---
title: "Germany Working Holiday requirements 2026: 1-year stay"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/working-holiday/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-11
---

Germany · Working holiday

# Germany Working Holiday

**Age limit and funds needed:** Ages and funds vary by passport

Working Holiday visa (section 19c AufenthG, bilateral agreements)

First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Savings needed:** €2,000 ≈ $2,230 (Savings of at least EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230) · Funds for the first three months required for Japanese and Canadian nationals under the bilateral arrangement; for other nationalities the student-grant (BAföG) rate may be used for the first three months where no bilateral rule exists. A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.)
- **First stay:** 1 yr (D visa for the whole stay, up to twelve months; Canada allows up to two one-year stays for different purposes.)
- **Who can apply:** 13 nationalities (Nationals of the listed partner countries.)
- **Work:** Casual jobs (Holiday jobs to supplement funds; no Federal Employment Agency approval needed.)

## Key facts

Working Holiday is a working holiday route for Germany. Conditions: ages and funds vary by passport. Local work: casual jobs. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** €100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84
- **First stay:** 1 yr

## Cost, time and long term

**Government fees: €100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84**

- EUR 100 (≈ $110) Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
- EUR 75 (≈ $84) Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

**Shown, not spent: €2,000+ ≈ $2,230**

- EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230) Funds for the first three months required for Japanese and Canadian nationals under the bilateral arrangement; for other nationalities the student-grant (BAföG) rate may be used for the first three months where no bilateral rule exists.

**Renewal: 1 year max, no extension**

The D visa covers the whole stay of up to twelve months; Canada allows up to two one-year stays for different purposes.

[Federal Foreign Office](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/resource/blob/207816/5f5be4158ee61f51115a2a32e2885c67/visumhandbuch-data.pdf)

**Where to apply: From abroad**

Apply for the working holiday visa at the German mission in your country of residence under the bilateral agreement.

[Federal Foreign Office](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/buergerservice/faq/06-workingholiday-606672) [Service Berlin](https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305265/en/)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Can't be renewed: 1 year in total at most
- Applications are made from outside Germany, not after arriving
- Only for passports from 13 countries
- Only for ages 18–35

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a national of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan or Uruguay.
- Andorra and Canada have youth-mobility arrangements.
- Age 18 to 30 at application (18 to 34 for Korea, 18 to 35 for Canada).
- Participation is generally possible once only; Canada is an exception.

#### What you must show

- Funds for the first three months: EUR2,000 (≈ $2,230) for Japanese and Canadian nationals.
- For other nationalities, the student-grant (BAföG) rate may be used for the first three months where no bilateral rule exists.

#### Documents

- Travel health insurance for the whole stay.
- Accommodation for three months and a return ticket or funds.
- Liability insurance for Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.

#### After you arrive

- Employment is limited to three months with one employer for Hong Kong, Israel and Taiwan.
- Employment is limited to six months with one employer for Andorra, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, and to six months in total for Argentina.
- Self-employment is allowed for Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Japan and Uruguay.

## When you become tax resident

How Germany decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 1 year in total**
- **Tax residence:** A continuous stay of more than six months counts as habitual abode from the start (section 9 AO), unless it is solely for a visit, recreation, cure or similar private purpose and lasts no longer than one year; a dwelling kept available for use creates a domicile (section 8 AO).
- **Foreign-source income:** Residents are taxed on worldwide income.

[All tax rules for Germany](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

## What you need to arrange

- **Health insurance** Travel health insurance for the whole stay
- **Accommodation** Accommodation for three months and a return ticket or funds
- **Money to show** This route asks for savings of €2,000+ ≈ $2,230.

Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.

**Full official text**

Working Holiday: stays up to twelve months for young people from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Uruguay; Andorra and Canada have youth-mobility arrangements. Participation is generally possible once only (Canada is an exception). (source 1)

