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Working holiday

Japan Working Holiday Visa 2026: 32 Partner Countries, Age Limits and How to Apply

Japan's working holiday visa lets young people from partner countries and regions spend an extended holiday in Japan and take jobs along the way to help pay for the trip. As of 1 April 2026, Japan has working holiday arrangements with 32 countries and regions, and the standard age window is 18 to 30 at the time of application. You apply from your home country or region, not from inside Japan.

What the program is, and what it is not

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) frames the working holiday as a holiday first. Work is permitted only as a side activity to top up travel and living money, and the stated aim is cultural exchange and mutual understanding. That framing shapes how applications are read: embassies look for people who plan to travel and experience daily life in Japan, not people whose main goal is a job. If full-time employment is what you want, a regular work visa is the right route.

The 32 partners and their annual caps (as of 1 April 2026)

Japan's first program started with Australia in 1980; the newest partners are Malta and Italy, both added in 2026. MOFA publishes an annual cap for each partner. Grouped by size, the Japan-bound caps are:

  • No cap: Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden
  • 10,000: South Korea, Taiwan
  • 6,000 to 6,283: United Kingdom (6,000), Canada (6,283)
  • 1,500 to 1,800: France (1,800), Hong Kong (1,500)
  • 400 to 800: Ireland (800), Spain (700), Poland (500), Italy (500), Argentina (400), Slovakia (400), Czech Republic (400)
  • 200: Austria, Hungary, Chile, Netherlands, Finland
  • 100: Lithuania, Estonia, Uruguay, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta
  • 30: Iceland

For Argentina, Estonia and Finland the cap differs by direction; the figure above is the one for people coming to Japan.

Baseline eligibility

Each partner has its own rules, but MOFA lists a common baseline. In general you must:

  • be a national or resident of the partner country or region and be living there when you apply
  • intend mainly to spend a holiday in Japan for a set period
  • be 18 to 30 when you apply (for Australia, Canada, South Korea and Ireland the baseline is 18 to 25, but the authorities can accept applicants up to 30)
  • not bring children or other dependants
  • hold a valid passport and a return ticket, or enough money to buy one
  • have enough money to support yourself at the start of your stay
  • be in good health
  • not have held a Japanese working holiday visa before, unless your partner is one of the exceptions below

Can you go twice?

Japan has been revising several programs since December 2024. People from New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Slovakia, South Korea and Taiwan can now join the program in Japan up to twice in a lifetime. Canadian and British nationals can take part twice in a lifetime or for two consecutive years. For other partners, the one-time rule still applies unless their terms change.

How long can you stay?

MOFA's overview does not give one stay length, because it is set in each arrangement. The Japanese embassy pages show how much it varies. Korean participants get up to one year per visa and cannot extend it inside Japan. Participants from Taiwan can stay up to one year from the day they land. Australians are first granted six months and may ask Immigration for an extension, which is not guaranteed. Always check the page for your own country.

How to apply

Apply to the Japanese embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Taiwan is handled by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association rather than an embassy. Procedures differ widely: some offices accept walk-in applications, some only take applications through designated agencies, and some open fixed application windows a few times a year. Read your local office's page closely.

A typical document set includes an application form and photo, your passport, a CV, a statement of why you want a working holiday, a rough plan for your time in Japan, and proof of funds. Write the personal documents yourself. MOFA warns that some agencies advertising visa help have mishandled paperwork, and says applicants should confirm requirements directly with official sources even when they use an agent.

Rules once you are in Japan

  • No adult-entertainment work. Working holiday makers may not work in businesses covered by Japan's law on adult entertainment businesses, such as hostess bars and cabarets. Doing so is grounds for deportation.
  • Read your designation. A designation document attached to your passport sets out the activities you are permitted, including any work limits.
  • Register your address. Once you decide where you will live, report it at the city, ward or town office within 14 days.
  • Get help finding work. The Employment Service Centers for Foreigners in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka, and Hello Work offices nationwide, can help working holiday makers find jobs.

Many participants arrive without a long-term lease. A furnished monthly rental can serve as a base for the first weeks while you register, set up a phone and bank account, and look for work.

Common misunderstandings

  • "This agency is the official partner." MOFA states that it does not work with any private organization to run the program.
  • "I can apply after I arrive." Applications are made in your partner country or region. The Japanese embassy in Australia, for example, tells citizens who are abroad to return home to apply.
  • "It is first come, first served." Not necessarily. The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, for example, says its selection does not depend on application order.

Sources

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.