Australian passport / Working Holiday

Working Holiday in Japan for Australians (2026)

Check the essential requirements, then follow the five stages to prepare your application and trip.

Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

Key facts at a glance

Age: 18–30 at applicationLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Length of stay: 6 months initiallyLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Initial funds: AUD 2,500 for a single applicant, plus return travelLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Visa fee: No visa chargeLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Annual quota: To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Application dates and timing: Apply up to one year before entryLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Language: To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Study: To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END
Work: Temporary work to supplement the holidayLearn moreReferences: AU-JP-END

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Step 1

Check requirements and language preparation

Age

Apply before your 31st birthday. You must be an Australian citizen living in Australia and must not have used this programme before.

References: AU-JP-END

Length of stay

A later extension requires permission in Japan and is discretionary. The visa is for a single initial entry; its one-year entry validity is different from the initial six-month stay.

References: AU-JP-END

Initial funds

The amount assumes a paid return ticket. The stated amount for a married or de facto couple is AUD 3,500; a one-way ticket requires additional departure funds.

References: AU-JP-END

Visa fee

The Australian embassy programme page states that this visa is issued free of charge. Document and travel costs remain separate.

References: AU-JP-END

Annual quota

The Australian application page checked does not establish an Australian annual numeric allocation. No unlimited allocation is inferred.

References: AU-JP-END

Application dates and timing

The issued visa must be used within its entry validity. Consular filing arrangements depend on your Australian residential address.

References: AU-JP-END

Language

The Australian checklist does not establish a Japanese proficiency score. Its English itinerary and letter instructions are document requirements, not a language test.

References: AU-JP-END

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Passport

Submit the passport and the requested copy. The checked checklist does not establish a separate minimum remaining-validity margin.

References: AU-JP-END

Insurance

This Australian checklist does not establish a quantified insurance condition. Obtain suitable travel cover and confirm any consular insurance evidence before filing.

References: AU-JP-END

Documents and participation

Canberra requests three months of Australian bank history on a statement no more than one month old, named flight details, a detailed first-six-month schedule and a signed, dated purpose letter of at least one A4 page.

References: AU-JP-END

Step 2

Apply through the official route

Apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for your Australian address. Australian residents cannot use an online visa application for this route.

Confirm your residential jurisdiction and its filing method. Australians living or travelling overseas must return to Australia to apply.
Prepare the signed form, recent photograph, passport, bank history, flight details, CV, detailed six-month itinerary and purpose letter. Follow your office’s checklist.
Submit through that office. Canberra has weekday walk-in hours, but those arrangements do not apply automatically to other consulates.
After issue, check the entry deadline and six-month initial stay. Seek any extension in Japan before your existing permission expires.

Read the official instructions ↗

Step 3

Read your approval and entry conditions

Read the entire approval notice: identity, dates, entry deadline and conditions. Keep it available offline. Do not assume the visa starts on your preferred date.

Step 4

Get ready for the trip

Keep extra departure money if travelling on a one-way ticket. Prepare a realistic itinerary; Canberra rejects entries such as “unknown” and may request evidence of any prearranged job.

Passport, visa and requested evidence accessible offline.
Initial funds, insurance and departure costs checked separately.
First accommodation and airport transport arranged.

Step 5

Start your Working Holiday

Carry your residence card once issued. Major designated airports issue it on arrival; elsewhere follow immigration instructions. Before leaving Japan temporarily, check the required re-entry permission.

Work

Work in bars, cabarets, nightclubs, gambling establishments and other businesses affecting public morals is prohibited. The itinerary instruction is not treated as a legal same-employer limit.

AU-JP-END

Study

The source establishes a holiday-led purpose but does not give an Australian numeric study allowance. Confirm a proposed course with your consular office.

AU-JP-END

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Language courses · commercial service

Plan a language course for your trip.

Through ViveCampus you can request language-course quotes with international-student discounts. Offers may vary by your country of origin and destination. A personalized quote confirms available discounts and the final price. Booking a course does not guarantee a visa.

The source establishes a holiday-led purpose but does not give an Australian numeric study allowance. Confirm a proposed course with your consular office.

Other destinations to compare

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Frequently asked questions

Do Australians receive a year immediately?

No. The Australian page gives an initial six-month stay. An extension is a separate discretionary decision in Japan.

References: AU-JP-END

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Can I apply while backpacking overseas?

The embassy requires Australian citizens to be living in Australia and says those overseas must return to apply.

References: AU-JP-END

Does AUD 2,500 cover all travel costs?

No. The single-applicant amount assumes a paid return ticket. A one-way itinerary needs extra departure funds.

References: AU-JP-END

Can I submit online?

The embassy says online visa applications are unavailable for Australian residents. Use your responsible consular office.

References: AU-JP-END

Can I take any temporary job?

No. The holiday must remain the main purpose and the embassy prohibits work in listed nightlife, gambling and public-morals businesses.

References: AU-JP-END

Can I leave Japan and return during my stay?

Check re-entry permission before departing. A valid residence card alone is not a substitute for the required re-entry arrangement.

References: AU-JP-END

Official sources

Research consulted: 17 October 2026. Check current requirements with the issuing authority before applying.

2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

AU-JP-END · Embassy of Japan in Australia - Working Holiday

Read the official instructions ↗