Japan Working Holiday Visa for Canadians

Who can apply

You must be a Canadian citizen living in Canada when you apply.

• ✓Aged 18 to 30 inclusive at the time of application
• ✓Mainly coming for a holiday, with work to supplement your travel funds
• ✓A valid Canadian passport
• ✓A return ticket, or enough money to pay for one
• ✓Enough money to support yourself, including medical costs, when you first arrive
• ✓Good health and no criminal record

Twice in a lifetime, or two years in one go

Since 1 December 2024 the visa can be granted twice. You can make two separate one-year trips, or extend in Japan for a second year (up to two years in total). If you already held the visa once and did not stay beyond a year, you can apply again.

Which office handles your application

Visa applications are handled by the office that covers where you live, and requirements can differ slightly between them, so check your own office before you prepare documents.

• ✓Embassy of Japan, Ottawa: the Ottawa region
• ✓Consulate-General in Vancouver: British Columbia and Yukon
• ✓Consulate-General in Calgary: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
• ✓Consulate-General in Toronto: Ontario, except the Ottawa region
• ✓Consulate-General in Montreal: Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador

Funds and documents (Ottawa example)

The embassy in Ottawa asks for your most recent bank statement showing at least C$3,500 (C$4,500 for a married couple). If you can't show a travel ticket yet, add a reasonable amount for travel on top. It also asks for a doctor's note confirming you are in good health to travel.

Expect to bring your passport, the application form, one photo (45 x 35 mm, under 6 months old), a CV, a detailed itinerary, and a letter explaining why you are applying. In Ottawa you normally apply in person. Since April 2025, applying by mail may be possible in some cases if you phone the embassy first. Allow at least a week for processing.

Applying through an organisation

Instead of applying yourself, you can pay a service fee to one of the organisations the embassy lists (SWAP across Canada, or Go International and Stepabroad in BC and Yukon). They help with the visa. Helping Hand focuses on the next step: securing your job in Japan before you leave.

Working in Japan as a Canadian

You don't need extra permission to work, but bars, cabarets, nightclubs and similar venues are strictly off limits. Ski resorts, hotels and hospitality are the most common choices.

If you earn income in Japan, the embassy suggests asking your employer for an English statement of earnings and checking with the Canada Revenue Agency when you get home.