At our office, we occasionally receive inquiries from foreign nationals on a working holiday visa regarding changes to their residence status.

For example, we often receive inquiries like, “I am currently in Japan on a working holiday visa, and I’ve received a job offer from a Japanese company. What steps do I need to take in order to continue working in Japan?”

Or, “I am on a working holiday visa, but I would like to pursue further studies in Japan.”

The nationalities and situations of those who inquire are diverse, but they all share a deep love for Japan.

Whether it is possible to change your residence status depends on the agreement between Japan and the individual’s home country regarding working holidays.

It’s essential to carefully check the details of these agreements and proceed with the appropriate steps.

The Working Holiday Program is an arrangement based on agreements between two countries or regions.

It allows young people from one country or region to enter and stay in another country or region for vacation purposes, with the opportunity to take on incidental work to help support their travel or stay.

The primary purpose is to take a vacation, not to work or study.

Currently, Japan has established the Working Holiday Program with 30 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, and France (as of December 5, 2024).

The requirements for issuing a working holiday visa vary by country or region and include various factors.

For example, some countries have a limited number of visas issued annually, while others impose no such restrictions.

The terms of the Working Holiday Program are defined through formal diplomatic documents, such as agreements or cooperation memorandums, signed between the governments of the respective countries.

During a working holiday, you may find a new purpose for your stay, such as securing a job or deciding to pursue academic studies.

Whether you can change your residence status from the working holiday status (Designated activities) to another status depends on the agreements between the countries.

If a change is not permitted, it will be clearly stated in the agreements.

In such cases, the individual must return to their home country, apply for the appropriate visa for their next purpose, and re-enter Japan.

In some cases, there may not be any mention of a ban on changing status in the agreements. In this situation, it may be possible to apply for a change of residence status.

Even if changing status is allowed, all the necessary requirements for the new residence purpose must be met, and careful preparation of the application is essential.

Our office offers support for changing residence status from the working holiday visa (Designated activities) to other types of residence statuses.

Specifically, we provide the following services:

・Confirming the possibility of changing residence status based on the working holiday agreement

・Preparing the necessary documents for changing residence status

・Acting as a liaison for the residence status change application (from the application process to receiving the result, we handle everything)

Please feel free to contact us through our inquiry form.

We are committed to providing you with comprehensive support.