Hi,
I started my Working Holiday visa last week and I'm liking it so far.
I realised something, however – although there's no real reason why I wouldn't stay for 2 years instead of 1 (for context – UK citizens can extend from 1 to 2 years), I had applied for and put 1 year on the application form since I'm not sure what's gonna happen in terms of finding work and, well, my overall Japan experience, and that's what I got. I assumed that extending would just involve visiting an immigration office in Japan or something, but I looked into it further and I believe I might have to return to the UK, go to the embassy in London, do the whole application thing again then re-enter Japan. Which I shouldn't have any real problem doing, but I can't get a clear answer on this.
Some sources online, including the Ministry of Justice website, make it seem like you can renew from within Japan, while others make it seem like I would have to return to the UK. Can anyone confirm? Has anybody from the UK extended their working holiday? Mind you it was a fairly recent change (from December 2024) so not sure if anyone has done this since it's nearly a year since the change.
by TheFrankBrit