Working holiday visa guide
Japan Working Holiday Visa for New Zealanders
New Zealand and Japan have run their working holiday scheme since 1985. There's no quota and no visa fee, and since December 2024 Kiwis can go twice.
The embassy is particular about how you apply: in person, with a detailed itinerary and a cover letter you wrote yourself. This guide covers what it expects and how to land a job before you go.
- Age
- 18–30 when you apply
- Stay
- 1 year (no extension)
- Funds
- NZ$3,000 + return ticket
- Processing
- About 2–3 weeks
Who can apply
You must hold a New Zealand passport and live in New Zealand. Kiwis travelling or living overseas, including in Australia, can't apply.
- Aged 18 to 30 inclusive when you apply
- No dependent children
- In good health, with no criminal record
- Living in the region covered by the office you apply to
A second working holiday
Since December 2024 you can get a Japan working holiday visa twice, as two separate one-year stays, provided your first one was on your New Zealand passport. Each stay is one year and cannot be extended.
Applying in person
You must hand in your application yourself at the consular counter. Applications from friends, family, visa agencies or by post are not accepted. Someone you authorise in writing can collect your passport afterwards.
- Auckland and upper North Island: Consulate-General in Auckland (online appointment needed since June 2025)
- Wellington, lower North Island, and the South Island outside Canterbury: Embassy of Japan in Wellington (no booking needed)
- Christchurch and Canterbury: Consular Office in Christchurch (no booking needed)
Documents, and what trips people up
Bring your passport, the application form, a 45 x 35 mm photo that is different from your passport photo, a CV, a cover letter, a detailed itinerary and a bank statement. Use the embassy's online checklist: incomplete applications take much longer.
- Cover letter: one typed A4 page, signed and dated. The embassy says AI-written or copied letters are grounds for refusal or an interview
- Itinerary: one box per month, in real detail. "Unknown", "as above", "sightseeing" or just "skiing/snowboarding" are not accepted
- CV: up to date, and not just one you used for a job application
- Bank statement: official, at least 3 months of transactions, showing NZ$3,000 (NZ$4,500 for a couple). Add NZ$1,000 if you haven't bought a return ticket. Credit cards and loans don't count
- Travel insurance: optional, but you may be asked for it if you plan to ski or snowboard
After you arrive
Enter Japan within a year of the visa being issued. If you stay longer than 3 months, which you will, you must join Japanese National Health Insurance once you have your residence card. Register your address at the municipal office within 14 days of finding a place to live.
Helping Hand
Got the visa? Land with a job already waiting.
We place New Zealand working holiday makers in jobs across Japan and secure the job before you fly. We also help with your visa paperwork and support you once you land. It costs £650, and you pay only once your job is secured.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply from Australia?
No. New Zealand citizens must be living in New Zealand to apply.
Can I extend my stay in Japan?
No. The stay is one year and cannot be extended, but you can apply for a second working holiday visa later.
Is there a quota or a best time to apply?
There is no quota for New Zealanders. Allow at least ten working days for processing and apply well before you plan to travel.
What jobs can I do?
Casual and temporary work to fund your travels, except in businesses covered by Japan's entertainment and public morals laws, such as bars and nightclubs.
