・ What countries have Working Holiday Agreements with Japan?

Japan initiated its first Working Holiday Scheme with Australia in December 1980. Since 1st April 2019, Japan has introduced the programme with the following 24 countries.

■ Pacific : Australia (1080), New Zealand (1985)
■ North America : Canada (1986)
■ Latina America : Argentina (2017), Chile (2018)
■ Europe : France (2000), Germany (2000), The united Kingdom (2001), Ireland (2007), Denmark (2007), Norway (2013), Portugal (2015), Poland (2015), Slovakia (2016), Austria (2016), Hungary (2017), Spain (2017), Iceland (2018), Czech (2018), Lithuania (2019), Sweden (2019)
■ Asia : Korea (1999), Taiwan (2009), Hong Kong (2010)

Starting 2020, Japan is planning a Working Holiday agreement with two more countries.
- Estonia
- Netherland

・ How can I apply for a Working Holiday Visa?

You can apply for a Working Holiday Visa at your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. Depending on the country, you can download the application form from the embassy website, print it out, and send it in with the other required documents.

The documents that are required differ slightly for each country but usually include :

■ A valid passport (Some country may ask for a biometric passport)
■ Two passport size photos
■ A resume
■ A letter explaining what you intend to do in Japan detailing your travel plan
■ A letter explaining why you want to apply for the Working Holiday program
■ A proof that you have enough money to support yourself in Japan

You are usually required to visit an embassy or consulate in person at some stage during the application process. Conditions and requirements for Working Holiday Visa applications differ from country to country. Please contact your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate for more information (preferably by telephone).

For more information, please consult the Working Holiday’s page of the embassy of Japan in your country.

Please check on our useful Links for more information about embassy website in Japan.

・ Who can apply for a Japanese Working Holiday Visa?

Citizens of the countries from the list above, who are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old are eligible to apply for Working Holiday Visas.

・ How long can I stay in Japan on a Working Holiday Visa?

Citizens of the countries from the list above can stay in Japan for 12 months.
Citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand have to extend their visas after 6 months.
※ To extend your Working Holiday Visa you will need to visit an immigration office with your passport and your resident card and pay an extension fee of 4000 yen.
More information here.

・ I'm already thirty years old. Can I apply for a Working Holiday Visa?

The answer is yes, you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa up until the day before your 31st birthday.
※ The age of eligibility for British citizens was extended to 30 years of age in November 2008 and the eligibility for Irish citizens was extended to 30 years in July 2015.

・ Do I have to apply for a Working Holiday Visa in my home country?

Yes!
The application for the Working Holiday program in Japan can only be issued at the embassy/consulate to your own country.
If you are abroad at the moment unfortunately you will more than likely have to return to your home country in order to apply for your Working Holiday Visa but please check with the Japanese embassy in your home country first to make sure.

・ My home country did not figure in the list above, Could I still apply for the Working Holiday Visa?

Unfortunetely no.
The Working Holiday scheme is a bilateral agreement between two country. If you wish to apply for a Working Holiday Visa to visit a certain country, your own country have to obtain a Working Holiday Agreement with the country in question.

・ Is it possible to change to another visa from a Working Holiday Visa?

Yes, but the decision depends on the Japanese Immigration Bureau. There are also some visas that you can change to and some that you can't. If you want to apply for an ordinary work visa to work as an English teacher you normally need to have a university degree.
※ For more detailed information please contact your local immigration office if you are already in Japan.

・ Is it possible to leave Japan and come back during a working holiday?

Yes, The working Holiday Visa permits you to stay in Japan during 12 months.
If you would like to travel outside Japan during the validity of your visa it is possible, you will have to fill out a re-entry permit card available at the airport before the departure.

・ Do the same visa rules apply to everyone?

No. There are slight differences in the rules and requirements agreed to each country, and these rules are subject to change. Something you read about Working Holiday Visas may not actually apply to you, or may of course be inaccurate or outdated, so it is always best to contact your local Japanese embassy or consulate if you have any questions about visa application conditions. If you are already in Japan, your local Immigration Bureau Information Center is the best place to ask.

・ Who should I contact when I have questions about Working Holiday Visas?

Usually the best place to ask is your nearest local Japanese embassy or consulate of your home country.
If you are already in Japan, you could ask us or the Immigration Bureau Information Centers. Embassies and consulates usually prefer people to visit them in person or to call them rather than ask questions by email. But be aware that as embassies and consulates are run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and immigration are actually controlled by the Ministry of Justice, unfortunately embassies and consulates are only really able to provide information about visa applications rather than visa-related laws and conditions. If you have a complicated or unusual question about visa rules they might not be able to give you the correct answer.

・ Do I have to renew my Working Holiday Visa after 6 months?

It depends on your home country.
Most of the countries from the Working Holiday Scheme have a visa validity of 12 months. The exception is for Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians who have to renew their visas after 6 months.
※ Australians citizens can stay for a total of 18 months but they need to renew their visa after 6 months and then again after 12 months.

・ Is the Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers responsible for Japanese Working Holiday Visas and the Working Holiday Scheme?

No, we have no say at all.
The Working Holiday Scheme is controlled by the Japanese government. Our goal is to promote the Working Holiday Scheme and to support people who would like to apply and help them to easily get used to Japanese lifestyle.
Feel free to come and visit us at our office in Shinjuku anytime !