The Japan Work Holiday Programme (WPT) allows young French people aged 18 to 30 to stay for up to one year in the country of the Sun-Levant, with the possibility to work to supplement their financial resources. The visa is free, but the procedures are precise and the 2026 calendar is already complete in Paris. This hub guide details all the official steps: eligibility criteria, required documents, appointment making, presentation, delays and passport withdrawal.
Eligibility criteria: who can do a PVT Japan?
Before proceeding, check that you meet the six official conditions set by the Japanese Embassy in France. No derogation is possible, particularly on the age limit.
In order to be eligible for the PVT Japan, you must completesix criteriacumulative:
- BeingFrench(the visa only applies to holders of a French passport).
- Being18 to 30 yearson the date of filing of the application, i.e. until the day before your 31st birthday. No derogation from the age limit is possible.
- Not having already benefitedof the same visa in the past.
- Do not be accompanied by children.
- Being healthy(attested by a medical certificate).
- Intention to complyunder the bilateral Franco-Japanese agreement of 8 January 1999.
The visa is validmaximum one yearfrom the date of entry into Japan. Contrary to some of the accepted ideas, itmay not be renewed, extended or modified on the spotThis is a one shot visa that can only be obtained once in one’s life.
Once the eligibility has been confirmed, the first step is to identify the right consulate of deposit.
Check where you need to file your application
The deposit is required at the consulate on which you depend geographically. An application filed in the wrong electoral district is automatically refused, without the possibility of appeal.
It is crucial to apply for a visa at the consulate on which you depend geographically. Any application filed in an electoral district that does not correspond to your home will be automatically refused. To identify the right consulate, see the map of consular constituencies available on the Embassy of Japan website.
For French nationals residing in DROM-COM or abroad, the application must be made to the consular section of the Japanese Embassy in Paris. Three exceptions: New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna depend on the Japanese consular office in Nouméa. For the districts of Strasbourg, Lyon and Marseille, contact the consular mission concerned directly for specific details.
Good news on the calendar: the Embassy accepts requestsup to one year before expected arrival in Japan. Example: for departure in May 2027, you can apply as early as May 2026. Once the consulate is identified, the documents must be collected.
Collect the documents to be submitted
The official list of documents is available on the Embassy website. Here is the summary of the pieces to be provided, with the exact amounts and the pitfalls to be avoided.
The list of documents required for a PVT visa application is detailed on the website of the Embassy of Japan. The following is a summary of the key documents required:
- Visa application formAvailable in English only (also available at the Embassy). Completing by computer or manuscript of choice.Do not sign until deposit.A photo of recent identity must be pasted on the form (see next item).
- Identity photography: 45×35 mm format (French standard), head and face, less than 6 months old, of good quality (photomaton or photographer), without folding or scratching.Any unglued photo results in a systematic refusal of the file.
- French passport: original valid with at least 2 blank pages, plus a photocopy of the page with photo.
- Financial justificationTwo possible options (see details below).
- Medical certificate: original attesting that the applicant is in good health, valid for less than one month on the day of deposit.
- Letter of motivation: typed, detailing the origins of your interest in Japan and the reasons for your request. Preferably in English (French accepted).Inadmissible handwriting.
- Residence project: typed, on the official form proposed by the Embassy (several pages possible). Detailed visits must justify the need for a long-stay visa. Preferably in English (French accepted).Inadmissible handwriting.
- Curriculum vitae: typed, personal model accepted. Preferably in English (French accepted).Inadmissible handwriting.
Details of financial justification— two options are mandatory:
- Option 1: a bank proof (current account and/or non-blocked savings)three mandatory entries: the name of the applicant,minimum balance of 4 950 €, and a date of issue not exceeding 1 month on the day of filing of the application. Nothing else.
- Option 2(the 3 items are mandatory): bank proof with name of applicant,minimum balance of 3,100 €and date of issue of less than one month;plusa return flight ticket for Japan covering the duration of the stay;plusa copy of the statement of account showing the debit of the aircraft ticket amount. The Embassy states that the purchase of the ticket in no way guarantees that the visa or an advance appointment will be obtained:this option is strongly discouraged.
