Visa Issuance for the Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program to be Increased Ahead of Schedule

September 21, 2011
Japanese

On September 20, the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) exchanged the Notes Verbale on the increased issuance of visas for the Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program ahead of schedule. As a result, the annual ceiling on Japan-ROK working holiday visa issuance set by respective government will be increased from 7,200 to 10,000, starting from October 1, 2011, rather than January 1, 2012 as initially scheduled.
It is expected that the increased issuance of visas for the Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program will further enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

[Reference]
Joint Press Announcement on the occasion of the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting in April 2008 (section concerning the Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program)

“Both leaders shared the recognition that the Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program is playing a significant role in bolstering understanding and friendship between the younger generations of the two countries. The leaders agreed to increase participants of the Japan-ROK Working Holiday program from each country to up to 7,200 per year, which is double the current limit, by 2009 and to 10,000 per year by 2012, and to continue dialogue, while taking measures to ensure the proper use of the Program and to increase the number of youths applying for the Program in both countries.”

(*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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