Working Holiday Visa
2025/3/11
Deutsche Version
Frequently asked questions about the Working Holiday Visa FAQ
Further information about this can be found in the FAQ above.
1. Applications can only be submitted by applicants with a German passport.
2. The visa can only be applied for at the Japanese embassy or Japanese consulates based in Germany.
3. Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) y/o but not older than thirty (30 = before their 31st birthday) y/o at the time of application.
4. Applicants have not previously travelled or travelled only one time on a Working Holiday Visa to Japan.
5. Accompanying dependents (spouse, children) of the applicant are not eligible for an additional family visa.
6. The main purpose of the stay is to spend "holidays" in Japan - with the option of temporary part-time employment.
For a mainly long-term language school visit or long-term internship, please apply for the appropriate visa.
The following procedure applies to visa applications at the Embassy of Japan in Berlin:
- Please apply at the consulate or embassy responsible for your place of residence.
- Applications outside the consular area of the embassy will be rejected (exceptions only for applicants with residency outside of Germany).
- Processing time: at least 5 work days (provided all documents are complete and correct), possibly longer. Please submit your application well timed.
- Applications can be submitted at the earliest 1 year before departure.
How to apply
At the embassy: Possible. Without appointment any time during opening hours
By post: Possible. Address: Botschaft von Japan, Konsularabteilung, Hiroshimastr. 6, 10785 Berlin
- Please do not send the original passport but only a copy. After receiving your documents, you will be notified via email. Visa must be collected by applicant with original passport.
- Note: Please do not send documents via post directly from Japan! The will get withhold at customs and the embassy can not release them.
By email: Not possible.
Please submit all documents not requested as original as copies (in DIN A4 format).
The application documents should not be stapled and have no paper clips!
1. Valid passport (original and copy)
2. Fully completed application form with passport photo
- Please do not forget to include your contact details (email, telephone number), your signature and to check the boxes for the questions on the second page.
- Photo: frontal photo, no scans or copied passport photos; 45mm x 35mm; not older than 6 months and not damaged
3. Itinerary (English or Japanese; individually created format also acceptable)
- Please enter your tentative plans for your stay in as much detail as possible in bullet points. Please list places you plan to travel to and any other activities (language school, places of work, volunteer work, etc.) that you would most likely like to do. Periods can be entered as months or seasons. Entries that simply say "work", "travel", "sightseeing" or similar are not acceptable.
4. CV (in English or Japanese; individually created format also acceptable)
5. One-page letter of motivation (in English or Japanese)
6. Flight ticket
- At least outbound or incl. return flight. The outbound flight to Japan can also be from a country other than Germany.
7. Proof of funding,
- current bank statement with name of account holder and date on it; not older than max. 1 month
- at least EUR 2000,- when submitting both outbound and return flight tickets; at least EUR 3000,- when submitting only outbound flight ticket
8. Insurance certificate of travel health insurance policy, valid for Japan/ worldwide and for the entire duration of the stay OR written pledge for National Health Insurance in Japan
Note on health insurance:
When applying for a WH visa, only one of the above-mentioned proofs of health insurance is required.
However, since May 2015, all foreign holders of long-term visas are obliged to register at the National Health Insurance in Japan. As a rule, you will be asked to do this at the latest when you report to the local ward office. If you already have a travel health insurance policy, this may result in a "double insurance". In general, however, a travel health insurance is recommended in any case, as the National Health Insurance in Japan does not cover all costs.
It is not permitted to carry out any activities that fall under the law on the control and improvement of the amusement and entertainment industry (e.g. nightclubs etc.).
The WH program is not intended for applicants whose main intention is to work in Japan. The primary purpose of the stay should be "holiday" in Japan. Consequently, applicants who primarily intend to work in Japan are not eligible to apply for this visa.
Please only apply for this visa if you understand the purpose of the program.
