Working Holiday Visa for Australian Citizens

The Governments of Japan and Australia commenced the Japan-Australia Working Holiday Arrangements as of 1 December 1980. The arrangement is intended to promote personal exchange between young people of Japan and Australia. It provides the opportunity for both Japanese visiting Australia and Australians visiting Japan to undertake casual employment in order to supplement their holiday expenses while travelling for an extended period.


IMPORTANT:

1. This programme is not designed for persons who mainly intend to work or study in Japan (for which purposes the appropriate visa should be sought)
 

ELIGIBLITY

To be eligible to participate in the Working Holiday Arrangement, one must satisfy the following requirements:

• (A) Be an Australian citizen and currently reside in Australia. Accordingly, Australian citizens who are travelling or living abroad will not be eligible. In the case when a married couple wish to enter Japan under the Working Holiday Arrangement and one of the spouses is not an Australian citizen, that spouse will not be eligible
• (B) Intend primarily to holiday in Japan for an extended period. It is considered inappropriate for people such as professional sports persons, models and entertainers to engage in their professional activities during their stay in Japan
• (C) Be aged between 18-30 (both inclusive) at the time of application for visa and never previously obtained a Working Holiday Visa
• (D) Not be accompanied by children
• (E) Possess a valid passport
• (F) Possess a reasonable amount of funds for one’s maintenance during the initial period of the stay in Japan. The minimum amount for a single person is $2500 and for a married couple $3500. Please note in addition to the $2500, further funds must be available to pay for the airline ticket to and from Japan.
• (G) Be in good physical and mental health and be of good character.

• *PLEASE DO NOT STAPLE ANY DOCUMENTS TOGETHER.
  *ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE PRINTED PRIOR TO VISITING OUR OFFICE. WE CANNOT PRINT ANY MISSING DOCUMENTS FOR YOU.
   
   
  • 1. CURRENT AUSTRALIAN ORIGINAL VALID PASSPORT (no copies)
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  • 2. COMPLETED VISA APPLICATION FORM 
  • (All sections must be filled out, the "criminal record if any" in particular must be answered. If a question does not apply to you please write "N/A".)
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  • 3. RECENTLY TAKEN PROPER PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOGRAPH 
  • You are required to attach (glue or take) an Australian standard size passport photograph in the space provided - the same type used to apply for an Australian passport (plain background and taken within the last six months.)
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  • 4. RESUME
    Include your educational background, work experience, hobbies and other relevant information.
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  • 5. PURPOSE OF VISIT (at least A4 in length)
    This statement should include the following:
  • - Your past interests and how it relates to this trip
  • - intended activities whilst in Japan
  • - How this trip relates to your future plans
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  • 6. PROPOSED SCHEDULE (form provided here)
    Intended schedule for the first 6 months must be completed without writing “as above” or “unknown”. Only listing a few acitivties for each month is not accepted. Please fill up the schedule with as many intended holiday activities in Japan as possible for each month. 
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    Please note you cannot stay in one region for more than 3 months as this visa is intended to travel around Japan with the main purpose being to holiday.
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  • 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    Transaction record or bank statement for your savings bank account showing the last 3 months up until your visa application day (or day before) worth of transactions to show you are able to support yourself for the duration of your trip.
    The number of transactions is irrelevant. Please ensure your full name the dates and sufficient funds are visible. Any large deposits must be verified using documentation. 
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  • 8. DECLARATION OF INTENT (form provided here)
    You must include two points of contact for while you are in Japan. The points of contact may be friends or family in Australia or in Japan.
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  • 9. FLIGHT DETAILS - BOTH INTO AND OUT OF JAPAN (flights do NOT have to be purchased).
    If flights are already purchased, a copy of all flight tickets. If not, please PRINT OFF screenshots of the intended flights. Flight must start from Brisbane or Gold Coast and return to Brisbane or Gold Coast showing ALL intended transit destinations. 
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  • 10. WORK CONTRACT or LANGUAGE COURSE ENROLMENT DETAILS (only if you already have one)
  • A copy of your employment contract or documents provided from your employer in Japan. The document should include: the duration of work, the number of days per week, number of hours per day, job description, company details and the salary.
  • If you will be attending a casual language course, details about the language school such as company name, address, contact details as well as general details such as duration of the course, cost of the course, whether the course has been paid for already or not, confirmation of enrollment etc. are required.
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• We cannot renew your Working Holiday Visa in our office. This can only be done at the immigration office in Japan.
• The above documents and your passport must be submitted to this office in person between 9am - 11:00 or 1:30pm - 3pm Monday to Friday (except for public holidays). 
• All documents submitted must be originals unless indicated otherwise. Documents submitted with the application WILL NOT be returned. Please ensure that you have personal copies for your reference.
• The working holiday visa is valid for twelve months. Applicants must enter Japan within twelve months from the date of issue of the visa.
• A period of stay of up to six months will be initially granted at the port of entry. This may be extended up to an additional six months by the Immigration Authorities in Japan.
• Further information may be required and some applicants may require an interview, however we will contact you if this is necessary.
• Once the visa has been issued, it will not be reissued under ANY circumstances. (For example: lost/stolen passport)
• There is no fee for the working holiday visa application.
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  EXTENSION OF VISA
  
  If deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities, this visa can be extended at your nearest Department of Immigration Office in Japan. Please attend to the extension prior to the expiration of your visa.

  Please download the following forms for your working holiday visa application:

• Visa application form with QR code
• Visa application form without QR code (for handwriting)
• Other forms for working holiday visa application