How can I come to the United Kingdom as part of the Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme?

This page explains how you can come to the United Kingdom as part of the Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme.

The Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme allows Japanese nationals aged between 18 and 25 to come to the United Kingdom for an extended holiday for up to 12 months. You may in some circumstances be able to come to the United Kingdom as part of the scheme up to the age of 30, for example, where you can show that there are good reasons such as you were caring for a relative or had ongoing studies which prevented you from travelling before your 26th birthday.

You should intend to work here as part of your holiday. There is a quota of 400 participants each year. A person may only come to the United Kingdom once as a participant in the scheme.

You can come to the United Kingdom under the scheme if:

• you are a Japanese national currently in Japan;
• you are aged 18 to 25 (discretion up to 30);
• you want to come to the United Kingdom for an extended holiday, with the intention of taking work as part of your holiday;
• you are single or are married to a person who also qualifies under the scheme, if married, you must intend to come to the United Kingdom together;
• you will not be accompanied by children;
• you will not need help from public funds;
• you can pay for your onward or return journey; and
• you plan to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your holiday.

You are not allowed to bring children to the United Kingdom under this scheme but you can bring your spouse if they also qualify under the scheme or if they are a European Economic Area (EEA) national.

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.