Student Visa vs Working Holiday

Verified: 2026-07-18 · Highlighted rows differ between the two statuses.

Student Visa Working Holiday
Education Admission to a Japanese school No education requirement
Experience / exam None (degree route) Age 18–30 (partner countries)
Japanese Depends on the school No legal requirement
Family Conditional (mainly university students) No family sponsorship
Work rights Permit needed, ≤28 h/week Mostly free (adult venues excluded)
Period of stay Per program, up to 4y3m per grant 1 year, non-extendable
Renewal Yes, no limit Not renewable
Changing employer Not applicable Free
Road to PR Counts toward residence, not work years Usually not counted

This table is a simplified overview verified against official sources on the linked visa pages — each page cites the specific Immigration Services Agency documents per requirement. Always confirm with those sources before acting.