A few pitfalls to avoid: do not staple the documents (reverse impressions are welcome), and keep in mind that the Embassy reserves the right to require additional documents during the investigation. All documents must be collected prior to making an appointment.
The complete file in hand, you have to get an appointment — the most critical stage of the process in 2026.
Make an appointment by email (required)
In Paris, the deposit is made exclusively by appointment, and the 2026 calendar is already complete. Anticipate the maximum: the opening of the 2027 calendar is scheduled for December 2026.
To apply for a visa at the Japanese Embassy in Paris, you must make an appointment by email. You must send your request to the addressrdv.visa@ps.mofa.go.jpspecifying:
- Name and surname
- Date of birth
- Full address
- Copy of passport (PDF attached)
Critical point 2026: the calendar of appointments ispermanently closed for 2026 in Paris. The appointments are no longer available for 2026, there is nono waiting listandno reassignment of cancelled appointments. The opening of the 2027 calendar is planned in the course of December 2026, and no information will be communicated by telephone or by email: you must consult regularly the official page of the Embassy from December 2026.
Requests for appointments by telephone or online are not accepted. For people with at least one Japanese parent (father or mother), contact the Embassy by email before sending the appointment request.
Once the appointment is obtained, the deposit is made in person.
Submit your application as a facet
The deposit is made in person, with all the documents, only in the morning. No third party application is accepted, even by a parent.
On the date of the appointment, you must present yourself in person with all the required documents. Deposits are made Monday to Friday between9.30 and 12.30(except days of exceptional closure), and the physical presence of the applicant is mandatory. Third-party applications, even if they are a parent, are not accepted.
Throughout the proceedings,your passport is kept by the Embassy: anticipate if you need to travel in the meantime.
Then comes the processing time, usually fast but variable.
Wait for processing time
The official deadline is about five working days, but can be extended depending on the checks. You will be informed of any further delay.
The processing time of your visa application is aboutfive working daysfrom the day after the deposit. However, this period may be extended by a few days depending on the use checks. You will then be informed of any additional time.
Once the visa has been affixed to the passport, it remains to be recovered.
Withdraw your passport
The withdrawal is done without appointment, only in the afternoon, with the original withdrawal ticket. No copy, print or proxy is accepted.
You can withdraw your passport on the date indicated on the ticket, between2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m.No appointment. The withdrawal is at the counter only, andAnyonemay do so (not necessarily the applicant), provided thatthe original withdrawal ticket. Note: photos, prints and copies of the ticket are not accepted, nor is the proxy letter accepted.
If you cannot withdraw your passport on the date indicated, it will be retained until you come to pick it up. The withdrawal takes place only in the afternoon, regardless of the day of passage. No mailing is possible.
The question of costs remains — and the good news is that there is none.
Visa fees
The PVT Japan is completely free: no file fees, no visa fees, no processing fees. An exception in the landscape of long-stay visas.
No visa fee is required for the PVT Japan. No application fees, no processing fees, no service fees: the deposit and issuance of the visa are completely free.
However, there is still an important limitation to know before leaving: authorized activities.
Activity limitations: what the PVT prohibits
The PVT Japan allows for paid work, but with clear restrictions: certain sectors are prohibited, and the visa cannot be renewed, extended or modified on the spot.
In accordance with the provisions of the bilateral agreement, participantsmay not engage in any activity that prejudices morals: jobs in bars, cabarets, night clubs, playrooms, etc. Work must remain a means of supplementing its financial resources, not the main objective of the stay, which must remain touristic and cultural.
The working holiday visamay not be renewed, extended or modified on the spot. It is a “one shot” visa: once you arrive in Japan, you will not be able to turn it into a work or student visa. It is therefore necessary to anticipate your professional project before departure, and possibly consider a change of status after a return to France.
