--- title: "Japan Working Holiday requirements 2026: 1-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/working-holiday/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Japan · Working holiday # Japan Working Holiday **Age limit and funds needed:** Ages and funds vary by passport Working Holiday visa (Designated Activities; 32 partner countries and regions) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 1 yr (One-year stay per participation; Australians are first given 6 months and apply in Japan to extend. Canada and United Kingdom nationals may use two consecutive years or two separate one-year stays; New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Slovakia, South Korea and Taiwan nationals may use two separate one-year stays in a lifetime.) - **Who can apply:** 32 nationalities (Only nationals or residents of the 32 partner countries and regions listed by MOFA as of 1 April 2026.) - **Work:** Casual jobs (Allowed: employment incidental to the stay, to supplement travel funds. Not allowed: work at bars, cabarets, nightclubs and gambling premises.) - **Tax angle:** Tax relief (Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment: Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.) ## Key facts Working Holiday is a working holiday route for Japan. Conditions: ages and funds vary by passport. Local work: casual jobs. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Time and long term **Renewal: Renewable, 2 years max** Each participation is one year; Canada and United Kingdom nationals can use two consecutive years, and some other nationalities can take a second one-year stay. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html) **Where to apply: From abroad** Apply for the working holiday visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your country, subject to the annual limit for your nationality. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Time on this route is capped at 2 years in total - Applications are made from outside Japan, not after arriving - Only for passports from 32 countries - Only for ages 18–30 ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is aged 18 to 30 inclusive at application. - Australian, Canadian and Irish applicants are aged 18 to 30 inclusive at application. - South Korean applicants are aged 18 to 25; up to 30 only where exceptional circumstances are recognised. - The applicant is a national of a partner country and, for most partners, is living in that country when applying. - Hong Kong residents need a HKSAR or BN(O) passport; Taiwan residents need a Taiwan passport. - The primary purpose is a holiday, with no dependents or children accompanying. - The applicant is in good health and has had no earlier Japanese working holiday visa, except where a second participation is allowed. - Canadians can take part in Japan's working holiday programme twice. #### Documents - A valid passport and a return ticket or funds for one are required. #### Steps 1. Annual visa limits: Canada 6,283; South Korea 10,000; Taiwan 10,000; United Kingdom 6,000; France 1,800; Hong Kong 1,500; Ireland 800. 2. Annual visa limits: Spain 700; Italy 500; Poland 500; Slovakia 400; Czechia 400; Argentina 400; Austria 200; Chile 200; Hungary 200; Netherlands 200; Finland 200. 3. Annual visa limits: Lithuania 100; Estonia 100; Uruguay 100; Latvia 100; Luxembourg 100; Malta 100; Iceland 30. 4. Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and Sweden have no annual limit. ## When you become tax resident How Japan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 2 years in total** - **Tax residence:** Resident individuals are domiciled in Japan or have continuous residence of 1 year or more. - **Foreign-source income:** **Remittance basis** Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base. - **Special regime:** **Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment** · Tax relief [All tax rules for Japan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/tax/) Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Bilateral working holiday programmes for young nationals of 32 partner countries and regions, who may take incidental employment to supplement travel funds; some nationalities may now participate twice. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) #### Requirements - The applicant is aged 18 to 30 inclusive at application. (source 1) - Australian, Canadian and Irish applicants are aged 18 to 30 inclusive at application. (sources 1, 4, 2, 5) - South Korean applicants are aged 18 to 25; up to 30 only where exceptional circumstances are recognised. (sources 1, 6, 3) - The applicant is a national of a partner country and, for most partners, is living in that country when applying. (source 1) - Hong Kong residents need a HKSAR or BN(O) passport; Taiwan residents need a Taiwan passport. (source 1) - The primary purpose is a holiday, with no dependents or children accompanying. (source 1) - The applicant is in good health and has had no earlier Japanese working holiday visa, except where a second participation is allowed. (source 1) - Canadians can take part in Japan's working holiday programme twice. (source 2) - A valid passport and a return ticket or funds for one are required. (source 1) - Annual visa limits: Canada 6,283; South Korea 10,000; Taiwan 10,000; United Kingdom 6,000; France 1,800; Hong Kong 1,500; Ireland 800. (source 1) - Annual visa limits: Spain 700; Italy 500; Poland 500; Slovakia 400; Czechia 400; Argentina 400; Austria 200; Chile 200; Hungary 200; Netherlands 200; Finland 200. (source 1) - Annual visa limits: Lithuania 100; Estonia 100; Uruguay 100; Latvia 100; Luxembourg 100; Malta 100; Iceland 30. (source 1) - Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and Sweden have no annual limit. (source 1) #### Stay - One-year stay per participation; Australians are first given 6 months and apply in Japan to extend. Canada and United Kingdom nationals may use two consecutive years or two separate one-year stays; New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Slovakia, South Korea and Taiwan nationals may use two separate one-year stays in a lifetime. - Initial permitted stay: 12 months. - Not renewable according to our source. #### Nationality Only nationals or residents of the 32 partner countries and regions listed by MOFA as of 1 April 2026. Open to: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Czechia, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, Netherlands, Uruguay, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Italy. #### Work Allowed: employment incidental to the stay, to supplement travel funds. Not allowed: work at bars, cabarets, nightclubs and gambling premises. #### Family Dependents and children may not accompany the participant. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan (MOFA, 1 April 2026)](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-04-01 2. [Work and travel in Japan: International Experience Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadians/international-experience-canada/work-travel-japan.