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Visa for Working Holiday Programmes
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Nationals of certain countries can apply for a visa for a working holiday. Further information can be found here.
Working Holiday Programmes are available in different variations for young people from Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Uruguay.
The programmes are aimed at young adults aged 18 to 30 (or up to 34 for the Republic of Korea and up to 35 for Australia and Canada) and offer them the opportunity to get to know the other country during a stay of up to twelve months. Participants may fulfil casual holiday jobs to help fund their stay. The stay in Germany must therefore not be primarily used for the purpose of employment; it must be clear that the holiday aspect is the main focus.
A participation in one of the programmes is generally only possible once. An exception exists under the agreement with Canada.
Who can apply for a visa at the German Embassy in Hanoi?
Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Uruguay who are residing in Vietnam at the moment can apply at the German Embassy in Hanoi.
Who cannot apply for a visa at the German Embassy in Hanoi?
Brazil: Brazilian nationals may apply for the visa exclusively at a German mission in Brazil. It is not possible to apply for the visa at the German Embassy in Hanoi.
Hong Kong: Residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China may apply for the Working Holiday visa exclusively at the German Consulate General in Hong Kong. It is not possible to apply for the visa at the German Embassy in Hanoi.
Korea: Korean nationals may apply for the visa exclusively at the German Embassy in Seoul. It is not possible to apply for the visa at the German Embassy in Hanoi.
Taiwan: Taiwanese passport-holders may apply for the visa exclusively at the German Institute Taipei. It is not possible to apply for the visa at the German Embassy in Hanoi.
How does the application process work?
Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Uruguay who are residing in Vietnam should contact the German Embassy in Hanoi via the contact form and:
- describe their case
- submit a scan of their passport
- submit a scan of their Vietnamese visa or residence permit.
Further instructions will be provided based on the individual case. The visa application will be submitted at the German Embassy in Hanoi once a specific appointment has been confirmed.
Documents to be submitted
In your application form, provide all information regarding your entry into and stay in Germany. Please complete this form in full, print it out, and sign it by hand.
Two recent biometric passport photos (45 mm x 35 mm).
You can find information on the requirements for biometric passport photos in the sample photo chart.
Please glue only one passport photo to the application form and enclose the second one loosely.
The document must still have at least two blank pages (these pages will be used for your visa in case it is granted).
In principle, the same documents must be submitted when applying for a Working Holiday Visa at the German Embassy in Hanoi as when applying in someone's home country. Please therefore familiarize yourself with the information on the websites of the German missions in your home country:
Australia website is only in English
Canada website is only in English
Chile website is only in Spanish
Japan website is only in English
New Zealand website is only in English
Fees
The visa fee is 75 Euros. The fee must be paid in cash in Vietnamese Dong when submitting the application at the German Embassy in Hanoi. Please bring the exact amount if possible. Payment by credit card is not possible.
The processing fee is charged regardless of the outcome of the visa application process and therefore cannot be refunded, even if the visa application has been rejected.
Processing time
Processing the application generally takes one to three weeks. The duration depends on whether the application is complete and all required documents have been submitted. If additional documents are requested, the processing time may be significantly extended.
Please refrain from making status inquiries during the standard three-week processing period. Such inquiries place a significant additional workload on the visa department and cannot be answered.
Once the application has been submitted, the passport can be returned during the processing period. However, as soon as a decision on the visa application can be made and the visa is ready to be issued, the passport must be resubmitted in person at the German Embassy in Hanoi. A second personal appearance at the German Embassy in Hanoi is therefore unavoidable. It is not possible to send the passport by mail.
Disclaimer
All information in this leaflet is based on the knowledge and experience of the diplomatic mission at the time of its creation. No guarantee can be given regarding its completeness or accuracy, particularly in light of any changes that may have occurred since its creation. No legal claims may be derived from this leaflet.