Japan: Is travel insurance mandatory for the Working Holiday Visa?

Redaccion Volare | March 6, 2026

According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), having a health and accident insurance policy is a mandatory and universal requirement for all applicants of the Japan Working Holiday program, without exception of nationality.

The Japanese healthcare system requires each visa beneficiary to have private international coverage to guarantee assistance in the event of any medical contingency. Failure to meet the coverage standards or the policy duration is one of the primary causes of consular rejection.

Below, we detail the technical conditions and required amounts for this cycle:

1. Minimum amounts and coverage scope

Unlike previous years, the amounts have been standardized according to the currency of the applicant's region. The insurance must mandatory cover expenses for illness, accidents, and, critically, medical and funeral repatriation.

• Spain, Lithuania, and Portugal: A minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR is strictly required.

• Rest of nationalities (Latin America and others): Due to high medical costs in Japan, a coverage between 30,000 and 50,000 USD is recommended and often required.

2. The "Pledge" (Commitment) option

There is an important administrative exception for certain European and Asian nationalities. These countries allow applicants to sign a commitment document (Pledge) stating that the applicant will join the Japanese National Health Insurance upon arrival, instead of presenting a 12-month private policy at the time of the appointment.

• Countries that allow the Pledge: Germany, Netherlands, Iceland, Hong Kong, Malta, and Sweden.

3. Mandatory Double Coverage

It is fundamental to understand that private insurance does not exempt one from legal responsibilities in Japan. Regardless of having an international policy, any participant residing in the country for more than 3 months is obligated by law to enroll in and pay for the National Health Insurance (NHI) at their municipality of residence.

This "double coverage" ensures that the traveler has the backing of the Japanese public system (which covers 70% of outpatient expenses) and private backing for major emergencies or repatriations that the public system does not cover.

4. Certificate Specifications

For the policy to be accepted, the certificate must:

• Cover the entire stay (except in Pledge cases).

• Be in the name of the passport holder.

• Clearly specify validity in Japanese territory.

To find recommended insurance providers that meet these 30k-50k USD amounts and to download the Pledge format if it applies to your country, we invite you to consult our Japan Working Holiday Visa guide.