Australian citizens living in Australia can apply for a Japanese working holiday visa, and there is no annual cap on the number issued. The visa is free, can only be issued once, and the Embassy of Japan in Australia currently lists the age range as 18 to 30 at the time of application. You start with six months in Japan and can ask Immigration for an extension, which is granted only at its discretion.
Key facts at a glance
- Program start: 1 December 1980, Japan's first working holiday arrangement
- Annual cap: none
- Age: 18 to 30 when you apply (the embassy phrases it as until the day you turn 31)
- Fee: none
- How many times: once only; a second application is not accepted
- Visa type: single entry, valid for entry for one year
- Initial stay: six months from arrival, extendable at Immigration's discretion
- Funds: at least A$2,500 for a single applicant or A$3,500 for a couple
- Processing: at least one week; no priority service
A note on age: MOFA's overview of all programs says the Australia arrangement is based on 18 to 25, with applicants up to 30 accepted when the authorities allow it. The embassy's own page states 18 to 30, so check that page for the current rule.
Who can apply
- Australian citizens living in Australia. If you are travelling or living overseas, you have to come back to Australia to apply. Non-Australian passport holders cannot apply in Australia and should apply in their own country or region.
- Never held a Japanese working holiday visa before.
- Couples (married or de facto) can apply if both meet the requirements and no dependants come with them.
- Good health and good character.
- Enough money for the start of your stay, as above.
The embassy is clear that the purpose of the stay must be a holiday. If your main goal is to work or study in Japan, you should look at a work or study visa instead.
Documents checklist
- Passport: your valid Australian passport plus a copy of the photo page.
- Application form, fully completed. Write N/A for questions that do not apply, such as national ID or Certificate of Eligibility number.
- Photo: about 45 mm x 35 mm, taken within the last six months, with something that proves when it was taken, such as a receipt.
- Flight details: an itinerary to Japan and back from an accredited travel agent or airline, in English and in your name. A one-way ticket is fine if you can show extra money to buy the return flight later.
- Resume covering your personal details, education and work history.
- Proposed schedule on the embassy's template. Fill in the first six months in full, with no entries like "as above" or "unknown". The embassy suggests not staying in one place for more than three months. Note any job already lined up, or state that you have none.
- Statement of purpose: a typed, signed and dated letter of at least one A4 page explaining why you want to go to Japan as a working holiday maker.
- Proof of funds: an Australian bank statement covering three months, no more than a month old, showing your full name and address and enough money for your trip.
You may be asked for more information, and some applicants are invited to an interview.
Where to apply
Applications are made in person; online visa applications are not yet available for Australian residents.
- Canberra and surrounds: the Embassy in Canberra, on weekdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:30. No appointment is needed.
- Elsewhere: the consulate covering your state or territory, namely Sydney (NSW and NT), Perth (WA), Brisbane (Queensland), Cairns, or Melbourne (Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia).
The embassy recommends checking a few months before your trip which office you should use and how long it takes.
Timing
You can apply up to one year before you plan to enter Japan, and the visa is valid for entry for one year. Processing takes at least a week and cannot be fast-tracked, so leave plenty of time if you have flights booked.
Life in Japan on the visa
- Residence card. Arriving at Narita, Haneda, Chubu or Kansai, you receive it at the airport. At other airports, you apply for it at an immigration office when you register your residence. Carry it at all times.
- Extending your stay. The first six months start when you enter Japan. If you want to stay longer, apply at an immigration office before your current period runs out.
- Leaving and coming back. To re-enter on the same visa you need time left on your period of stay, a valid residence card, and either a re-entry permit (for trips over a year) or a special re-entry permit, requested at the airport when you leave (for returns within a year). Leaving without these can end your working holiday by accident.
- Work limits. Jobs at nightclubs, bars, cabarets, dance halls, pachinko parlours and similar venues are not allowed.
- Moving around. The embassy suggests changing region roughly every three months to see more of the country.
Since the embassy encourages moving every few months, flexible furnished housing such as a monthly rental can suit the first base, for example in Tokyo, before you head elsewhere.
Finding work and paying tax
The Employment Service Centers for Foreigners in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, along with Hello Work offices, help job seekers, and some offer English support. Before you leave Japan, ask employers for an English statement of earnings, and contact the Australian Taxation Office when you get home about your Australian tax obligations.
Sources
- Embassy of Japan in Australia「Working Holiday Visa」(checked 2026-10-04)
- 外務省「ワーキング・ホリデー制度」(checked 2026-10-04)
Facts are summarized in our own words; see the linked pages for the official details.
Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.