Working holiday visa guide
Japan Working Holiday Visa for UK Citizens
British citizens aged 18 to 30 can live in Japan for up to a year on a working holiday visa, and take paid work to fund their travels. Since December 2024 you can do it twice, either as two years back to back or as two separate trips.
This guide covers who can apply, the quota, where to hand in your application, and how to line up work before you fly. Everything here comes from the Embassy of Japan in the UK's own pages.
- Age
- 18–30 when you apply
- Stay
- Up to 1 year, twice
- Quota
- 6,000 visas a year
- Apply
- In person, London or Edinburgh
Who can apply
You need a valid British passport and you must live in the UK when you apply. A British citizen living abroad cannot apply from another country.
- Aged 18 to 30 inclusive on the day the embassy receives your application
- Your main aim is a holiday in Japan, with work to top up your travel funds
- A return or onward ticket, or enough money to buy one
- Enough money to support yourself when you first arrive
- No children or spouse travelling with you, unless they hold their own visa
- In good health, and intending to leave Japan at the end of your stay
Two years in Japan: the December 2024 change
Anyone who applies after 1 December 2024 can take part in the scheme twice. You can stay on in Japan for a second year straight after your first, or come home and apply again later. Either way, the total is two years.
The 6,000 quota and the visa fee
The UK quota rose from 1,000 to 6,000 visas a year in April 2024. It runs by Japan's fiscal year (April to March), and the embassy stops accepting applications once 6,000 have been issued.
Unlike most nationalities, British applicants pay a visa fee when they collect the visa. The embassy's fee table (from 1 July 2026) lists £77 for a single-entry visa. Check the current fee before your appointment.
Where and how to apply
Applications are made in person, by appointment, at the Embassy of Japan in London, and you may be interviewed. If you live in Scotland or the far north of England (Cumbria, County Durham, Darlington, Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, Tyneside, Sunderland and Teesside), you apply at the Consulate-General of Japan in Edinburgh instead.
Processing takes at least five working days from when the embassy accepts your application. The visa is valid for 12 months from issue: enter Japan before it expires, and your one-year stay starts from the day you land.
What you need to prepare
The embassy publishes a checklist with the full document list and the minimum funds it expects to see. Expect to need your passport, the visa application form and a photo, plus proof of funds and your travel plans. The embassy does not return your documents, apart from your passport, so keep copies.
Working in Japan as a UK working holiday maker
You don't need any extra permission to work. The only legal limit is on where: bars, cabarets, nightclubs and other adult entertainment venues are off limits. Most British working holiday makers work in hospitality, at ski resorts, in hotels and in tourism.
The embassy points job seekers to Hello Work and the Employment Service Centres for Foreigners in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Many people prefer to have a job agreed before they leave, which is what Helping Hand does.
Helping Hand
Got the visa? Land with a job already waiting.
We place British 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
I am 30 and turn 31 next month. Can I still apply?
Yes, as long as the embassy receives your application before your 31st birthday. The visa lasts a year from issue, so you can enter Japan after turning 31.
Can I apply while living outside the UK?
No. You must be living in the UK when you apply.
Can I leave Japan and come back during my working holiday?
The visa is single entry. Get a Special Re-entry Permit when you leave, or the visa ends when you exit.
Do I need insurance?
The embassy recommends arranging insurance before you leave, because short-term jobs often don't qualify for employer cover.
