Visa + Costs
– Working Holiday Visa
The Working Holiday Visa gives you the freedom to work, travel, and explore Japan for up to one year – your gateway to an unforgettable season in the mountains and beyond.
Key Requirements
The Age: 18–30
(varies slightly by nationality)
Valid passport
from an eligible country
First-time applicant
for a Japanese Working Holiday Visa
Must apply from
your country of citizenship
Requirements
• Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive). Please Note: While the visa age starts at 18, some Japanese ski employers require their staff to be at least 20 years old.
• Visa Validity: You will be issued a visa for a full 12 months.
• One-Time Opportunity: You can only be granted a Japanese Working Holiday visa once in your lifetime.
• Proof of Funds: You need to show you have reasonable savings to support yourself during your stay in Japan.
• In-Person Appointment: You must be able to attend a visa appointment at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country of
citizenship.
• Work Availability: You must be available to work for at least 3 months during the winter season.
Requirements
• Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive). Please Note: While the visa age starts at 18, some Japanese ski employers require their staff to be at least 20 years old.
• Visa Validity: You will be issued a visa for a full 12 months.
• One-Time Opportunity: You can only be granted a Japanese Working Holiday visa once in your lifetime.
• Proof of Funds: You need to show you have reasonable savings to support yourself during your stay in Japan.
• In-Person Appointment: You must be able to attend a visa appointment at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country of
citizenship.
• Work Availability: You must be available to work for at least 3 months during the winter season.
Requirements
• Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive). Please Note: While the visa age starts at 18, some Japanese ski employers require their staff to be at least 20 years old.
• Visa Validity: You will be issued a visa for a full 12 months.
• One-Time Opportunity: You can only be granted a Japanese Working Holiday visa once in your lifetime.
• Proof of Funds: You need to show you have reasonable savings to support yourself during your stay in Japan.
• In-Person Appointment: You must be able to attend a visa appointment at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country of
citizenship.
• Work Availability: You must be available to work for at least 3 months during the winter season.
Requirements
• Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive). Please Note: While the visa age starts at 18, some Japanese ski employers require their staff to be at least 20 years old.
• Visa Validity: You will be issued a visa for a full 12 months.
• One-Time Opportunity: You can only be granted a Japanese Working Holiday visa once in your lifetime.
• Proof of Funds: You need to show you have reasonable savings to support yourself during your stay in Japan.
• In-Person Appointment: You must be able to attend a visa appointment at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country of
citizenship.
• Work Availability: You must be available to work for at least 3 months during the winter season.
Requirements
• Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive). Please Note: While the visa age starts at 18, some Japanese ski employers require their staff to be at least 20 years old.
• Visa Validity: You will be issued a visa for a full 12 months.
• One-Time Opportunity: You can only be granted a Japanese Working Holiday visa once in your lifetime.
• Proof of Funds: You need to show you have reasonable savings to support yourself during your stay in Japan.
• In-Person Appointment: You must be able to attend a visa appointment at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country of
citizenship.
• Work Availability: You must be available to work for at least 3 months during the winter season.
Requirements
• Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive). Please Note: While the visa age starts at 18, some Japanese ski employers require their staff to be at least 20 years old.
• Visa Validity: You will be issued a visa for a full 12 months.
• One-Time Opportunity: You can only be granted a Japanese Working Holiday visa once in your lifetime.
• Proof of Funds: You need to show you have reasonable savings to support yourself during your stay in Japan.
• In-Person Appointment: You must be able to attend a visa appointment at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country of
citizenship.
• Work Availability: You must be available to work for at least 3 months during the winter season.
Important Consideration: The specific amount of funds to show, the exact documents required, and the visa application dates all depend on the agreement between your country and Japan. We will provide you with the precise details for your nationality.
Every country has different rules and requirements depending on the agreements with Japan, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. At Gate to Season, we guide you step by step, sending you all the documents you need, showing examples of how to fill them, and double-checking everything to ensure your application is spot-on. Once we confirm your eligibility, we’ll take you through the full process so you can focus on getting excited about your adventure.
What's included?
Your program fee includes everything you need to start your season smoothly:
Payment Details
Payment accepted in USD, AUD or EUR at the current exchange rate.
Refund Policy
We want you to feel confident that your investment is safe. A full refund is available in only three situations:
1. Visa Process: A refund will be issued only if we are unable to secure a visa due to official unavailability or restrictions from the issuing authorities. No refund applies if the applicant misses embassy appointments, fails to attend interviews, provides incorrect/incomplete documents, misses deadlines, or does not follow the required process.
2. Job Placement: A refund will be issued only if we are unable to secure employment for the applicant, provided all applicant responsibilities have been correctly fulfilled. No refund applies if the applicant declines, rejects, or is dissatisfied with a job placement that meets the agreed conditions and role criteria previously explained and accepted.
3. Entry Restrictions (Force Majeure): A refund will be issued only if entry to Japan becomes impossible due to external factors beyond anyone’s control, including pandemics, war, government border closures, or similar events. No refund applies for personal decisions, change of plans, personal circumstances, or voluntary cancellation.
We handle all the complicated steps so you don’t have to stress – from paperwork to embassy appointments, we make sure everything is ready and correct so you can start your adventure in Japan with peace of mind.
They've already lived
their journey
Read the stories of those who dared to chase the snow. This is the adventure they discovered.
