On 1 July, the holiday and sporadic work activities programme between the Spanish and Japanese governments entered into effect.
The holiday and sporadic work activities programme, better known as “Working Holidays”, will allow young Japanese and Spanish nationals to visit Spain or Japan respectively for a maximum period of one year by obtaining a free visa. To do this, those interested must meet a series of requirements, such as being between 18 and 30 years old, having sufficient funds to financially support their stay, a valid passport, and return tickets, having no criminal record, and having never before held a visa through this programme. The trip’s main purpose must be for holidays, although recipients of these visas are not legally prohibited from working in order to supplement their travel funds.
Spaniards that meet the requirements established in the announcement may present their visa request through Japanese Consulates in Spain, and Japanese citizens may do so before the Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in Japan. The quota for visas to be issued through the sporadic work activities and holidays programme will be 500 annually for each nation.
The agreement intends to promote a closer cooperative relationship between the two countries, and provide better opportunities for their citizens, specifically youth, to appreciate the cultures and lifestyles in Spain and Japan.
