Working holiday in Japan with a UK passport

Stay in Japan for up to a year, mainly on holiday, with permission to work to top up your travel money. Up to two years in total.

Working holidayTravelWork

Can I do it?

  • A UK passport
  • Aged 18 to 30 when you apply
  • Living in the UK when you apply
  • Your main purpose must be a holiday. You need a return or onward ticket (or the money for one), reasonable funds for your first weeks, good health, and no family travelling with you on your visa. You can't have had two Working Holiday visas already.

Source: Embassy of Japan in the UK

Meeting these means you appear to meet the published criteria. The decision is always the government's or provider's.

What it costs

The official page doesn't publish a fixed fee for this route. Check it before you apply.

How to apply

  1. Prepare the documents on the embassy's checklist.

    Source: Embassy of Japan in the UK

  2. Submit in person at the Embassy in London by appointment (the Consulate-General in Edinburgh if you live in Scotland or the North East or Cumbria). You may be interviewed.

    Source: Embassy of Japan in the UK

  3. Wait at least 5 working days, then collect your passport and pay the visa fee.

    Source: Embassy of Japan in the UK

  4. Enter Japan within 12 months of the visa being issued, and register your address within 14 days of moving in.

    Source: Embassy of Japan in the UK

Know before you go

The main purpose must be a holiday. If you mainly want to work, the embassy says to apply for a work visa instead.

You can't work in bars, clubs, cabarets or adult entertainment venues.

Applications close once 6,000 visas have been issued in the fiscal year.

Where to apply

Embassy of Japan in the UK

Sources and checks

Last checked against these pages on 5 November 2026; next check due by 3 February 2027. How we check facts