Visa snapshot
Verified on 20 June 2026- Funds required
- CAD 3,500 single, CAD 4,500 couple; funds must also cover medical expenses.
- Work rights
- Paid work is allowed to support your holiday. Work in bars, cabarets, nightclubs, gambling venues and other businesses that affect public morals (the Entertainment Business Act) is not allowed. The visa is single entry, so you need a re-entry permit to leave and come back.
- Study rights
- Study and short courses are allowed alongside the working holiday.
- Extensions
- No extension
- Reciprocal healthcare
- No
- Private health insurance needed
- Quota / ballot
- 6,283/year (2026 annual allocation)
- No ballot
- Health & insurance
- Must meet Japanese health requirements
Eligibility & conditions
Open to Canadian citizens aged 18 to 30. The Ottawa office requires a doctor’s note confirming fitness to travel.
The visa is free of charge and single entry. Annual caps, the length of stay and repeat-participation rules vary by nationality (see each route).
Stay can be extended by up to a further year, unlike New Zealand which cannot extend.
Optional accredited agencies (SWAP, Go International, Stepabroad) charge a service fee; the visa itself is free.
A doctor’s note confirming good health is required (Ottawa), unique among these routes.
Twice in a lifetime since 1 December 2024.
Annual allocation of 6,283; we publish the allocation, not a live remaining count.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the Japanese Government's official visa portal. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Apply Now →