Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revised its Working Holiday Programme, allowing citizens from eight countries and one region to participate twice in their lifetime, a significant departure from the previous single-entry rule. The changes were rolled out in stages between December 2024 and February 2026, with South Korea and Taiwan the most recent additions.
Phased Rollout of Double-Entry Benefit
The first revision took effect on 1 December 2024, extending the double-entry benefit to nationals of Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Denmark, and Austria. A second wave followed on 1 January 2025, adding Germany, Ireland, and Slovakia to the list.
More recently, South Korea joined the group on 1 October 2025, with Taiwan added on 1 February 2026. For both South Korean and Taiwanese nationals, the provision applies to two non-consecutive stays, rather than back-to-back periods, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What the Working Holiday Programme Offers
Japan's Working Holiday Programme allows young people from eligible countries to live and work in Japan for an extended period, typically up to a year. Historically, participation was limited to a single lifetime application for most nationalities, making the revised terms a meaningful shift for those hoping to return for a second stint.
The staged rollout suggests Japan has been negotiating bilateral updates with individual partner countries and regions over time, rather than applying a blanket revision across the board. Nationals from countries not included in the revised list remain subject to the standard single-entry rules.
Expanded Benefit Only for Select Nationals
The expanded benefit is currently available only to those from the eight countries and one region named in the official update. In a similar report, Legit.ng noted that Japan has named 32 countries whose citizens can live and work under a special visa scheme.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Australia announced 19 reciprocal Working Holiday arrangements with countries across Europe, Asia, and North America. No African country appears on that list, leaving Nigerians and other Africans to explore different visa pathways to work and travel in Australia.
