Press Releases

1. On April 28, on the occasion of the reception commemorating the 75th Independence Day of the State of Israel held at the Ambassador’s residence of Israel in Tokyo, the “Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the State of Israel regarding Working Holiday Visas” (Japanese (PDF) /English(PDF) /Hebrew(PDF)) was signed by H.E. Mr. YAMADA Kenji, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and H.E. Mr. Gilad COHEN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Japan.
2. This Agreement permits a citizen of the other country who possesses a valid working holiday visa to stay for a period not to exceed twelve months from the date of entry, and allows to undertake paid employment as an incidental activity of his or her holiday for the purpose of supplementing his or her travel funds.
3. This Agreement will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the latter of the dates of receipt of the diplomatic notes by which the Government of Japan and the Government of the State of Israel notify each other of the completion of their respective internal procedures necessary for this Agreement to enter into force.
4. It is expected that the start of the working holiday program will promote youth exchanges and mutual understanding, and further deepen the friendly relationship between the two countries.

[Reference] The Working Holiday Programs in Japan

• （1）The working holiday programs are, based on bilateral arrangements, designed to provide the youth of Japan and its partner countries/regions 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. The programs are intended to make it possible for the youth 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.
• （2）Israel will be the 31st country/region in total, and the first country in the Middle East to which Japan will introduce a working holiday program.