Work and Travel in Japan with a Working Holiday Visa (2024)

The working holiday system allows travellers to experience the culture and life of a country while working in order to supplement living expenses. As of June 2024, there are 30 countries that have working holiday systems with Japan. It is a great opportunity to work and travel in Japan.

First Published: 2022-11-28
Updated: 2024-07-03

Table of Contents

1. What is Japan’s “working holiday” system?
2. Working Holiday Visa Japan Requirements and Application
3. Important Things to Know About Working Holiday in Japan
4. Change from Working Holiday Visa to Work Visa
5. Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats

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What is Japan’s “working holiday” programme?

Based on bilateral agreements with partner countries and regions, the working holiday programme’s primary objective is to allow youths from Japan and other countries to spend their holidays in a foreign country whilst engaged in employment to supplement funds for their travel and stay. The aim is to deepen mutual understanding by providing opportunities to understand the culture and lifestyle of the destination country or region. 

Working Holiday in Japan Eligible Countries and Regions 

As of June 2024, as published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website, 30 countries/regions have been granted working holidays to Japan. Since the first working holiday agreement between Australia and Japan in 1980, Japan has continued making agreements with other countries over the years. 

Each country / region has a maximum number of working holiday visas issued per year, aka yearly issue quota, so check carefully and apply early if you want to make the cut. 

※ MOFA, “The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan” [June 3, 2024]

Working Holiday in Japan Statistics (2024 Updated)

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “2023 Visa Issuance Statistics (ビザ（査証）発給統計)”, a total of 18,075 people have obtained working holiday visas to Japan. South Korea, or the Republic of Korea, held the highest number at 5,834, followed by Taiwan with 3,290 people, indicative of its high popularity among neighbouring countries. 

More than 1,000 people from Australia and France have obtained working holiday visas to Japan showing the popularity of working and travelling in Japan among English speaking countries.

※ MOFA, “令和５年（2023年）ビザ（査証）発給統計” [2024.06.25]

Working Holiday Visa

The status of residence (visa type) for working holiday in Japan is “Designated Activities”. Foreign nationals staying in Japan for a working holiday are granted “Designated Activities No.5” or “Designated Activities No.5/2”. 

Unlike work visas and tourist visas, working holiday visas have no restriction on working time or activities. You can divide your time between vacationing and experiencing life and culture in Japan, or focus on work to supplement your living expenses. 

Working Holiday Period of Stay

The period of stay for working holiday visas in Japan is 6 months with one time renewal allowed to a maximum of 1 year stay. No further extensions are allowed. 

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Working Holiday Visa Japan Requirements and Application

“Working Holiday” is a specific activity and categorised as a type of “designated activities (特定活動)” visa. A working holiday visa allows the visa holder to spend a certain period of time on vacation to learn about Japanese culture and lifestyles, or work to supplement living expenses. 

Here are the requirements for a working holiday visa in Japan: 

• Be a citizen or resident of a country / region that has a working holiday agreement with Japan
• Main intention is to spend a holiday in Japan for a certain period of time
• Must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application (restrictions vary by country)
• Cannot bring children or dependents
• Have a valid passport and a return ticket (enough funds for ticket purchase is also acceptable)
• Possession of funds necessary to maintain livelihood during the initial period of stay
• Be in good health
• Never been issued a Japanese working holiday visa before

Vist the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country to apply for a working holiday visa. Please note that the requirements differ slightly depending on the country / region, so inquire with your embassy or consulate beforehand. 

Important Things to Know About Working Holiday in Japan

As we mentioned above, the number of times you can use the working holiday system is limited to 1, and the procedure may vary depending on your country of origin, so it is necessary to check in advance. Here are some additional points to note when visiting Japan on a working holiday.

Occupation Prohibitions

Yes, you can work whilst on a working holiday, but not in the entertainment industries. Jobs related to entertainment business include snack bars, host/hostess clubs, and pachinko parlours. 

Since the main purpose of the working holiday visa is to travel in Japan and learn about Japanese culture and lifestyle, with working being an incidental activity to support that purpose, there are no restrictions on work type other than prohibition of entertainment industries. There is no restriction on working hours unlike international students with status of residence “student (留学)”, so you can freely choose working hours, employment type, occupation, etc. 

Only Once

Working holidays can only be done once per country. In other words, people who have come to Japan on a working holiday visa before cannot do so again. On their next visit to Japan, it must be on a different type of visa or status of residence. 

Working holidays are the only type of visa that allows you to stay in Japan for up to 1 year with almost no work restrictions. Therefore, schedule it carefully to make the most of it. After returning from Japan, it is possible to go to a different country on a working holiday visa, provided your home country has a bilateral agreement. 

No Need to Join Employment Insurance

Foreign nationals working on a working holiday visa do not need to sign-up for employment insurance. This is because the purpose of a working holiday is for “holiday” and not “work”. 

However, you will need to sign-up for other social insurances, namely pension insurance, health insurance, and worker's accident insurance​. This is because those on working holiday are still subject to the same social insurances as local residents.

Income Tax is 20.42%

Foreign nationals working in Japan under a working holiday visa are considered “non-residents (非居住者)” according to tax law due to their period of stay being not more than a year. The income tax rate (including Special Income Tax for Reconstruction) that applies is 20.42%, it is a standard tax rate that applies regardless of income amount. 

If you stay for more than a year, you will be taxed as a “resident”. 

Change from Working Holiday Visa to Work Visa

Did you know that depending on the country of origin, it is possible to change to a working visa after coming to Japan on a working holiday? Countries that are possible to do this include Australia, Canada, and South Korea. Applications need to be submitted 3 months before the working holiday visa expires, so prepare in advance and schedule properly.

As for Taiwan, France, the United Kingdom, etc. countries, working visa holders must return to their home countries after the period of stay ends. If you want to return to Japan to work, you will need to use the regular work visa route and seek visa sponsorship in which your employer will apply for a “Certificate of Eligibility” on your behalf. Or, if you simply want to come to Japan on vacation, then a Japan short-term stay tourist visa (unless you are from a visa-exempt country). 

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