Working holiday visas for German citizens

This page is for German citizens looking for a working holiday visa. It shows the main options available in the Travel to Work directory. Most programs allow a stay of up to 12 months. The age range is typically 18 to 30, but Australia and Canada accept applicants up to age 35.

You will need to pay a fee and show proof of funds. For example, the Australian visa costs AUD840.00 and requires about AUD5,000 in funds. New Zealand requires NZD $4,200, and Canada requires CAN$2,500. For Japan, you need ‘reasonable funds’, while Hong Kong specifies at least HK$20,000.

Passport

Germany

Programs found

5

Lowest upper age limit

30

Highest upper age limit

35

Programs that list German citizens

Country-specific conditions

Australia: Working Holiday visa

• Fee: AUD840.00 (first visa)
• Funds: About AUD5,000 plus your fare out

Canada: IEC Working Holiday

• Fee: CAN$184.75 IEC fee + CAN$100 open work permit holder fee
• Funds: CAN$2,500
• As a German citizen you may participate in IEC twice. You must choose a different category each time.
• Other IEC categories for this passport: International Co-op (Internship), Young Professionals.

Hong Kong: Working Holiday Scheme

• Funds: At least HK$20,000
• Places: 300 per year
• Work: No more than three months with the same employer.
• Study: One course, up to six months.

Japan: Working Holiday visa

• Funds: Reasonable funds for the first part of the stay
• Places: No limit
• Since 1 January 2025: can take part twice in a lifetime (two separate one-year stays).

New Zealand: Working Holiday Visa, Germany scheme

• Fee: From NZD $770
• Funds: NZD $4,200

What stands out

Some programs have specific rules or limits. Hong Kong has a quota of 300 per year and places restrictions on how long you can work for one employer (three months) or study (six months). Canada’s IEC program allows German citizens to participate twice, but you must choose a different category each time. Similarly, Japan allows two separate one-year stays. Australia’s visa is a subclass 417, and New Zealand’s scheme was, when checked, marked as Open.

This page covers the destinations in this directory only: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea. Singapore’s Work Holiday Programme is left out here because it depends on where your university is, not on your passport; see the Singapore sheet. A destination missing here may still run a program for your passport; check its official immigration site.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official government pages:

• Australian Department of Home Affairs: Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
• Immigration New Zealand: Working Holiday Visa, Germany scheme (New Zealand)
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): IEC Working Holiday (Canada)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Working Holiday visa (Japan)
• Hong Kong Immigration Department: Working Holiday Scheme (Hong Kong)

Last checked October 21, 2026 (Oct 2026). Rules, fees and quotas can change after this date.