Hey everyone! I'm Anika writing from Japan. I came on a Working Holiday Visa! As an  Austrian citizen, that might sound a little surprising. We only get a limited number of these visas for Japan each year (when I applied it was only 200). This is in contrast to countries like Germany, which have a seemingly endless supply. It made me so jealous!

Originally, New Zealand and Australia were my dream destinations for a working holiday. But as an Austrian, those visas were incredibly competitive. So, with a bit of a shift in plans, Japan became my new target.  

Since Japan isn't quite as popular as a working holiday destination for Austrians,  compared to other countries, the application process was smoother than I expected. 

Getting the Paperwork done 

My first step was contacting the Japanese embassy in Austria. They provided a list of required documents. One interesting document was a motivation letter. In it, I explained why Japan was my chosen destination, my plans for the year, and my relevant experience. 

Required Documents for Austrian Citizens: 

• Completed Visa Application Form: Download the form and fill it out carefully.  
• Passport Photo: Make sure it adheres to ICAO guidelines (no cutting, light  background, etc.) 
• Valid Passport: Your passport must be valid beyond your planned stay in  Japan and have at least 2 blank pages. 
• Travel Insurance: Proof of comprehensive travel insurance is required,  including medical coverage of at least €30,000 with COVID-19 included. 
• Proof of Funds: Demonstrate your financial ability to cover your initial stay in  Austria. 
• Transportation: Show proof of your travel to and from Austria or sufficient funds to purchase tickets. 
• Proof of Accommodation: Provide evidence of accommodation for at least the beginning of your stay. 

On top of that, you have to be under 30 if you want to apply for a Working Holiday Visa! 

This link has all the documents you need to fill out:

https://www.at.emb-japan.go.jp/de/20_consulate/070_Working_Holiday_Programm.html 

I printed out all the forms on this website, filled them out, and brought them to the embassy.

(Don’t forget this link is for my Austrian fellas! If you are from another country it is  different perhaps.) 

Now waiting… 

There's always that waiting period, wondering if everything will be approved. In my case, it took the embassy about a week to process my application, which felt like a long time at the moment! 

However, the good news is rejections seem to be uncommon. As long as you have all the required documents, proof of funds, travel insurance, and everything else on the checklist. The people working at the Japanese embassy are nice and will tell you what to do! 

The application process can be straightforward, and hopefully, you'll be seeing that visa sticker on your passport soon enough. 

Good Luck!