Germany has Working Holiday Programmes with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Uruguay.

Applications may be submitted by young people between the ages of 18 and 30 (with the exception of citizens of the Republic of Korea, who may be up to 34 years old). The programmes are meant to allow insight into the culture and everyday life in the other country, and they enable stays of up to twelve months. Holiday jobs may be accepted to help finance a young person’s stay.

Australian, Israeli and Japanese nationals, as well as nationals of New Zealand, may apply for this type of residence permit at any German mission abroad; if they have already entered Germany, they may apply at the competent German foreigners authority.
Nationals of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay may apply for the residence permit at any German mission abroad.
Korean nationals can only apply for the residence permit at the German Embassy in Seoul, and Taiwanese young people can only apply for it at German Institute Taipei.
Due to the special status of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, applications for the required visa are only accepted at the Consulate General in Hong Kong. Applicants must be residents of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.
Brazilian nationals may obtain the required residence permit only at Germany’s missions in Brazil.

More information on how to apply, how long the application process will take, the documents that must be submitted, fees, etc. is available on the website of the respective German mission.