#### What you must show and pay

- Savings of at least EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230) · Funds for the first three months required for Japanese and Canadian nationals under the bilateral arrangement; for other nationalities the student-grant (BAföG) rate may be used for the first three months where no bilateral rule exists. (source 1)
- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. (source 2)
- A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries. (source 3)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a national of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan or Uruguay. (source 1)
- Andorra and Canada have youth-mobility arrangements. (source 1)
- Age 18 to 30 at application (18 to 34 for Korea, 18 to 35 for Canada). (source 1)
- Participation is generally possible once only; Canada is an exception. (source 1)
- Funds for the first three months: EUR2,000 (≈ $2,230) for Japanese and Canadian nationals. (source 1)
- For other nationalities, the student-grant (BAföG) rate may be used for the first three months where no bilateral rule exists. (source 1)
- Travel health insurance for the whole stay. (source 1)
- Accommodation for three months and a return ticket or funds. (source 1)
- Liability insurance for Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. (source 1)
- Employment is limited to three months with one employer for Hong Kong, Israel and Taiwan. (source 1)
- Employment is limited to six months with one employer for Andorra, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, and to six months in total for Argentina. (source 1)
- Self-employment is allowed for Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Japan and Uruguay. (source 1)

#### Stay

- D visa for the whole stay, up to twelve months; Canada allows up to two one-year stays for different purposes.
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Visa validity: 12 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Not renewable according to our source.

#### Nationality

Nationals of the listed partner countries. Open to: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, Uruguay.

#### Work

Holiday jobs to supplement funds; no Federal Employment Agency approval needed.

Checked 2026-10-11

## Official sources

1. [Visa Handbook (Visumhandbuch): subsistence table (valid from 09/2025), Opportunity Card (01/2025), Working Holiday (06/2026)](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/resource/blob/207816/5f5be4158ee61f51115a2a32e2885c67/visumhandbuch-data.pdf) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__45.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__46.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
4. [What exactly is the Working Holiday programme?](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/buergerservice/faq/06-workingholiday-606672) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-11
5. [Residence permit for the purpose of attending the Working-Holiday- or Youth Mobility-Programme](https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305265/en/) · Service Berlin (Land Berlin) · checked 2026-10-11

## Working Holiday and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Working Holiday | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
| [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/working-holiday-youth-mobility/) Portugal | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
| [Working Holiday · Argentina](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/working-holiday-argentina/) Spain | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
| [Working Holiday · Australia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/working-holiday-australia/) Italy | Ages 18–35 · funds needed €10k ≈ $11k | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
| [Working Holiday · Australia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/working-holiday-australia/) Greece | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Working Holiday?

Savings of at least EUR 2,000 (≈ $2,230). Funds for the first three months required for Japanese and Canadian nationals under the bilateral arrangement; for other nationalities the student-grant (BAföG) rate may be used for the first three months where no bilateral rule exists. A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84). Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

### How long can I stay on the Working Holiday?

D visa for the whole stay, up to twelve months; Canada allows up to two one-year stays for different purposes.

### Can I work on the Working Holiday?

Casual jobs. Holiday jobs to supplement funds; no Federal Employment Agency approval needed.

### Who can apply for the Working Holiday?

Nationals of the listed partner countries. Open to: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, Uruguay.

### How are Working Holiday holders taxed in Germany?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Working Holiday. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income. The 2026 tariff is zero up to EUR12,348, (≈ $13,800) rising progressively to a 42% marginal rate from EUR69,879 (≈ $78,100) and 45% from EUR277,826 (≈ $310,000).

## More in Germany

[Opportunity Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/opportunity-card-job-search/) [Freelancer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/freelance-21-5/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/self-employment-21/) [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [Intra-company transfer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/ict-card-19/) [Experienced professional permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/experienced-professional-19c2/) [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/researcher-18d/) [Skilled worker · degree](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/skilled-worker-18b/)

## Similar visas elsewhere

[🇫🇷 Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/working-holiday/) [🇬🇧 India Young Professionals visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/india-young-professionals/) [🇳🇱 Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/working-holiday/) [🇪🇪 Working Holiday · Japan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/estonia/working-holiday-jp/) [🇨🇿 Working Holiday · Australia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/czechia/working-holiday-australia/) [🇭🇺 Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/working-holiday/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Visa Handbook (Visumhandbuch): subsistence table (valid from 09/2025), Opportunity Card (01/2025), Working Holiday (06/2026)](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/resource/blob/207816/5f5be4158ee61f51115a2a32e2885c67/visumhandbuch-data.pdf) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__45.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__46.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
4. [What exactly is the Working Holiday programme?](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/buergerservice/faq/06-workingholiday-606672) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-11
5. [Residence permit for the purpose of attending the Working-Holiday- or Youth Mobility-Programme](https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305265/en/) · Service Berlin (Land Berlin) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.