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Working Holiday Program for Young Canadians
Prerequisites for Working Holiday
Visa applicants
Procedure for applying for a Working Holiday
Visa
Criteria for Visa Issuance
Description
Working Holiday Visa Program exchange between young people is one of
the most effective and enjoyable ways to foster friendship between
nations. For 70 years Japan and Canada have enjoyed a good
relationship which has steadily grown stronger. In 1986, the
Working Holiday Program started between Japan and Canada to promote
exchange between young people and to enhance our relationship.
The Working Holiday Program allows young Canadians to travel to
Japan on a visa which is valid for 12 months from the date it is
issued. The purpose is to allow Canadians to visit Japan
primarily for a holiday, but also to allow them to work to
supplement their income. Their choices for work are unlimited
except for certain areas. This program allows the visitor to
Japan a great deal of flexibility and has the potential of providing
a unique, unforgettable, and rewarding experience.
The Working Holiday Visa can only be issued once to a Canadian
citizen. This is a youth exchange program and therefore
Canadians between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age are
eligible. The Government of Japan, on a reciprocal basis, will
issue a single entry visa for the Working Holiday to persons who
satisfy each of the requirements listed below.The process of applying for a Working Holiday Visa is not complicated.
You are requested to bring the required documents to the Consulates
General of Japan and after a short interview you will be informed
if your visa will be processed. It takes at least one week to process
a Working Holiday Visa. For those people living in Province of Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut, please contact the
Consulate General
of Japan in Calgary.
There are some things you should know before applying for the Working
Holiday Program. The Working Holiday Visa is a single-entry visa.
If you leave Japan and wish to return you must obtain a re-entry
permit from the Immigration Authorities in Japan before your departure.
Within 90 days of arriving in Japan you must apply for alien registration
at a Local Government Office close to where you are staying. A period
of stay up to six months may be initially granted at the port of
entry. This period may be extended up to another six months by the
Immigration Authorities in Japan.
Prerequisites for Working Holiday
Visa applicants
Applicants for the Working Holiday Visa must:
-
be a Canadian citizen currently residing in Canada.
-
intend primarily to holiday in Japan for a specific time period;
-
be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of application;
-
possess a valid Canadian passport and a return travel ticket;
-
possess reasonable funds for their maintenance during the period
of their initial stay in Japan, including medical expenses (currently
$2,500.00 Canadian for a single person and $3,500.00 Canadian
for a married couple);
-
be in good health and not have a criminal record.
Important Points
-
You must book an appointment at our office Tel: (403)
294-0782 to apply for the visa once all documents have been
collected. The appointment should be at least three weeks prior
to your departure date to Japan.
-
The Working Holiday Visa will not be issued more than once to
any Canadian citizen.
-
You must apply for your visa in person in
Calgary.
-
All listed documents must be presented to us at the time of
your appointment, otherwise, your application will be delayed
until you return with all the necessary documents. If the applicant
is applying from outside the Calgary area, or if the applicant
is unable to arrange for pick-up of their passport once the visa
has been processed, they should also provide us with a Priority
Post Pre-paid Courier envelope. The waybill for this envelope
should be completed at our office.
-
Processing times for this visa is roughly 5 working days.
-
Departure dated should reflect the above processing times.
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Our office does not guarantee your departure date under any
circumstances. Visa applications will not be expedited under any
circumstances.
-
No photocopies will be made by our office on behalf of the applicant.
All copies should be made prior to the appointment.
Procedure for applying for a Working Holiday
Visa
Applicants for the Working Holiday Visa are required to bring the following
items to apply for a Working Holiday Visa:
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Valid Canadian passport: must have at least one blank visa
page. Must be valid for at least six months at your application
date.
-
Visa Application
Form: To Download Visa Application Forms, Click Here.
-
One recent photograph: must be within 3 months . Good quality
(not taken at a photo booth) . Passport-sized (45 mm x 45 mm is
ideal).
-
Completed outline of stay form: This form is attached to the
Working Holiday Visa information package. All six months must
be completed. This form will require specific details about the
areas your wish to visit, and the activities/work you would like
to engage in at each of those areas. Do not use ditto marks or
the phrase 'same as above' when completing this form. Statements
such as 'Touring in Tokyo' are not sufficient, outline of stay
should be more specific and detailed. If you are unsure about
how to complete the form correctly, you should contact our office
and ask to speak to the visa section about the Working Holiday
visa or you may complete the form during your appointment. To download Outline of Stay Form, please click here
-
Letter of motive: This letter should explain your motives in
applying for the Working Holiday Visa. This letter must be signed
and dated, and should be at least one page, typed and single-spaced.
Again, if you are unclear about the details needed in this letter,
you should contact our office.
-
Return airline tickets: The tickets must show the applicant's
route to Japan as well as their return to Canada. The original
tickets must be presented at your appointment. As well, you must
provide photocopies of the pages of the tickets that show your
travel route.
-
Current and complete resume or personal history summary.
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Traveler's cheques
or Certificate of deposit balance: The minimum amount is $2,500 Canadian. If
you submit funds in a different currency, that amount must be
equivalent to the minimum amount mentioned previously and this
must be supported by a copy of your purchaser's agreement showing
the conversion from Canadian funds. You are required to submit
both the original traveler's cheques and a photocopy of the purchaser's
agreements for those cheques at your appointment.
-
Provincial Driver's License: You are required to show us your
current, valid provincial driver's license card and provide us with a photocopy
of that card.
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Letter of health: This must be issued by a licensed,
practicing physician and must
be on the physician's letterhead. It should state that you have no
communicable diseases and you are fit to travel.
* It is
recommended that insurance coverage be arranged before leaving
Canada as under the conditions of employment for the Working-Holiday
Visas.
＊Japan
Association for Working Holiday Makers' website
Please contact
visa section at (403) 294-0782 for further information
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