Japan: Available quotas and WHV application calendar

Redaccion Volare | March 5, 2026

The Japanese government maintains active bilateral youth mobility agreements with more than 30 nations. However, the availability of vacancies and the application system vary drastically depending on the applicant's passport and the Japanese fiscal calendar.

For young people interested in the Japan Working Holiday program, understanding the quota system is the critical first step. While some nationalities enjoy unlimited access, others must compete for limited spots that usually run out shortly after they open.

Quota availability by nationality

Below is the detail of the annual visa limits established for the 2026 cycle:

• Unlimited Quotas: Germany, Australia, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, and Sweden.

• High Capacity: South Korea (10,000), Taiwan (10,000), Canada (6,500), United Kingdom (6,000), and France (1,800).

• Moderate Capacity: Hong Kong (1.500), Ireland (800), and Spain (700).

• Limited Quotas: Poland (500), Argentina (400), Slovakia (400), Czech Republic (400), Austria (200), Chile (200), Finland (200), Hungary (200), Netherlands (200), Estonia (100), Latvia (100), Lithuania (100), Luxembourg (100), Malta (100), and Uruguay (100).

• Special Case: Iceland (30 annual quotas).

Important note: In countries with limited quotas, the calendar usually restarts on January 1st or April 1st (coinciding with the start of the Japanese fiscal year).

VISA APPLICATION ADVICE

To ensure a successful application, it is essential to identify the administrative group to which your nationality belongs:

Group 1: Standard Process (Appointment + Jan 1st Opening)

Nationalities: Argentina, Austria, Chile, Slovakia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Czech Republic, and Uruguay.

• Procedure: In-person process with mandatory prior appointment. The quota calendar opens on January 1st. Average approval time is 5 to 7 business days.

Group 2: No Appointment and Open Calendar

Nationalities: Germany, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden.

• Procedure: In-person process without a prior appointment. The calendar remains open all year round because they have unlimited quotas or very low demand relative to supply. Approval in 5 to 7 business days.

Group 3: Period-based Systems (Asia and Ireland)

• South Korea and Hong Kong: In-person process. Applications are submitted in 4 quarterly periods (January, April, July, and October/September). Results are announced one month after each closing.

• Ireland and Taiwan: Applications are submitted in 2 annual periods (January/February and July/November). The in-person process is only carried out after receiving official authorization from the embassy.

Group 4: Unique and Special Cases

• Australia: In-person or by postal mail (if the applicant lives far from the consulate). Calendar open all year round.

• Canada: Operates through an invitation system (Pools). The 2026 rounds began the week of March 2nd. The process can be in-person or by postal mail.

• Spain: In-person process with appointment. The 2026 calendar opened early on December 15th, 2025. Approval in approximately 1 week.

• Lithuania: In-person process managed exclusively through VFS Global centers. The calendar opens on January 1st.

• Malta: In-person process at the Embassy of Japan in Rome (Italy). It is a new program active since January 1st, 2026.

• United Kingdom: In-person process with prior appointment. The annual quota of 6,000 visas restarts on April 1st.

For more details on requirements and the full application process, please consult our Japan Working Holiday Visa guide.