Frequently asked questions about the Working Holiday Visa FAQ
General information for application:
NEW: Since January 2025, the Working Holiday Visa can be applied for a second stay. All conditions below apply unchanged!Further information about this can be found in the FAQ above.
1. Applications can only be submitted by applicants with a German passport.
2. The visa can only be applied for at the Japanese embassy or Japanese consulates based in Germany.
3. Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) y/o but not older than thirty (30 = before their 31st birthday) y/o at the time of application.
4. Applicants have not previously travelled or travelled only one time on a Working Holiday Visa to Japan.
5. Accompanying dependents (spouse, children) of the applicant are not eligible for an additional family visa.
6. The main purpose of the stay is to spend "holidays" in Japan - with the option of temporary part-time employment.
For a mainly long-term language school visit or long-term internship, please apply for the appropriate visa.
Application and required documents:
The following procedure applies to visa applications at the Embassy of Japan in Berlin:
- Please apply at the consulate or embassy responsible for your place of residence.
- Applications outside the consular area of the embassy will be rejected (exceptions only for applicants with residency outside of Germany).
- Processing time: at least 5 work days (provided all documents are complete and correct), possibly longer. Please submit your application well timed.
- Applications can be submitted at the earliest 1 year before departure.
How to apply
At the embassy: Possible. Without appointment any time during opening hours
By post: Possible. Address: Botschaft von Japan, Konsularabteilung, Hiroshimastr. 6, 10785 Berlin
- Please do not send the original passport but only a copy. After receiving your documents, you will be notified via email. Visa must be collected by applicant with original passport.
- Note: Please do not send documents via post directly from Japan! The will get withhold at customs and the embassy can not release them.
By email: Not possible.
Please submit all documents not requested as original as copies (in DIN A4 format).
The application documents should not be stapled and have no paper clips!
1. Valid passport (original and copy)
2. Fully completed application form with passport photo
- Please do not forget to include your contact details (email, telephone number), your signature and to check the boxes for the questions on the second page.
- Photo: frontal photo, no scans or copied passport photos; 45mm x 35mm; not older than 6 months and not damaged
3. Itinerary (English or Japanese; individually created format also acceptable)
- Please enter your tentative plans for your stay in as much detail as possible in bullet points. Please list places you plan to travel to and any other activities (language school, places of work, volunteer work, etc.) that you would most likely like to do. Periods can be entered as months or seasons. Entries that simply say "work", "travel", "sightseeing" or similar are not acceptable.
4. CV (in English or Japanese; individually created format also acceptable)
5. One-page letter of motivation (in English or Japanese)
6. Flight ticket
- At least outbound or incl. return flight. The outbound flight to Japan can also be from a country other than Germany.
7. Proof of funding,
- current bank statement with name of account holder and date on it; not older than max. 1 month
- at least EUR 2000,- when submitting both outbound and return flight tickets; at least EUR 3000,- when submitting only outbound flight ticket
8. Insurance certificate of travel health insurance policy, valid for Japan/ worldwide and for the entire duration of the stay OR written pledge for National Health Insurance in Japan
Note on health insurance:
When applying for a WH visa, only one of the above-mentioned proofs of health insurance is required.
However, since May 2015, all foreign holders of long-term visas are obliged to register at the National Health Insurance in Japan. As a rule, you will be asked to do this at the latest when you report to the local ward office. If you already have a travel health insurance policy, this may result in a "double insurance". In general, however, a travel health insurance is recommended in any case, as the National Health Insurance in Japan does not cover all costs.
Further information:
It is not permitted to carry out any activities that fall under the law on the control and improvement of the amusement and entertainment industry (e.g. nightclubs etc.).
The WH program is not intended for applicants whose main intention is to work in Japan. The primary purpose of the stay should be "holiday" in Japan. Consequently, applicants who primarily intend to work in Japan are not eligible to apply for this visa.
Please only apply for this visa if you understand the purpose of the program.