Updated on April 27, 2026
Apply for Residence Permit for Working Holiday or Youth Mobility Programme
Do you want to come to Berlin with a Working Holiday or Youth Mobility visa? This is how you obtain your residence permit.
At a glance
How do you obtain a residence permit for the Working Holiday or Youth Mobility programme?
Do you want to participate in the Working Holiday or Youth Mobility programme in Germany? Then you can obtain a residence permit. Germany has bilateral agreements with Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea, as well as an agreement with Canada. All agreements allow stays of up to 12 months.
Normally, you should apply for your national visa at the German foreign mission. Are you a national of certain countries? Then you can also apply for the visa directly in Germany after entry. You will then receive a residence permit for one year.
With the residence permit, you may take on holiday jobs to additionally finance your stay. Self-employed gainful activity is also permitted.
Note for nationals of Japan: For technical reasons, the online application is currently not possible. Please use the contact form of the responsible department F 1 for your application (see Further information).
This is how the procedure works: Submit the online application "Temporary residence title for employment". Have your documents ready, ideally as PDFs. You can also photograph and upload them during the application process. Permitted formats are PDF, JPG, JPEG, and PNG. A single file may be at most 7 MB, all files together at most 100 MB. Before you can submit the application, you must pay the processing fee.
At the end, you will receive a PDF confirmation. This certifies that your current residence title remains valid – unless your residence title has already expired on the day of application. Be sure to save the confirmation and print it out if possible.
The State Office for Immigration (LEA) will then review your application. If reviewed positively, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview. Bring all documents in their original form.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You can obtain the residence permit if you are a national of a country with which Germany has signed a Working Holiday or Youth Mobility agreement. Nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and Canada can apply for the permit within 90 days of entry in Germany.
- Nationals of the Republic of Korea can only apply for the residence permit in Germany in exceptional cases. This is possible if you are already staying in Germany with a residence permit, for example for a language course.
- You must be between 18 and 35 years old. The decisive date is the date of application. For Australia, Israel, Japan, and New Zealand, the age limit is 18 to 30 years; for the Republic of Korea, 18 to 34 years; and for Canada, 18 to 35 years.
Additional requirements
- You must have your main residence registered in Berlin.
- There must be no danger to public security or order from you. Even fines or ongoing investigations can prevent issuance. You must not pose a danger to the free democratic basic order and must not be involved in politically or religiously motivated violence.
- You need a current email address, as the LEA will contact you via email. Also check your spam folder regularly.
- You must consent to the electronic payment procedure. You can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal.
How to apply
Submit the online application "Temporary residence title for employment" and have your documents ready as PDF, JPG, JPEG, or PNG. As a national of Japan, use the contact form of department F 1 instead
Upload all required documents: colour passport copies, proof of own funds of at least 2,000 euros, rental contract with housing costs, international travel health insurance, and registration certificate
Pay the processing fee by credit card or PayPal and submit your application
Save the PDF confirmation of your application and print it if possible
Wait for the review by the State Office for Immigration and submit additional documents if requested
Attend the personal interview appointment and bring all documents in their original form
Done! If your application is reviewed positively, you will receive your residence permit for one year
Nationals of Japan
- Nationals of Australia, Israel, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea – residence permit issued as label56,00 EUR
- Nationals of Australia, Israel, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea – residence permit issued as electronic residence title100,00 EUR
- Digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site (additional)6,00 EUR
Exemptions
- Nationals of Japan
Good to know
During your working holiday stay, you must not bring family members to Germany. This applies to all working holiday and youth mobility agreements without exception.
Bei allen Working-Holiday-Abkommen ist der Familiennachzug zum begünstigten Personenkreis ausgeschlossen!
VAB A.19c/D.29, S. 223-812
You can participate in the Youth Mobility programme with Canada twice. The second time, you need a different reason from the category catalogue. The second stay can follow directly after the first.
Am Programm kann zweimal teilgenommen werden. Es muss ein anderer Grund aus dem Kategorienkatalog zu Nr. 2 des Abkommens für den zweiten Aufenthalt vorliegen, der sich an den ersten Aufenthalt anschließen kann, ohne dass es einer Ausreise bedürfe.
VAB A.19c/D.29, S. 223-812
During your working holiday stay, you may attend training and further education courses. The courses may last up to six months in total. This applies to most agreements.
Besuch von Aus- und Fortbildungskursen bis zu 6 Monate
VAB A.19c/D.29, S. 223-812
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Apply for Residence Permit for Working Holiday or Youth Mobility Programme
If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment. A residence permit as a sticker can be issued on site at the appointment. If issued as an electronic residence title (eAT), it takes 4 to 6 weeks until it can be collected.