Working Holiday Visa Application in Ottawa Region

Applicants for the Working Holiday Visa must:

1. Be a Canadian citizen who currently resides in Canada.
2. Intend primarily to stay in Japan for a specific length of time with mainly for vacation purposes.
3. Be between 18 and 30 years of age, inclusively, at the time of application.
4. Possess a valid Canadian passport.
5. Possess a return travel ticket or sufficient funds to cover the travel expenses.
6. Possess reasonable funds to support themselves, including medical expenses, during the initial period of stay in Japan.
7. Have never obtained the Japanese Working Holiday Visa before or obtained it only once in the past but have not extended their stay in Japan longer than one year under the Working Holiday Program.
8. Be in good health and have no criminal record.

As a general rule, applicants residing in the city of Ottawa must submit all of the following documents IN PERSON at the Embassy of Japan in Canada.

As of April 1, 2025, applying by mail can be considered in certain circumstances. Please ensure to give us a call at 613-241-8541 for a consultation prior to application using the mailing method.

1. Valid Canadian passport
2. Completed visa application form ("Guarantor or Reference in Japan", as well as "Inviter in Japan" section may not apply to most applicants. Please indicate N/A in such a case.)
3. One photo (45x35mm or 2x1.4in, taken within the last 6 months)
4. Personal resume/curriculum vitae (Form)
5. Detailed itinerary of your stay in Japan (Form)
6. Letter explaining the reason of your Working Holiday Visa application.
7. The most recent bank statement with a minimum balance of $3,500 ($4,500 for a married couple) in Canadian dollars.
8. Travel ticket or itinerary. If you are unable to provide tickets at the time of application, add an additional reasonable travel expenses amount to the above.
9. Doctor’s note from a physician stating that you are in good health to travel abroad.

Working Holiday Visas take at least one week to process. Applications submitted on short notice will not be accepted.
Please note that the above information may be changed without notice.

1. It is recommended that insurance coverage be arranged before leaving Canada as stipulated under the conditions of employment for the Working Holiday Visa. The period of employment in Japan is usually not long enough to qualify for coverage undertaken by the employers or companies.
2. Applicants must enter Japan within 1 year after the date of issue of the visa; the visa is valid for 1 year. The initial 1-year period of the Landing Permit will start from the date of your entry.
3. A period of stay of up to 1 year may be initially granted at the port of entry. This may be extended for up to an additional 1 year by the Immigration Authorities in Japan, if you have not already stayed in Japan longer than 1 year in total under this program.
4. Working Holiday Visas are for a single entry only. Therefore, if the Working Holiday participant needs to leave Japan for any reason and wishes to return to Japan, that person must obtain a re-entry permit from the Immigration Authorities before leaving Japan.
5. Working Holiday visitors will be granted a Residence Card at the port of entry. Please visit a local municipal office in Japan with your residence card within 14 days once you find a place to reside.
6. If you earned income in Japan, ask for a statement of earnings written in English while in Japan and contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to receive the appropriate information when you return to Canada.