Do I need to submit a criminal background check for the Japanese WHV?

Volare Editorial | March 6, 2026

To ensure safety and public order, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) requires all participants of the Japan Working Holiday program to demonstrate impeccable personal conduct. However, the method to prove the absence of a criminal record varies drastically depending on the nationality of the passport.

When preparing the application file, it is vital to identify whether the consulate requires an official certificate issued by the national police, an independent self-declaration (affidavit), or simply checking boxes on the standard application form.

1. Group 1: Mandatory Official Certificate

In this group, the submission of an official document is a strict requirement for visa approval.

• Sub-group 1A: Standard Certificate (Argentina and Chile): It is mandatory to attach the official criminal record certificate issued by the corresponding national registry (RNR in Argentina or Registro Civil in Chile).

• Sub-group 1B: Apostille Exempt (Uruguay): It is mandatory to submit the official certificate, but the consular guideline explicitly clarifies that it is not necessary for the document to be apostilled.

• Sub-group 1C: Strict Validity (Lithuania and Luxembourg): An original extract is required. For Lithuania, the certificate must not be more than 6 months old; for Luxembourg, the maximum permitted age is 3 months.

2. Group 2: Independent Affidavit Annex

These jurisdictions do not require an external police certificate, but rather the signing of a legal document provided by the embassy itself.

• Nationalities: Spain and Malta.

• Regulation: No official police certificate is required. However, it is mandatory to print and sign a specific additional document (the "Annex D" for Spain or the "Declaration by Applicant" for Malta) in which it is formally declared under oath to lack a criminal record.

3. Group 3: No Additional Certificate (Visa Form Only)

This is the largest group, where good conduct is proven through the principle of good faith in the initial application.

• Nationalities: Germany, Australia, Austria, Canada, South Korea, Denmark, Slovakia, Estonia, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Sweden, and Taiwan.

• Regulation: No official police certificate or separate annex is required. A clean record is declared directly by checking the corresponding security boxes (Yes/No) on the second page of the standard Visa Application Form.

Final Considerations

Regardless of the accreditation method, lying on the criminal record declaration leads to a permanent denial of any type of visa for Japan. If an applicant has a minor record, it is recommended to make a prior inquiry at the consulate to evaluate if it is an impediment to the program. For more information on fund requirements and the full list of documents, please consult our Japan Working Holiday Visa guide.