Japan working holiday visa for Hong Kong passport holders

This page is for Hong Kong passport holders interested in the working holiday program for Japan. To be eligible, you must be aged 18 to 30 when you apply and hold a valid HKSAR or British National Overseas passport. The main purpose of your visit should be for a holiday, with work being an incidental activity to support your stay. You cannot bring any dependants or children with you.

The program requires you to have a return ticket or enough money to buy one, plus reasonable funds for the initial part of your stay. You must also be in good health and not have previously held a Japanese working holiday visa, with some exceptions. Japan makes 1,500 of these visas available each year for applicants from Hong Kong.

Passport: Hong Kong
Age range: 18 to 30
Funds: Reasonable funds for the first part of the stay
Places: 1,500 visas per year

Conditions for Hong Kong passport holders

Must hold a valid HKSAR or British National Overseas passport.

General rules of the program

Mainly intending to holiday in Japan; aged 18 to 30 at application (see notes); no accompanying dependants or children; a valid passport plus a return ticket or the money to buy one; reasonable funds for the first part of the stay; good health; and no previous Japanese working holiday visa (except where the twice-in-a-lifetime rule applies).
Work is allowed as an incidental activity to supplement travel funds. Working at bars, cabarets, nightclubs, gambling establishments and other premises affecting public morals is strictly prohibited and can lead to deportation.
Within 14 days of settling, register your address at the local municipal office.
MOFA warns that no organization in Japan works with it to run the programmes, so be wary of paid 'help' offers.

What stands out

A key detail for this program is the annual cap, or quota, of 1,500 visas. This means the number of visas issued each year is limited. The rules also specify the type of work that is not allowed. Working in places like bars, nightclubs, or gambling establishments is strictly prohibited and could lead to deportation. After arriving and finding a place to live, you must register your address at the local municipal office within 14 days.

How to apply, step by step

Check that your country or region is on the MOFA list and how many visas it gets each year.
Read the Japanese embassy or consulate page in your country for the document list and dates.
Apply there in person or as instructed; Taiwan residents use the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association.
Register your address at the municipal office within 14 days of settling in Japan.

Other programs open to Hong Kong passport holders

From the programs in this directory. Status is shown only where the official page stated it.

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
Ireland	Working Holiday Authorisation	18 to 30	Up to 12 months from entry; must enter within 90 days of issue
New Zealand	Working Holiday Visa, Hong Kong scheme	18 to 30	Up to 12 months
South Korea	Working Holiday visa H-1	18 to 30	Up to 12 months from entry, no extension
UK	Youth Mobility Scheme visa	18 to 30	Up to 24 months	2026 ballots closed

Full list: working holiday visas for Hong Kong passport holders.

All passports for this program: Japan working holiday visa: partner countries and quotas.

Sources

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

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Working Holiday visa (Japan)

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