Switching from Working Holiday to Work Visa (Technical, Humanities, International Business, etc.)

What is a working holiday?

A working holiday is officially referred to as "Designated Activities No. 5" or "Designated Activities No. 5-2," which are types of residence statuses.

"Designated Activities No. 5" or "Designated Activities No. 5-2" are only allowed once and the duration is a maximum of one year, with no extensions permitted.

Switching to a work visa

If you have the necessary educational and professional background for the job you will be engaged in, you can obtain a work visa like regular international students in Japan.

However, there are limitations on the methods to obtain a residence status. Countries such as the UK, France, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have agreements that require individuals to return to their home country after the working holiday period, so it is not permitted to obtain a work visa while staying in Japan through a change of residence status application.

However, in practice, there are many cases where it is allowed. The important factor is the individual's qualification suitability (educational and professional background) and the relevance to the job.