Modalities of the Japanese WHV application process

Redaccion Volare | March 6, 2026

Understanding the opening calendar and the attendance modality of each consulate is vital to secure one of the vacancies for the Japan Working Holiday program. Below, we present a detailed guide of the various application systems currently in place according to the regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

Due to high global demand, the Japanese government has diversified its methods for receiving documents, ranging from permanent open calendars to complex invitation systems or quarterly windows.

Application Groups by Nationality

For successful planning, identify the administrative group to which your passport belongs:

Group 1: Early Opening (End of the previous year)

Nationalities: Chile and Spain.

• Advice: In-person process with a prior appointment. The quota calendar usually opens between November and December of the year prior to travel. Due to extremely high demand and limited spots, it is recommended to request an appointment immediately after the official opening of the call.

Group 2: Standard Opening (First week of January)

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

• Advice: In-person process with a prior appointment. The reception of applications for the annual quota begins the first business week of January. Quotas are assigned in strict order of arrival of complete files; it is recommended to apply during the first quarter.

Group 3: Open Calendar (All year round)

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

• Advice: Calendar open permanently throughout the year. Having unlimited quotas or demand that does not exceed supply, you can apply at any time. It is recommended to submit documents at least 3 to 4 weeks before the intended flight.

Group 4: Quarterly Windows

Nationalities: South Korea and Hong Kong.

• Advice: In-person process. The selection process is divided into 4 quarterly application periods throughout the year. Results are officially announced one month after the close of each application window.

Group 5: Biannual Windows with Pre-approval

Nationalities: Ireland and Taiwan.

• Advice: Applications are submitted in 2 annual periods (typically one per semester). The process requires sending a prior request via email or online; the in-person process at the diplomatic mission is only carried out after receiving official written authorization.

Group 6: Invitation Systems (Pools)

Nationality: Canada.

• Advice: Invitation system (Pools). Interested parties must register their profile in a candidate pool and wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Selection rounds usually open in the first quarter of each year and close when the quota is filled.

Group 7: Reset according to Fiscal Year (April)

Nationality: United Kingdom.

• Advice: In-person process with a prior appointment. Although the calendar is generally open, the massive annual quota of 6,000 visas resets every April 1st, coinciding with the start of the fiscal year in Japan.

Group 8: Process via External Centers (VFS Global)

Nationalities: Lithuania and Malta.

• Advice: In-person process managed exclusively through external processing centers (VFS Global). The calendar opens in January, and the cost of the process includes an additional service fee for management by the external entity.

Group 9: Special Case of Saturation (France)

Nationality: France.

• Advice: In-person process with a prior appointment. The calendar opens in January, but due to system saturation, appointments at the Paris, Lyon, and Marseille offices usually sell out many months in advance. It is recommended to check availability before purchasing flights.

For information on fund requirements and the list of necessary documents, please consult our Japan Working Holiday Visa guide.