names (such as Work & Travel, Working Holiday or Youth Mobility) and have different requirements and restrictions. Please find out in advance from your foreign ministry or the German diplomatic mission in your home country about the requirements that apply to you. Do you need a visa to enter Germany? Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada and New Zealand can enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners Office within 90 days of entering the country. However, you can also apply for a visa for one year at the German diplomatic mission in your home country. Citizens of the other participating countries require a visa to enter Germany and must apply for this at the relevant German diplomatic mission abroad.

To apply for a residence permit, please submit the application form and the required documents via our contact form or by post, selecting the following from the contact form:

  • "I have a question",
  • Category "Issue or extension of a residence permit",
  • Type of residence: "Residence for gainful employment/work",
  • Subject "I am not a skilled worker"
  • Subject "Employment without studies"

After we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview.

Period of validity

The residence permit is issued for one year.

Prerequisites

  • Registration of main residence in Munich
  • Citizenship of one of the above-mentioned contracting states
  • Sufficient liability and health insurance cover
  • Security of livelihood
  • Compliance with the age limit:
    • In principle: at least 18 and at most 30 years old
    • For Australian nationals: at least 18 and no more than 31 years old
    • For Canadian nationals: at least 18 years old and no older than 35 years old

Required documents

  • Valid passport or passport substitute
  • Fully completed application form
  • Biometric passport photo (only at the appointment, photo machines can also be found at the Foreigners Office)
  • Proof of liability and health insurance cover for 1 year
  • Proof of own funds of at least 2,000 euros (e.g. a blocked account, a declaration of commitment, own assets, regular income)
  • Proof of return flight ticket or sufficient funds to purchase a return flight ticket

The documents submitted (such as proof of identity and language certificates) will be checked for authenticity. Further documents may be required in individual cases.

Duration and costs

Processing time

10 - 12 weeks

Questions about the processing status cannot be answered during this time.

We can only finalise your application if you have submitted all the required documents. If we have to request additional documents, this will delay the process.

Fees and charges

100 Euro
Japanese nationals: No fee

Available payment methods

Questions & Answers

You are permitted to take up employment to finance your stay ("temporary and holiday jobs"). Self-employment is not permitted.

Work-and-travel jobs are not full-time jobs, but temporary and holiday jobs. No full-time jobs may be accepted.

The agreements have different regulations here. If you can prove that you have a balance of 2,000 euros, for example with a bank statement, this will usually be sufficient.

The programmes allow a stay of 12 months. Canadians can participate in the programme twice if there is another reason for the second stay under the Youth Mobility Agreement between Germany and Canada. You can apply for a new residence permit without leaving the country.

A change to a different purpose of residence is generally possible, provided that the requirements for the new purpose of residence are met.

Legal basis

§ Section 19c (1) AufenthG in conjunction with a bilateral agreement.

Ausländerbehörde

Phone number

Postal address

Ausländerbehörde

Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München

Fax: +49 89 233-27501

Address

Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München

Lagehinweis: Eingang A

Open

  • Mon 07:30 - 15:30
  • Tue 07:30 - 15:30
  • Wed 07:30 - 15:30
  • Thu 07:30 - 15:30
  • Fri Closed
    (Mariä Himmelfahrt: Opening hours may vary)
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

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