Working Holiday in Berlin

Big city charm, an exciting cultural scene and vibrant multicultural vibes: Berlin is undoubtedly one of the hippest cities in Europe. With a mix of modern architecture and retro charm, a booming start-up scene, street art and a deeply rooted music and party culture, the German metropolis is a hotspot for artists and a magnet for young people from all over the world.

Our Working Holiday Program Berlin helps you gain a foothold in this fascinating city! We do not only help you with the inscrutable bureaucratic jungle, but also to find a job to fund your stay. With us you will learn how to live comfortably in Germany and make the most of your year of Working Holidays.

Who can join our Working Holiday Program in Berlin?

Citizens of the European Union (EU), Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
You can participate if you can get a Working Holiday Visa. This is possible for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile, who are between 18 and 30 years old, can prove financial means (about 2000 EUR), are in good health and have no criminal record
As a Canadian you can join our program making use of the Youth Mobility Visa that you can get if you are 18-35 years old. For a small extra fee, we can arrange the Youth Mobility Visa for Canadians. This will make it not necessary for you to travel in person to the German Embassy in Canada.
Citizens of the UK and USA can get a work permit while they are in Germany

Which Working Holiday job can I do?

It is much easier to find a job once you are already in Germany. The usual steps are: (1) You apply for your Working Holiday Visa in your home country, (2) You travel to Berlin and complete all formalities (registration and registration of your address, registration of your tax number, German telephone contract and bank account), (3) and then you look for a job in Germany.

This order makes sense, because many potential employers prefer you to attend a job interview in person, and they want to make sure that you have a visa which allows you to work legally in Germany. Having a registered German residential address, tax number and bank account are also a requirement to get any employment contract.

Many jobs are possible. The jobs possible in your case depend on your language skills, professional qualification and work experience. For some nationalities, there are certain restrictions on the type of job, maximum duration of employment, and weekly working hours. Individuals of certain nationalities, while on a Working Holiday Visa, are also allowed to work as self-employed in Germany.

Typical working holiday jobs that do not require formal qualifications or previous work experience include:

Hotel and tourism-related jobs jobs. Many cafes, restaurants and bars in Berlin have international staff. You often don't even need any German language skills.
Childcare, babysitting, seasonal babysitting (for example in summer camps)
Pet care (e.g. walking dogs)
Teaching English and other foreign languages, and providing homework support
Cleaning personnel, e.g. in supermarkets, apartments, offices
Delivery services and moving companies
Salesperson in stores (if German language skills are sufficient)
Factory work: e.g. Pack, load and unload goods
Farm work (outside of Berlin, for example harvesting asparagus)

Do I have to know German to join the program?

In many everyday situations, you will probably get along well without speaking any German. Many Germans, especially the younger generations, have a reasonable level of English, and at least in larger cities there are international communities of English speakers and also jobs for which no German language skills are required.

Nevertheless, it is a good idea to learn some German when you come to Germany! It definitely increases the choice of available jobs.

If you do not have any knowledge of German, we recommend you to attend a German language course during your first weeks in Berlin or even longer. You can book German language lessons with us.

What do we offer you as a participant of our Working Holiday Program in Berlin?

Depending on your needs, you can choose between three packages: "Basic", "Youth Spirit" and "Complete".

"Basic" Working Holiday Support Package Berlin

Our "Basic Package" provides you with all the information you need in an up-to-date and well-structured mobile-friendly "Knowledge Base". Additionally you will get a personalized check list based on your nationality, making sure you won't miss anything important. You can also make use of our support via email, Skype and Whatsapp, answering all of your questions prior to your arrival and while in Germany.

You won't however meet any of our employees on site and we won't arrange accommodation for you. This package is low-priced and suitable for cost-conscious participants who want to save the effort having to research all details on their own and who want to avoid any mistakes, while at the same time feel comfortable to show some self-initiative and independence while in Berlin.

The "Basic" Working Holiday Support Package Berlin includes:

