Working holiday, au pair, internship, volunteering

There is no working-holiday agreement between Germany and the USA; short alternatives.

No working-holiday or youth-mobility scheme with the USA. The German Foreign Office lists its working-holiday partner states (Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Uruguay and a youth mobility scheme with Canada); the United States is not among them (list on a German mission page). The list changes; confirm on usa.diplo.de.

What to do instead

Any job: § 26 BeschV lets the BA approve any employment, so a "gap year" job is possible with a contract.
Au pair: a permit for living with a host family is possible. Age limits, language and hours are set in the BeschV (§ 12); we did not verify the conditions for US citizens.
Internship (§ 15 BeschV): some internships need no BA approval, for example those prescribed in a study programme, EU-funded programmes, exchange programmes of up to one year with the BA's agreement, or after the fourth semester abroad (§ 15). Other internships need the permit.
Volunteering: federal or youth volunteer services (FSJ, BFD). Conditions for foreigners and the permit basis not verified here.
Visa-free short stay (tourist, up to 90 days in 180 under EU rules): no work allowed.

A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.