Working Holiday
🇯🇵 Japan visas · Tourism
What it is
Allows young people from 32 partner countries to holiday in Japan for up to 1 year with incidental employment. Primary purpose must be holidaying. Falls under the Designated Activities (特定活動) status. Typical holders: domestic workers of diplomats, working holiday participants, foreign nurses under an EPA.
Key facts
- Category
- Tourism
- Duration
- 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, or a period designated individually by the Minister of Justice not exceeding 5 years
- Processing time
- 2 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 1 year
- Extendable
- No
- Age
- 18 to 30
- Health insurance
- Required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (band 14,900-15,100; local amount per mission)
- JPY 15,100
- Application fee (band 29,900-30,100; local amount per mission)
- JPY 30,100
Key requirements
- Age 18 to 30 (or 18 to 25 for some countries)
- National of one of 32 participating countries
- Return ticket or sufficient funds for return travel
- Reasonable funds for initial period of stay
- No accompanying dependents
- Not have previously used a Japan working holiday visa
Working on this visa
Designated Activities (working holiday): incidental work is permitted to supplement travel/living funds during the holiday stay. Holders may not work in adult-entertainment businesses (風俗営業等); the designation certificate sets exact limits.
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 22 July 2026.