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.
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, they also have the opportunity to finance part of their 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' Registration Office within 90 days of entering the country. However, they can also apply for a visa for one year at the German diplomatic mission in their home country. In this case, a residence permit is not required.
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 contact us in writing by post or via our contact form. Select the category "Residence for gainful employment/work", then the subject "I am not a skilled worker" and then the subject "Employment without studies".
Prerequisites
- Registration of main residence in Munich
- Valid national passport (you must be a citizen of a contracting state)
- Sufficient health insurance cover
- Securing your livelihood (e.g. a blocked account, a declaration of commitment, own assets, regular income)
- Compliance with the age limit:
- In principle: at least 18 years old 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 and no more than 35 years old
Required documents
- Valid national passport
- Fully completed application for a residence permit
- Current biometric passport photo (you will find photo machines at the Foreigners' Registration Office)
- Proof of sufficient health insurance cover for 1 year
- Proof of own funds of at least 2,000 euros
- Proof of return flight ticket (if available)
Legal basis
§ Section 19c (1) AufenthG in conjunction with a bilateral agreement.
Questions & Answers
You are permitted to take up employment to finance your stay ("temporary and holiday jobs").
Work-and-travel jobs are not full-time jobs, but temporary and holiday jobs.
The agreements have different rules here. If you can prove that you have a balance of € 2,000, for example by means of 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.
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten
Phone
Postal address
Landeshauptstadt München
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Fax: +49 89 233-27501
Address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Lagehinweis: Eingang A
Monday 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m
Tuesday 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m
Wednesday 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m
Thursday 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m
Friday 7.30 a.m. to 1 p.m