Working holiday visas for Japanese citizens

This page is for Japanese citizens who want to find information on working holiday visas. The data shows key details for several popular destinations, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK. Most programs are for people aged 18 to 30. The length of stay is typically up to 12 months, but the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme allows for a stay of up to 24 months.

The costs and required funds vary by country. For example, the visa for Australia costs AUD840.00 and you need proof of about AUD5,000. For Canada, the fees are CAN$184.75 plus a CAN$100 permit fee, with required funds of CAN$2,500. The UK requires you to have £2,530 held for 28 days. Hong Kong’s scheme is free of charge but has a quota of 1,500 per year.

Passport: Japan
Programs found: 7
Lowest upper age limit: 30
Highest upper age limit: 30

Programs that list Japanese citizens

7 programs, checked October 21, 2026
Destination	Program	Age	Stay	Status
Australia	Working Holiday visa	18 to 30	Up to 12 months
Canada	IEC Working Holiday	18 to 30	Up to 12 months
Germany	Working Holiday visa	18 to 30	Up to 12 months
Hong Kong	Working Holiday Scheme	18 to 30	Up to 12 months
Ireland	Working Holiday Authorisation	See source	Up to a year
New Zealand	Working Holiday Visa, Japan scheme	18 to 30	Up to 12 months	Open
UK	Youth Mobility Scheme visa	18 to 30	Up to 24 months

Country-specific conditions

Australia: Working Holiday visa

Fee: AUD840.00 (first visa)
Funds: About AUD5,000 plus your fare out

Canada: IEC Working Holiday

Fee: CAN$184.75 IEC fee + CAN$100 open work permit holder fee
Funds: CAN$2,500
As a Japanese citizen, you may participate in IEC twice.
You must be a resident of Japan when you apply (a residential or mailing address there).

Germany: Working Holiday visa

Where to apply: Any German mission abroad, or the local foreigners authority if already in Germany.

Hong Kong: Working Holiday Scheme

Fee: Free of charge
Funds: At least HK$20,000
Places: 1,500 per year
Work: No more than six months with the same employer.
Study: Any number, up to six months in total.

Ireland: Working Holiday Authorisation

Apply through the Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo during set application periods (2026: 15 January to 6 February, and 15 to 31 July).

New Zealand: Working Holiday Visa, Japan scheme

Fee: From NZD $770
Funds: NZD $4,200

UK: Youth Mobility Scheme visa

Fee: £340 + Immigration Health Surcharge (usually £776 per year)
Funds: £2,530 held for 28 days
Japanese nationals no longer need to enter a ballot and can apply at any time.

What stands out

Several programs have specific conditions that are easy to miss. For Canada, you must be a resident of Japan when you apply and you may participate in the IEC program twice. Ireland’s Working Holiday Authorisation has set application periods, such as 15 January to 6 February and 15 to 31 July in 2026. For the UK, Japanese nationals no longer need to enter a ballot and can apply at any time. In Hong Kong, you can work for no more than six months with the same employer.

This page covers the destinations in this directory only: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea. Singapore’s Work Holiday Programme is left out here because it depends on where your university is, not on your passport; see the Singapore sheet. A destination missing here may still run a program for your passport; check its official immigration site.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official government pages:

Last checked October 21, 2026 (Oct 2026). Rules, fees and quotas can change after this date.