Are you dreaming of Japan, Japanese culture and manga? Go for it! Every year, 1,500 WHV (Permis Vacances Travail) visas are available for young French people aged between 18 and 30. This is your chance to spend a year in Japan, alternating between vacation and work.
You’ll be able to travel, visit Japan and gain professional experience abroad – ideal for a career start.

1. How do I obtain a Working Holiday Visa for Japan?
WHV Japan is free, but the application process is a little complex.
Conditions for obtaining :
- Between the ages of 18 and 30
- Valid French passport
- Have a return ticket or sufficient resources to purchase one
- No dependent children
- You must have at least €4,500 in your bank account to support yourself.
- Being healthy
- No previous experience of WHV in Japan.
Documents required :
- Passport photo
- Application form available online
- A CV
- A schedule of planned activities in Japan (a minimum of preparation is required)
- A one-page cover letter
- Full details are available on the Japanese Embassy website.
Next, you need to take your application to the Japanese embassy closest to your place of residence. Turnaround times are fairly short (3 to 5 days for acceptance), but you must submit your application at least three weeks before departure.
2. Is it difficult to find a job in Japan?
Finding a job in Japan is not easy. As the Japanese Embassy states, the primary objective of your WHV in Japan should not be work. Extract from the agreement:
“We would like to draw your attention to the fact that, although work is permitted as an accessory to supplement your finances, it should never be the main objective of your stay in Japan, which should remain primarily a tourist activity. It must remain above all a tourist activity.
What’s more, the agreement prohibits certain jobs: “French nationals may not engage in activities considered contrary to the purpose of the agreement (e.g. employment in bars, nightclubs, gaming halls, etc.)”
If you don’t speak Japanese, it will be more complicated to find a job in Japan. That’s why many pvtists start their trip with a few weeks of language courses, so they can manage to get by during their trip afterwards.
Simple jobs to be found at WHV in Japan;
– Language teacher (English or French): because it doesn’t require an advanced level of Japanese, and the hours are flexible enough to give you time to travel.
– Wwoofing: a popular activity in the Japanese countryside. You’ll find quite a few farms offering Wwoofing, i.e. room and board in exchange for 4 or 5 hours’ work. But don’t mention it, or mention it very little, in your schedule of activities in Japan. It should not occupy more than 30% of your time during your stay.
3. Do I need insurance to travel to Japan at WHV?
We strongly recommend that you take out insurance, even if you won’t be required to provide proof of insurance to obtain your visa.
Indeed, if you leave for a year, social security in Japan won’t cover you in the event of a medical problem, and costs are among the most expensive in the world.
Mondassur and Partir en WHV both offer insurance policies for WHV-Working Holiday Visas from €27 per month, with good coverage.
What’s important is that the contract covers you from the 1st euro (without recourse to social security), with unlimited coverage (this is very important in Japan, given the cost of medical expenses) and no deductible.