VISA

The working holiday programmes are, based on bilateral arrangements, intended to make it possible for the youth of Japan and its partner countries/regions to enter each country/region primarily for the purpose of spending holidays while allowing them to engage in employment as an incidental activity of their holidays for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds.

The programmes are designed to provide the youth with wider opportunities for them to appreciate the culture and general way of life in the partner countries/regions for the purpose of promoting mutual understanding between Japan and its partner countries/regions.

Japan started the working holiday programmes first with Australia in 1980. As of 1 January, 2025, Japan has introduced the programmes with the following 30 countries/regions.

[NB] Provisionally initiated in December 1999.

To participate in the working holiday programmes, an applicant must satisfy the following requirements. [NB1]

[NB1] The requirements may vary depending on the nationality of the applicant. For further information on visa application procedures, check the website of Japan Embassy/Consulate-General in your country/region or Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (Taipei Office or Kaohsiung Office）.

• For a national of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, Netherlands, Uruguay, Finland, Latvia or Luxembourg, an applicant must be currently residing in his or her country of nationality; for a resident in Hong Kong, an applicant must possess a valid HKSAR or British National Overseas passport; for a resident in Taiwan, an applicant must possess a valid passport of Taiwan.
• Intending primarily to spend holiday in Japan for a specific length of time.
• Being between 18 and 30 years of age both inclusive at the time of application for the visa; As for Australia, Canada, South Korea and Ireland, an applicant should be between 18 and 25 years of age except in those cases where the competent authorities of each applicable country and Japan agree to extend the limitation of age to 30 years. In the case of Iceland, the applicant should be between 18 and 26 years of age.
• Not being accompanied by dependents or children.
• Possessing a valid passport of his or her country/region and a return travel ticket or sufficient funds with which to purchase such a ticket.
• Possessing reasonable funds for the maintenance of his/her stay during the initial period of stay in Japan.
• Being in good health.
• Never having been issued a Japanese working holiday visa in the past. （Except for certain countries listed below[NB2]）

[NB2] Japan made some revisions to Working Holiday Programmes with certain countries and regions.

Starting 1 December, 2024, as for nationals of Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Denmark, and Austria, the Working Holiday Programmes will be allowed for two lifetime occurrences (（1）two consecutive years of stay/two inconsecutive one-year stays in total for nationals of Canada and the United Kingdom, or （2）two inconsecutive one-year stays in total for nationals of New Zealand, Denmark and Austria).

Starting 1 January, 2025, as for nationals of Germany, Ireland, and Slovakia, the Working Holiday Programmes will be allowed for two lifetime occurrences (two inconsecutive one-year stays in total).

For details, please refer to the website of Japan Embassy or Consulate-General in your country.

The application for the visa must be made to Japan Embassy or Consulate-General in your country/region or Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (Taipei Office or Kaohsiung Office）.

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Canada
• South Korea
• France
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Denmark
• Hong Kong
• Norway
• Portugal
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Austria
• Hungary
• Spain
• Argentina
• Chile
• Iceland
• Czech Republic
• Lithuania
• Sweden
• Estonia
• Netherlands
• Uruguay
• Finland
• Latvia
• Luxembourg

Participants in the working holiday programmes are allowed to engage in employment as an incidental activity of their holidays for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds.

The working holiday programmes participants are strictly prohibited from working at bars, cabarets, nightclubs, gambling establishments and other premises affecting public morals in Japan. If a participant works at such a place, he or she is deemed to violate Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and will face deportation except in case where he or she is deemed to be a victim of human trafficking.

It is also to be noted that those who are engaged in having the working holiday programmes participants work at these establishments could face criminal charges for promoting illegal work or human trafficking.

The working holiday programmes participants must visit the municipal office where they live and notify the Ministry of Justice where they live within 14 days of finding a place to settle down. Please check the Immigration Bureau of Japan's website for the detail. (http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html)