For the purpose of promoting greater mutual understanding between Japan and Canada, the governments of these two countries agreed in 1986 to start a working holiday scheme to help encourage the exchange of young people. This program makes it possible for citizens of one country to enter the other primarily for a holiday over an extended period, and to engage in employment as an incidental aspect of their trip in order to supplement their travel funds.
With this visa, Canadian citizens need not obtain further permission to engage in remunerative activities while in Japan. However, this program is not designed for persons who mainly intend to work or to study.
The applicants’ primary purpose of stay should be to “holiday” in Japan. Therefore, applicants who intend primarily to work or to study cannot apply for this visa.
Working Holiday participants are strictly prohibited from working at places affecting public morals such as bars, cabarets, nightclubs, etc.
As of December 1, 2024, the Working Holiday Visa can be granted twice in a lifetime (two one-year periods of stay obtained on separate occasions), or for one period of stay of two years (two one-year periods of stay obtained consecutively). The Government of Japan, on a reciprocal basis, will be granted, free of charge, a single-entry visa for the Working Holiday to persons who satisfy the requirements outlined below:
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| Prerequisites for Working Holiday Visa applicants |
Applicants for the Working Holiday Visa must:
1. Be a Canadian citizen who currently resides in Canada.
2. Intend primarily to stay in Japan for a specific length of time with mainly for vacation purposes.
3. Be between 18 and 30 years of age, inclusively, at the time of application.
4. Possess a valid Canadian passport.
5. Possess s return travel ticket or sufficient funds to cover the travel expenses.
6. Possess reasonable funds to support themselves, including medical expenses, during the initial period of stay in Japan.
7. Have never obtained the Japanese Working Holiday Visa before or obtained it only once in the past but have not extended their stay in Japan longer than one year under the Working Holiday Program.
8. Be in good health and have no criminal record.
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| Procedure for applying for a Working Holiday Visa |
Applicants for the Working Holiday Visa are required to submit the following:
- Valid Canadian passport
- Completed visa application form ("Guarantor or Reference in Japan", as well as "Inviter in Japan" section may not apply to most applicants. Please indicate N/A in such a case.)
- One photo (45x35mm or 2x1.4in, taken within the last 6 months)
- Personal resume/curriculum vitae (Form)
- Detailed itinerary of your stay in Japan (Form)
- Letter explaining the reason of your Working Holiday Visa application.
- The most recent bank statement with a minimum balance of $3,500 ($4,500 for a married couple) in Canadian dollars.
- Travel ticket or itinerary. If you are unable to provide tickets at the time of application, add an additional reasonable travel expenses amount to the above.
- Doctor’s note from a physician stating that you are in good health to travel abroad.
The applicant must apply for a visa in person with an appointment (Please call 416-216-1829 9am-12pm/ 1:30pm-4:00pm). Applications submitted by agents or group will not be accepted. Application must be made at least three weeks before the anticipated departure date. Applications submitted on short notice will not be accepted.
Processing time of visa application:
* 7 business days.
Please note that the above information may be changed without notice.
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| Other Information |
- It is recommended that insurance coverage be arranged before leaving Canada as stipulated under the conditions of employment for the Working Holiday Visa. The period of employment in Japan is usually not long enough to qualify for coverage undertaken by the employers or companies.
- Applicants must enter Japan within 1 year after the date of issue of the visa; the visa is valid for 1 year. The initial 1-year period of the Landing Permit will start from the date of your entry.
- A period of stay of up to 1 year may be initially granted at the port of entry. This may be extended for up to an additional 1 year by the Immigration Authorities in Japan, if you have not already stayed in Japan longer than one year in total under this program.
- Working Holiday Visas are for a single entry only. Therefore, if the Working Holiday participant needs to leave Japan for any reason and wishes to return to Japan, that person must obtain a re-entry permit from the Immigration Authorities before leaving Japan.
- Working Holiday visitors will be granted a Residence Card at the port of entry. Please visit a local municipal office in Japan with your residence card within 14 days once you find a place to reside.
- If you earned income in Japan, ask for a statement of earnings written in English while in Japan and contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to receive the appropriate information when you return to Canada.
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