Explore, live, and work on a Working Holiday visa in Japan

Updated November 2025

The Working Holiday visa is a unique opportunity for young people to explore Japan, work part-time, and experience local life. Many also see it as a first step toward long-term stays, including studying abroad in Japan.

Please remember to check your local country’s guidelines and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan website. This is a general overview of Working Holiday visas.

This blog article will explain:

• Who is eligible for a Working Holiday visa in Japan
• How to apply and work while on a Working Holiday visa
• Rules and restrictions for studying
• Updated 2025 guidance on switching from a Working Holiday visa to a student visa

What is the Working Holiday visa?

The Working Holiday visa is a reciprocal visa program for young adults from partner countries. Things to note:

• It allows extended stays in Japan for travel, work, and study.
• Typical age range: 18–30 years, depending on your nationality. You may apply if you have already turned 30, as long as the application is submitted before your 31st birthday.
• Duration: Usually 12 months, with some countries allowing 18 months.
• You must apply from your home country; it cannot be converted from another long-term visa inside Japan.
• Once granted, you’ll receive a residence card (zairyū card), which you will use for work, registration, and daily life.

Who can apply?

• Citizens of the 30 Working Holiday visa partner countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, UK, etc).
• Applicants must meet age limits and other eligibility criteria specific to their country.
• Required documents typically include: passport, proof of sufficient funds, return ticket (or proof of means to purchase), health/travel insurance, and completed application forms.
• Check with your local Japanese embassy or consulate for the latest requirements.

To know whether your country has a Working Holiday agreement with Japan, check the Japanese embassy’s website in your country or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan website.

Working and living in Japan on a Working Holiday visa

A Working Holiday visa gives you the flexibility to work while exploring Japan, but it’s important to understand which types of employment are realistic and how your choices may affect future visas. The work that you find on your Working Holiday visa is exactly that — work to enjoy your holiday. Find something fun that you will enjoy doing!

Types of work you can do

Most Working Holiday visa holders find part-time or temporary work in sectors such as:

• Hospitality and service (hotels, ryokan, guesthouses, cafes, restaurants, konbini, etc.)
• Seasonal work (ski resorts, tourism work, seasonal farms, etc.)
• Teaching English
• Retail and administration
• Tutoring and childcare

These industries regularly hire Working Holiday participants because the roles are flexible and don’t require long-term visa sponsorship.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, it is important to note that individuals on this visa are “strictly prohibited from working at bars, cabarets, nightclubs, gambling establishments and other premises affecting public morals in Japan.”

Studying Japanese while on a Working Holiday visa

Generally, you are free to study Japanese during your Working Holiday visa. Many people take short-term intensive courses or combine work with online study.

However, not all study completed on a Working Holiday visa will count toward a future student visa. Schools and immigration require documented, verifiable study hours — something many Working Holiday visa study arrangements do not automatically guarantee.

Rules and restrictions for a Working Holiday visa in Japan

Aside from the standard age and nationality limitations, additional rules vary by country. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the visa agreement between Japan and your home country. For example, citizens of some countries are granted a six-month visa, with the option to extend for an additional six months.

Rules are subject to change, and a lot of information online may be outdated. For accurate information on how to apply for the Working Holiday visa in Japan, contact your local Japanese embassy or consulate.

Keep in mind that many people can only apply for the Working Holiday visa from their own country. If you are already in Japan on a tourist visa and have decided to do a working holiday, you might have to go home first and apply from there.

After you have been approved for a Working Holiday visa in Japan, and have arrived in the country, you will receive a Japanese residence zairyū card. The Japanese residence card will have an entry and validity period, and you are able to leave and re-enter Japan as many times as you want. Each time you leave the country, make sure to fill out a re-entry permit form at the airport, which immigration will staple into your passport before you head out. You will encounter this border process after you go through security.

Once your Working Holiday visa in Japan is close to expiring, and you are ready to leave Japan for good, make sure to have your Japanese residence card hole punched upon your departure at the airport to avoid any confusion if you travel to the country again in the future.

2025 update – second (or multiple) Working Holiday visas: Some nationalities can now apply for a second or additional Working Holiday visas in their lifetime, as long as they meet the standard requirements and have completed any previous visas without violations. Check with your local Japanese embassy for the latest eligibility rules.

How do I switch from a Working Holiday visa to a student visa in Japan?

Many Working Holiday visa holders hope to stay in Japan longer by continuing their studies — but the process is not always straightforward. It’s important to understand the limitations, timelines, and study requirements before your Working Holiday ends.

You may not be able to switch inside Japan

Depending on your nationality, changing from a Working Holiday visa to a student visa inside Japan may not be allowed.

For several countries, Working Holiday visa holders must:

• Return to their home country, and
• Apply for the student visa as a new overseas applicant

Because these rules vary by country, always check the specific requirements issued by your local Japanese embassy or consulate. Do this early to avoid any last-minute surprises.

Student visa timelines are fixed

Working Holiday visa holders follow the same application timeline as everyone else. You cannot fast-track a student visa.

Typical deadlines:

• Applications open four to six months before the start of the school term
• Schools stop accepting applications once their quota is reached
• Missing these windows may mean waiting several months for the next intake

This is why planning ahead is essential — especially if your Working Holiday visa is ending near major start dates like April or October.

The 150-hour Japanese study requirement

Language schools require applicants to show at least 150 hours of Japanese study when applying for a student visa. This is used to demonstrate genuine study intention and readiness for an intensive program.

What counts:

• Formal classroom lessons with attendance records
• Certified online Japanese courses with completion data
• Structured programs that issue official documentation

What does not count:

• Casual self-study
• Mobile apps without official verification
• “Learning by living in Japan” without any documentation

Attendance matters
Even if you enroll in a three-month course, low attendance may result in hours not being accepted. Some schools strictly verify transcripts and may even reject applications if the hours are not fully documented.

Without this proof, your student visa application can be rejected — even if you have lived in Japan for months on a Working Holiday visa.

Using your Working Holiday visa to meet the 150 hours

Your Working Holiday Visa is the ideal time to complete the 150 hours required for a future student visa. You can choose whatever study style fits your schedule, as long as it produces official documentation.

Options include:

• Three-month Japanese language courses
  These typically cover 150–200 hours and issue proper transcripts. High attendance is essential.
  
• Verified online Japanese courses
  Flexible for Working Holiday visa holders balancing work and travel, and ideal for building hours steadily while living in Japan.
  
• Other structured study programs
  These may also count, but only if they can provide reliable proof of completed hours (certificates, progress reports, etc.).

By completing your study hours during your Working Holiday visa, you can set yourself up for a smooth and successful transition to long-term study in Japan.

I want to study Japanese — which visa option is better?

While it’s possible for you to study Japanese while on a Working Holiday visa, the truth is that a student visa is the better option for serious language study. One possibility to consider is starting on a Working Holiday visa to see if living and studying in Japan is the right experience for you (while also meeting the 150-hour language requirement for a student visa). You can then return to your home country, get your student visa, and then move back to Japan and fully immerse yourself in the language and country for a longer period of time.

While we don’t provide direct assistance with Working Holiday visas, Go! Go! Nihon can help you apply for a language school if you possess this visa. Contact us to learn more so you can get your Japan journey started. Check out our blog to learn more about life in Japan, Japanese culture, and Japanese language.