Japan & UK Agree to Issue 6,000 Working Holiday Visas to Each Other’s Citizens From Next Year

Key Takeaways

  • Japan and the UK have agreed to issue up to 6,000 working holiday visas annually to each other’s citizens starting next year.
  • Japan’s working holiday visa quota will see a sixfold expansion.
  • UK’s working holiday visa quota will increase fourfold.

In an attempt to foster closer ties and promote cultural exchanges among young people, Japan and the United Kingdom have announced a significant expansion of their working holiday visa program.

Starting next year, both nations have agreed to issue up to 6,000 working holiday visas annually to each other’s citizens, making a substantial increase from the current quotas, VisaGuide.World reports.

As the Japan Times explains, Japan’s Working Holiday Visa quota will see a sixfold expansion, rising from the existing 1,000 visas to the new limit of 6,000. Similarly, the UK’s Working Holiday Visa quota will increase fourfold, climbing from 1,500  to the agreed-upon 6,000 visas per year.

This move stems from the Hiroshima Accord, and its main aim is to strengthen cooperation across various areas, including the economy and security.

The memorandum of understanding outlining these measures was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoko Kamikawa, and the British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, during a meeting held in Tokyo last week.

The governments of both Japan and the United Kingdom are committed to cultivating a closer bilateral relationship between their citizens and promoting mutual understanding between the two countries.

Embassy of Japan in the UK

As the Times of Japan notes, Japan initiated its working holiday program with Australia for the first time in 1980, and currently, it has agreements with 29 countries and regions.

The working holiday program between Japan and the UK, which has been in place since 2001, allows all people aged between 18 and 30 to stay in the partner country for up to two years.

The existing quotas that the two countries have have left many applicants without the coveted working holiday visas as the number of applications has significantly increased over the years.

The increased quotas aim to address this issue as well as provide more young people with the opportunity to enhance their language skills, experience new cultures and create connections with others.

Nonetheless, concerns have been raised about potential challenges in finding employment as well as housing with the anticipated increase in applicants.

Since the main aim of the working holiday scheme is to promote international interaction, participants are allowed to work only for a certain period of their stay in order to cover the cost of their travel.

This program is not designed for persons who mainly intend to work. The applicant’s primary purpose of stay should be to “holiday” in Japan. Those who intend primarily to work cannot apply for this visa.

Embassy of Japan in the UK

In addition, those who are part of the program are not permitted to extend their stay, and it is recommended that everyone gets appropriate insurance coverage.

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