For the purpose of promoting greater mutual understanding between
Japan and Australia, the governments of these two countries agreed
in 1980 to start a WorkingHoliday to encourage the exchange of young
people. This scheme makes it possible for citizens of one country
to enter the other primarily for a holiday over an extended period
and to engage in employment as an incidental aspect of their trip
in order to supplement their travel funds.
With this visa, Australian citizens need not obtain further permission
to engage in remunerative activities while in Japan, provided these
activities do not contravene Japanese law regulating businesses
offering food and entertainment as well as any other regulations
in force which affect public order and good morals.
The Working Holiday visa will be issued only once to the same Australian
citizen. The Government of Japan will issue, on a reciprocal basis
and free of charge, a Working Holiday visa to applicants who satisfy
all of the following prerequisites.
The Working Holiday visa is not appropriate for those wishing to
enter Japan to engage in full-time employment or to enrol in academic
institutions.
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Applicant Prerequisites
Must be an Australian citizen currently residing in Australia (accordingly, Australians travelling or living abroad are not eligible)
Must intend primarily to holiday in Japan for a specific period of time
Must be between 18 and 30 years of age inclusive at the time of application
Must possess a valid Australian passport and either a travel ticket to and from Japan or a confirmed reservation to and from Japan
Must possess reasonable funds for their maintenance, including medical expenses, during the period of initial stay in Japan (for a single applicant the minimum is A$2,500 and for a couple A$3,500)
Must be of good health and character.
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Application Procedure
Those wishing to apply for a Working Holiday
visa are required to submit, along with a valid Australian passport,
one copy each of the following documents to the appropriate diplomatic
or consular mission of the Government of Japan in Australia. Statements
made in these documents must be true and accurate. A false declaration
may result in the visa being refused or permission to stay in
Japan being cancelled.
A personal history, resume or curriculum vita
typed on A4 paper
A proposed itinerary for the first six months
in Japan, including details of prearranged employment
A written reason for applying for a Working
Holiday visa typed on A4 paper
Appropriate evidence of either a travel ticket
to and from Japan or a confirmed reservation to and from Japan
along with appropriate evidence, such as a copy of a bank statement,
that the applicant possesses the minimum amount of A$2,500 for
a single applicant who has a travel ticket or a receipt showing
payment for the ticket or A$4,000 for a single applicant who
has only a confirmed reservation. In the case of a couple, the
minimum amounts are A$3,500 and A$6,500 respectively. Traveller's
cheques are acceptable as evidence of sufficient funds.
In some cases, additional documents may be required.
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Explanatory Material
Such material and appropriate forms are available at the Consular
Section of the Embassy of Japan in Canberra and the Consulates-General
of Japan in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Applicants
should be aware that they may submit an application only at the
Japanese diplomatic or consular mission responsible for the Australian
State of which they are a resident. Applications are made in person
and the applicant may be interviewed. The processing time may
vary with the diplomatic mission at which the application is submitted.
ACT residents should contact the:Embassy of Japan
----------------------------------Canberra
Embassy of Japan
112 Empire Circuit,
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6273-3244
URL: http://www.japan.org.au/
NSW and NT residents should contact the:Consulate-General of Japan
----------------------------------Sydney
Consulate-General of Japan
Level 34, Colonial Tower,
52 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9231-3455
URL: http://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/
WA residents should contact the:Consulate-General of Japan
----------------------------------Perth
Consulate-General of Japan
21st Floor, Forrest Centre,
221 St. George Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Tel: (08) 9480-1800
URL: http://www.perth.au.emb-japan.go.jp/
QLD residents should contact the:Consulate-General of Japan
----------------------------------Brisbane
Consulate-General of Japan
17th Floor, Comalco Place,
12 Creek Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3221-5188
Tel: (07) 3221-6477(VISA)
URL: http://www.brisbane.au.emb-japan.go.jp/
Cairns-area residents should contact the:Consulate-General of Japan
----------------------------------Cairns
Consulate General of Japan
Level 15, National Mutual Tower
15 Lake Street, Cairns QLD 4870
Tel: (07) 4051-5177
VIC, TAS and SA residents should contact the:Consulate-General of Japan
----------------------------------Melbourne
Consulate-General of Japan
45th Floor, Melbourne Central Tower,
360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9639-3244
URL: http://www.melbourne.au.emb-japan.go.jp/
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Other Information
It is recommended that insurance coverage be
arranged before leaving Australia as under the conditions of
employment for the Working-Holiday visa the period of employment
is usually not long enough to qualify for coverage provided
by employers or companies.
Applicants must enter Japan within three months
after 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 another six months by the Immigration Authorities in Japan.
Working-Holiday visas are single entry. Therefore,
if the Working-Holiday maker has to leave Japan for any reason
and wishes to return, it is essential that the person obtain
a re-entry permit from the Immigration Authorities before leaving
Japan.
Within 90 days of arrival in Japan, Working-Holiday
makers must apply for alien registration at the Local Government
Office near to where they are staying.
You should ask for a statement of earnings in
English while in Japan and call the Australian Taxation Office
for the appropriate information upon your return to Australia.