| If you are between the ages of 18 and 30 and are a | | | | account with sufficient funds to cover travel |
| citizen of one of the following countries, you qualify | | | | expenses as well as living expenses during your stay |
| to apply for a Working Holiday in Japan visa: | | | | in Japan. This is so you can prove that you can |
| * Australia | | | | financially pay for all of your traveling, including your |
| * New Zealand | | | | expenses while you are in Japan. |
| * United Kingdom | | | | You cannot expect to live completely off of the |
| * Canada | | | | money earned from your temporary working position |
| * France | | | | in Japan. When applying for the Visa, a single traveler |
| * Denmark | | | | needs to demonstrate that they have least the |
| * Germany | | | | equivalent of $2,000 for basic living/travel expenses, |
| * Ireland | | | | while a married couple will need the equivalent of |
| * Republic of Korea | | | | $3,000 or more (varies depending on your nationality). |
| * Taiwan | | | | This must be proven by providing a copy of your |
| * Hong Kong | | | | bank statement as proof when you submit your |
| This is a special visa that is awarded to people who | | | | application for the visa. |
| wish to spend some time vacationing in Japan while | | | | In some cases the visa may be approved or denied |
| working in the process. In order to qualify, your | | | | right away (though this is extremely rare as long as |
| intentions must be focused mainly on taking a | | | | you have the correct paperwork), while in other |
| vacation, with the option of working being a | | | | cases an interview with a visa officer may be |
| secondary perk. | | | | scheduled. This process usually takes up to three |
| If you state that your intention is mainly to work | | | | weeks, so to be safe, you should apply a month or |
| you will be required to apply for a working visa | | | | more before your intended date of departure for the |
| instead. There is also a separate visa for people who | | | | Japan holiday. |
| intend to go to school in Japan. The Working Holiday | | | | While it is generally not necessary at the time of |
| program is designed specifically to give vacationers | | | | your Visa application, you should definitely have travel |
| who want to experience the full culture of Japan, the | | | | insurance or another form of medical coverage that |
| opportunity to work while they are exploring the | | | | will cover any potential medical expenses incurred |
| country. | | | | during the holiday. This is a great idea just to ensure |
| In order to apply for the program, you must visit | | | | you are covered in case you get sick or something |
| your local Embassy of Japan or Consulate-General of | | | | unexpected happens and you are injured. |
| Japan to obtain the application forms. You must then | | | | There is no requirement that you need to know how |
| attach a 45mm picture of yourself to the completed | | | | to speak Japanese, since your primary purpose for |
| application and return it along with the rest of your | | | | the trip is to enjoy a vacation, although knowing at |
| documentation, including: | | | | least a little before departure will make your working |
| * Complete resume on A4 paper. | | | | experience easier and certainly more rewarding. |
| * Outline of activities you have planned for your | | | | Once your visa has been approved and you arrive in |
| vacation in Japan. | | | | Japan, you will have three months to register as a |
| * Statement of your reasons for applying to the | | | | visiting alien. This can be done through the local |
| Working Holiday program, on A4 paper. | | | | government offices wherever you are staying. |
| * Proof that you have a return plane ticket already | | | | We hope this information assists you in preparing for, |
| booked (but not necessarily purchased yet - you | | | | and applying for your Japanese Working Holiday Visa. |
| should not pay for your flights until AFTER you | | | | And above all, we hope you have the time of your |
| receive your Visa), and that you have a bank | | | | life while in Japan! |