So, you’ve decided on Japan for your working holiday visa application. What a thrilling choice. Japan is a beautiful country filled with a unique culture, fascinating history, and delicious food! Before you can embark on your journey, you’ll need to obtain a working holiday visa.

Obtaining a working holiday visa can be a bit of a dauting task, but Alliance Visas helps first time applicants with the entire process. Using the general guide below, you’re sure to obtain your working holiday visa for Japan!

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

The general rule of thumb for a working holiday visa eligibility is you need to be between the ages of 18 and 35. However, each country has their own age requirements that you need to consider before applying.

Japan has working holiday agreements with 23 countries. Similar to a working holiday visa in Canada, Japan’s age requirements are between the age of 18 and 30. However, there are some sub requirements for specific countries.

If your country of citizenship is Canada or Australia, you are required to be between 18 and 25, but no older. People from Iceland however are allowed to apply up through the age of 26. The remaining countries on the list are allowed up to the age of 30.

Step 2: Confirm and prove your funding

Japan requires a specific amount of funding per country of citizenship. The funding requirements for a working holiday in Canada for example will be different than the requirements for a working holiday visa in Japan. For example, these are the minimum funding requirements for citizens coming from Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, and Iceland.

  • Australia: A$2500 for a single person, and A$3500 for a couple
  • Canada: $3500 for a single person, and $4500 for a couple
  • Iceland: 400,000 ISK or 200,000 ISK if the applicant has their ticket to and from Japan already.
  • United Kingdom: 2500 UK funds or 1500 UK funds if the applicant has a returning flight ticket in possession already.

Step 3: Create your itinerary

Creating an itinerary is by far the most exciting part of the application process. Alliance Visas can provide you with plenty of ideas on things you’ll want to consider doing on your working holiday visa in Japan. Many general activities will overlap with other countries. For example, activities that would be recommended on a working holiday visa for Canada will also be mentioned for a working holiday visa in Japan.

The reason the Japanese embassy wants to see your itinerary is, so they know you are there to also experience the culture, experience new things, meet new people, etc. This is a working holiday visa after all, not just a job transfer!

Step 5: Proof of employment

The most important step of the application process is providing proof of employment with a job transfer letter or a letter from your soon to be employer stating they have hired you along with the dates of employment. You do not need this job to be the entire duration of your trip as the embassy is aware that you’ll likely be switching jobs throughout your stay!

Step 4: Fill out and submit your application!

With the help of Alliance Visas, your application process is guaranteed to go smoothly. The trained agents will help you prepare all of the documentation requirements mentioned above and submit them to the embassy for approval. The application process can be the most daunting part, but Alliance Visas is here to help you along the way. Obtaining your working holiday visa for Japan is as easy as obtaining a working holiday visa to Canada with their help.