Personalized to-do checklist prior to your arrival to Germany: Our personalized checklist makes sure you won't forget anything important when planning your Working Holiday
Access to our comprehensive and mobile-friendly Knowledge Base Germany with all the information you need to organize your stay as well as living and working in Germany, such as:
- Travel Preparation: Booking flights, choosing an insurance, applying for the visa, packing list
- Job hunt: detailed information about how to find jobs, preparing your German CV/resume, tips for a successful job interview, etc.
- Living in Berlin and Germany: finding accommodation, public transport, residence registration, mobile phone contract, learning German, opening a bank account, taxes, travel, sports, leisure, culture.
- List of short-term to medium-term accommodation options in Berlin that offer you the possibility to register your address. The registration of your address is absolutely necessary in order to be able to accept any job in Germany at all. With hostel or Airbnb accommodation this is not possible!!
Templates of all relevant forms with English translation (eg application for residence permit, visa application) as well as templates for your CV/resume in German format
Help with booking a German language course: Basic knowledge of German is of course helpful to find your way around Germany and also to make new friends! We can book language lessons for you at an inexpensive and centrally located language school in Berlin. You can choose between morning and evening courses to match your working hours in Berlin!
English and German speaking online support team: Our multilingual team will help you with any questions you may have before and during your Work & Travel stay in Germany. You can reach us by e-mail, Skype and WhatsApp.
CO2 compensation: For the CO2 compensation of your long-haul flights, we plant 10 native trees per participant on Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Start dates: You can start this program at any date.

"Basic" Working Holiday Support Package Berlin
190 EUR per Person

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"Youth Spirit" Working Holiday Package Berlin

Do you want to feel at home immediately after your arrival to Berlin? Do you want to get to know other program participants? Do you want to get to know the city from the point of view of young Berliners? Then our "Youth Spirit" package is your choice. It includes on-site activities, along with other program participants, to get to know the city, plus other benefits.

The "Youth Spirit" Working Holiday Package Berlin includes:

All services that are included in "Basic" Working Holiday Support Berlin (see above)
Ticket for 1 week of unlimited use of public transport in Berlin (inner city zones A+B)
Welcome dinner in Berlin
Participation in 5 events/activities/tours including entrance fees in Berlin, with focus on alternative youth culture (at least 5 such activities are offered per month)
You can join further events/activities/tours (after using your 5 events/activities/tours that are included in the package) together with other participants at small extra cost
Special: We organize a farm stay in Germany at no additional cost if you book this program before April 1, 2023 for your stay in 2023. You will be provided with accommodation and meals free of charge.

Start dates 2025: January 2, January 23, February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 12, June 26, July 10, July 24, August 7, August 21, September 4, October 2, October 30, November 27.

"Youth Spirit" Working Holiday Package Berlin
1 Person 390 EUR, 2 Persons 330 EUR p.p.

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"Complete" Working Holiday Paket Berlin

This package includes all the services of the "Basic" and "Youth Spirit" packages and additionally 30 nights of accommodation after your arrival in a 1-room studio apartment of high standards in a central location in Berlin, including the papers needed for your residence registration ("Anmeldung"). We will also make an appointment for you at the office in charge for your residence registration and fill out your registration form.

The "Complete" Working Holiday Package Berlin includes:

All services which are also included in the "Basic" and "Youth Spirit" packages (see abov
30 nights in a 1 bedroom studio apartment of high standards in a central location with large bed, fully equipped kitchenette (microwave, dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, coffee maker, kettle), private bathroom with shower and TV. Towels are provided.
The landlord will issue the certificate that you need for resident registration in Germany ("Anmeldung")
Making an appointment at the residence registration office in charge for you as well as filling of your residence registration forms
Special: We organize a farm stay in Germany at no additional cost if you book this program before August 1, 2023 for your stay in 2023. You will be provided with accommodation and meals free of charge.

Start dates 2025: January 2, January 23, February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 12, June 26, July 10, July 24, August 7, August 21, September 4, October 2, October 30, November 27.

For the "Complete" package you must register at least one month prior to the planned arrival and we must confirm availability of the accommodation.

"Complete" Working Holiday Paket Deutschland
1 Person 1990 EUR, 2 Persons (sharing the apartment) 1290 EUR p.p.

Book now!

German language lessons

We can book you into German language lessons at our partner language school in Berlin, offering lessons from level A1.1 (beginner) to level C1.1 (advanced).

There is an Intensive Course in the mornings (Tuesdays to Fridays from 8:45am to 11:15am or 11:40am to 2:10pm; depending on the level). It is 3 lessons x 45 minutes per day x 4 days/week. One level takes 4 weeks (a total of 48 lessons). Students who wish to continue would then advance to the next (the levels are A1.1; A1.2; A2.1; A2.2; B1.1; B1.2; B2.1; B2.2; C1.1).

The rate is 232 EUR per 4 weeks (48 lessons)

There is also a Less Intensive Course in the evenings; which is only 2 days per week; hence the completion of one level takes 8 weeks; It is either Mondays and Wednesdays OR Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:15pm to 9:40pm. It is 3 lessons x 45 minutes per day x 2 days/week = a total of 48 lessons within 8 weeks. Students can then proceed to the next level (which takes another 8 weeks).

The rate is 260 EUR for 8 weeks (48 lessons).