Obtaining a PVT visa for Japan requires careful preparation and adherence to precise administrative procedures, especially in 2026 where the Parisian calendar is already complete. By following the official steps described in this guide and anticipating the reopening of the 2027 calendar, you are putting every chance on your side to experience an unforgettable experience in Japan. Prepare your file, watch the Embassy page as early as December 2026, and good luck in your steps.
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Frequently asked questions about PVT approaches Japan
Calendar, documents, fees, limitations: Here are the concrete answers to the most frequently asked questions of applicants to the Japan VDP, updated with the official data 2026 of the Embassy.
When is his application for PVT Japan due for departure in 2027?
The 2026 calendar is permanently closed in Paris (no waiting list, no reassignment of cancelled appointments). The opening of the 2027 calendar is planned for December 2026. No information will be communicated by telephone or by email: you must consult the official Embassy page regularly from December 2026.
Good news on deadlines: the Embassy accepts requests up to one year before the expected arrival in Japan. For a start in May 2027, you can therefore file your application as early as May 2026 — but you must first get an appointment, which is the real bottleneck of the process. Schedule 6 to 12 months of anticipation.
What minimum bank balance does it take for the PVT Japan?
Two options are possible. Option 1: A bank proof (current and/or non-blocked savings account) with the name of the applicant, a minimum balance of €4,950 and a date of issue of less than one month on the day of deposit. Option 2: A proof with a minimum balance of €3,100 plus a return flight ticket to Japan plus a copy of the account statement showing the ticket debit.
The Embassy states that the purchase of the plane ticket does not guarantee the receipt of the visa or an advance appointment, so option 2 is strongly discouraged. Option 1 (€4,950 on an unblocked current account or savings account) is the simplest and most secure option. Please note: the 3 statements (name, balance, date) are mandatory, and nothing else must appear on the proof.
Can you renew or extend your Japan PVT on site?
No. In accordance with the official provisions of the Embassy of Japan, the working holiday visa cannot be renewed, extended or modified on the spot. It is a one shot visa: it is issued only once in its life, for a maximum of one year from the date of entry into Japan.
If you want to stay in Japan for more than a year, you will have to return to France and apply for another type of visa (work visa, student visa, etc.) from abroad. It is also impossible to convert a PVT into an on-site work visa: anticipate your professional project before departure. This restriction is strict and has no exceptions.
What are the file fees for PVT Japan?
None. The PVT Japan is completely free of charge: no application fees, no visa fees, no processing fees, no service fees. Deposit and issuance of the visa are free, unlike many other long-stay visas.
The only costs are indirect: the medical certificate (usually €20 to €50 in a general practitioner), the identity photograph (€5 to €15 in photomaton), the printing of documents, and possibly the travel costs to Paris for deposit and withdrawal. Count 50 to 150 € in total depending on your location. No fee is charged by the Embassy itself.
What activities are prohibited with a PVT Japan?
In accordance with the bilateral Franco-Japanese agreement, participants may not engage in any activity harmful to morals: jobs in bars, cabarets, night clubs, playrooms, etc. Work must remain a means of supplementing its financial resources, not the main objective of the stay, which must remain touristic and cultural.
The authorized sectors are therefore wide: restaurants (izakaya, ramen, cafes), sales (konbini, department stores), hotels (ryokans, hotels), teaching French or English, seasonal agriculture, etc. The minimum hourly wage depends on the prefecture (about 1,050 yen in Tokyo, 1,000 yen in Osaka). Working at 25 hours a week can cover current expenses without drawing on savings.
What happens if I miss the date of my passport withdrawal?
Don’t worry: if you can’t withdraw your passport on the date indicated on the ticket, the Embassy will keep it until you pick it up. The withdrawal takes place only in the afternoon (14:30-17:00), without an appointment, regardless of the day of passage. No mailing is possible.
Please note that only the original of the withdrawal ticket is accepted (no photo, no printing, no copy), and the proxy letter is not accepted. Anyone can pick up the passport (not necessarily the applicant), provided they present the original ticket. Anticipate: If you entrust the withdrawal to a loved one, hand him the original ticket.
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