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-12 3. [Working Holiday: partner countries and age limits (Korean)](https://whic.mofa.go.kr/whic/about/working.jsp) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea (Working Holiday Information Center) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Working Holiday Visa: eligibility, funds and application (Embassy of Japan in Australia)](https://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/visa_workingholiday_en.html) · Embassy of Japan in Australia · checked 2026-10-12 5. [Working Holiday Scheme between Japan and Ireland: prerequisites and application (Embassy of Japan in Ireland)](https://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000070.html) · Embassy of Japan in Ireland · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-02-24 6. [Working Holiday visa guide for nationals of the Republic of Korea (Embassy of Japan in Korea, Korean)](https://www.kr.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ko/visa_working.html) · Embassy of Japan in Korea · checked 2026-10-12 7. [2026 Japan-Korea Working Holiday visa application notice (Embassy of Japan in Korea, Korean)](https://www.kr.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ko/working_holiday_2026.html) · Embassy of Japan in Korea · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-12-22 ## Working Holiday and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Working Holiday | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs | | [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e35-work-and-holiday/) Indonesia | – | 1 yr, renewable | Casual jobs | | [Work Holiday · AU & NZ](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-whvp/) Singapore | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs | | [Working Holiday (H-1)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/working-holiday-h1/) South Korea | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs | | [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/working-holiday/) Taiwan | – | 6 mo | Casual jobs | ## Questions people ask ### How long can I stay on the Working Holiday? One-year stay per participation; Australians are first given 6 months and apply in Japan to extend. ### Can I work on the Working Holiday? Casual jobs. Allowed: employment incidental to the stay, to supplement travel funds. ### Can I bring my family on the Working Holiday? Dependents and children may not accompany the participant. ### Who can apply for the Working Holiday? Only nationals or residents of the 32 partner countries and regions listed by MOFA as of 1 April 2026. Open to: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Czechia, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, Netherlands, Uruguay, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Italy. ### Is there a tax break for Working Holiday holders in Japan? Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment: Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions. ## Tax Special regime ### [Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/tax/#tax-jp-non-permanent-resident-remittance-basis) Tax relief Foreign-source income: Remittance basis **Details** - Who: Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base. #### Taxed on Income tax on all Japan-source income plus foreign-source income that is paid in Japan or remitted to Japan from abroad, at the progressive national rates of 5% to 45%. #### Who it applies to - Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more. - Non-Japanese nationality. - Domicile or residence in Japan for an aggregate of five years or less within the preceding ten years. #### Exclusions - Japan-source income, including pay for work performed in Japan, is taxed in full. - Residents who are not non-permanent residents are taxed on worldwide income. #### Tax residence Resident = domicile, or continuous residence of one year or more. Non-permanent resident = non-Japanese national resident for an aggregate of five years or less in the preceding ten years. Based on facts, not visa type. #### Visas No visa grants this treatment; it follows tax residence and nationality. #### Other taxes Consumption tax: standard rate 10% (7.8% national plus 2.2% local) and reduced rate 8% (6.24% national plus 1.76% local). Local inhabitant tax and social insurance are separate. Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/tax/) ## More in Japan [J-Find](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/j-find/) [Digital nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/designated-activities-digital-nomad/) [Business Manager](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/business-manager/) [Startup visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/startup-designated-activities/) [Engineer/Specialist visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/engineer-specialist/) [Highly Skilled Professional](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/highly-skilled-professional/) [Instructor visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/instructor/) [Intra-company transfer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/intra-company-transferee/) ## Similar visas elsewhere [🇭🇰 Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/working-holiday/) [🇦🇺 Work and Holiday 462](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/australia/work-holiday-462/) [🇳🇿 Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/new-zealand/working-holiday/) ## Head to head ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan (MOFA, 1 April 2026)](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Work and travel in Japan: International Experience Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadians/international-experience-canada/work-travel-japan.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-12 3. [Working Holiday: partner countries and age limits (Korean)](https://whic.mofa.go.kr/whic/about/working.jsp) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea (Working Holiday Information Center) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Working Holiday Visa: eligibility, funds and application (Embassy of Japan in Australia)](https://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/visa_workingholiday_en.html) · Embassy of Japan in Australia · checked 2026-10-12 5. [Working Holiday Scheme between Japan and Ireland: prerequisites and application (Embassy of Japan in Ireland)](https://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000070.html) · Embassy of Japan in Ireland · checked 2026-10-12 6. [Working Holiday visa guide for nationals of the Republic of Korea (Embassy of Japan in Korea, Korean)](https://www.kr.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ko/visa_working.html) · Embassy of Japan in Korea · checked 2026-10-12 7. [2026 Japan-Korea Working Holiday visa application notice (Embassy of Japan in Korea, Korean)](https://www.kr.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ko/working_holiday_2026.html) · Embassy of Japan in Korea · checked 2026-10-12 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.