Japan: Is a minimum level of studies required to apply for the WHV?

Redaccion Volare | March 6, 2026

According to the current regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan's mobility program is one of the most inclusive in academic terms, although there are specific certification requirements depending on the applicant's consular jurisdiction.

One of the great advantages of the Japan Working Holiday Visa is that, unlike other destinations such as Australia or New Zealand in certain agreements, it does not mandatory require having pursued university or tertiary studies for visa approval.

Below, we detail how educational requirements are divided by nationality:

1. Group 1: Standard Requirement (High school completed)

Nationalities: Germany, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Sweden, Taiwan, and Uruguay.

• Regulation: No university degree or specific higher studies are required. The program is open to all young people who have completed secondary education (High School or its local equivalent).

• Documentation: In most of these cases, it is sufficient to declare the level of studies on the application form, although it is always recommended to have the diploma at hand in case the consul requests additional verification.

2. Group 2: With Mandatory Certification

In these jurisdictions, although a university degree is not requested, the embassy is strictly rigorous with the accreditation of the applicant's educational status.

Nationalities: South Korea and Hong Kong.

• Regulation: A university degree is not required, but it is mandatory to present the original diploma or certificate of the last studies completed to formally validate the educational status at the time of document submission.

Note on professional development in Japan

It is advisable to clarify to users that, although higher studies are not required to obtain the visa, having a university degree can represent a significant advantage once inside Japan.

If the participant decides to seek qualified employment outside the basic services sector, or if they wish to change their status to a Work Visa to stay in the country after finishing their Working Holiday year, a university degree is usually an indispensable legal requirement for sponsorship from Japanese companies.

For more details on language requirements and the full list of documents, please consult our Japan Working Holiday Visa guide.