#youthmobility

Since I will be in the EU for more than 90 days, I had to apply for a residence visa.  There is a partnership program between the Canadian and German governments.  You can apply for the Youth Mobility Visa which is intended for young Canadians between 18 and 35 to study, travel, work, do internships, etc. in Germany for a maximum of one year. http://www.ottawa.diplo.de/Vertretung/ottawa/en/04/visa/can__citizens/youth__mobility__visa__seite.html

I may not be doing any work while I'm in Germany, but the application is free and it's a great way to keep my options open.

The application form is kind of confusing and I'm pretty sure I filled some parts out wrong, but they accepted it anyway.  If you have any questions, call the Consulate.  The woman I talked to at the one in Toronto was very helpful and friendly.

You can either submit the application in person at the German Consulate or mail it in (you have to include your passport with the application, so you might want to send it by registered mail).  Note: if you want to mail it in, you have to get everything notarized.  The annoying thing about submitting it in person is that you need to make an appointment -- you can't just drop it off.  Although, I wonder if they would really turn you away if you just showed up with the application.  Still, I wouldn't try this option as the Germans seem to like their rules.

The processing time for my application was super-fast.  I went and picked it up one week after submitting it!  Compare that to Canadian passport applications/renewals...our system could benefit from some German efficiency!  FYI, there's only a 1-hour window of time each week that you can pick up your visa, and I think it's the same hour every week.  When I did it (in Toronto), it was Wednesdays 1-2pm.  There's also the option of including a return express envelope from Canada Post and they will mail it to you, but I didn't want to risk losing my passport so close to my departure date.