Complete visa guide for British passport holders — requirements, documents, fees, and application process
Study, work, family reunification, permanent residence and other stays longer than 90 days. These always require a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a visa, regardless of visa-free status for tourism.
Covers tourism, business meetings, conferences, family visits, and transit. Carry passport, return/onward ticket, hotel booking or host address, and funds. No paid work, no enrollment in long-term school on this status. Extension is not possible for tourism — you must leave Japan and re-enter, and immigration is increasingly strict on back-to-back "visa run" entries.
You cannot convert a tourist entry to a work/study/spouse visa inside Japan. The Japanese employer, school, or spouse files a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with the Immigration Services Agency (1–3 months). Once issued, bring the COE plus application to the Japanese embassy or consulate serving your region; the visa sticker is typically ready in 3–7 working days.
UK citizens enter Japan visa-free for 90 days (extendable to 6 months at the Immigration Bureau). For longer stays the two common routes are Working Holiday (ages 18–30, up to 1 year) and standard work visa (技術・人文知識・国際業務 or HSP). Total timeline varies sharply by route — WHV is fast (3–6 weeks), full work visa is 2–4 months.
| # | Phase | Handled by | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHV-0 | Working Holiday: check eligibility (British citizen, 18–30, no dependants, sufficient savings ~£2,500+) | Applicant | Same day |
| WHV-1 | Apply at Embassy of Japan London (in-person or postal) with passport, application form, CV, reason letter, savings proof, return ticket or funds for it | Applicant | 2–5 working days processing |
| WHV-2 | Collect visa; fly to Japan; receive residence card at airport | Applicant | Any time within 1 year of visa issue |
| Work-0 | Work visa: job offer accepted with Japanese employer | Applicant + employer | Day 0 |
| Work-1 | Japanese employer files Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at Immigration Bureau | Employer | Same day |
| Work-2 | ISA reviews COE (avg ~1.5 months for 技人国) | Immigration Services Agency | 1–3 months |
| Work-3 | COE couriered to UK | ISA → employer → applicant | 3–5 business days |
| Work-4 | Submit COE + visa application at Embassy of Japan London (Edinburgh consulate for Scotland residents) | Applicant | 1 day |
| Work-5 | Embassy issues visa sticker | Embassy of Japan | 3–5 working days |
| Work-6 | Fly to Japan; receive residence card at airport; register address at city office within 14 days | Applicant | First 2 weeks in Japan |
The UK-Japan Working Holiday quota is 1,500 per year, usually not filled — applications stay open year-round but it is wise to apply 2–3 months before your planned departure. HSP (高度専門職) applicants with strong profiles sometimes see Phase Work-2 compressed to 10–15 working days.
Our expert consultants can guide you through the entire application process.
