Working Holiday Programs exist with Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Uruguay.

The programsʹ purpose is to give young people aged between 18 and 30 the opportunity to gain an insight into the culture and daily life of the partner country. The maximum length of stay is 12 months. Holiday jobs may be taken on to help finance the stay.

• Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan and New Zealand can apply for a residence permit at every German foreign mission or, after their arrival, at the competent foreigner’s authority in Germany.
• Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay can apply for a residence permit at every German foreign mission authorized to issue visas.
• Citizens of the Republic of Korea can apply for a residence permit only at the Embassy in Seoul, while citizens of Taiwan can do this exclusively at the German Institute in Taipei.
• Owing to the special status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, required visas may only be applied for at the Consulate General in Hong Kong. The applicants need to have their residence in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
• Citizens of Brazil will be able to apply for the required residence permit solely at the German foreign missions in Brazil.

Please note: There is no legal entitlement to the issuance of a visa, even if the complete documentation has been submitted. A stay in Germany under the Working Holiday Program is granted only once. If you have already received a Working Holiday Visa for Germany in the past, you will not be able to apply for it again.

Processing time for the visa application is a minimum of ten working days. So, timely planning and the application at the embassy of your home country are highly recommended.

You can book a visa appointment directly on the homepage of the German Embassy Tirana. Please book your appointment in the category “Working Holiday”. You find the appointment booking at the following link:

German language

English language

The following documents have to be submitted for the visa application:

• Application fee 75 Euro (payable in cash in Albanian Lek) to be paid upon submitting the application. If a visa has been refused or the applicant has withdrawn the application, the fee will not be refunded.
• one fully completed and signed Videx application form
• declaration
• Passport (valid for the entire intended length of stay in Germany) with one copy of the data page
• two biometric passport photos (not older than 6 months) with a white background (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
• Proof of financing: The applicants bank statements with a minimum balance of € 1.326, - (Japanese und Canadian citizens are required to proof an amount of € 2.000, -)
  - Chilean citizens are required to submit bank accounts from the last 3 months
  - Argentinian citizens are required to present a foreign currency account (US$ or €)
• Ticket for the return to your home country or additionally financial means of € 1.000,-
• Reservation/proof of accommodation for the first 3 months (invitation from someone living in Germany with a copy of his/her passport/residence permit (invitations from other participants of the working holiday program are not accepted) or proof of additionally financial means of € 380, - per months (€ 1.140, - for 3 months)
• Ticket for your journey to Germany
• Letter of motivation in German or English and proof/information about the planned stay in Germany
• criminal record certificate from the home country not older than 3 months (if you do not reside in the homecountry, please submit your criminal record certificate from the country of your current residence) not translated
• a CV (in English, or German)
• Sufficient insurance coverage: Proof of health insurance valid for Germany, which also includes hospital treatment and return transport to the respective country of origin (coverage amount at least EUR 30,000)
• Additional documents not mentioned here can be requested in individual cases.
  

You will be informed by mail as soon as a decision has been taken.

Please understand that enquiries about the status of the visa application will not be answered during the processing time.