Japan's working holiday insurance requirement

Insurance requirements for the Japan Working Holiday Visa vary depending on your nationality. In some cases, private medical insurance is a requirement, while in others, it is simply recommended or optional.

This chapter explains the insurance requirement and why private insurance may still be worth considering, even if it isn’t mandatory for applicants of your nationality.

Insurance requirement by nationality

The insurance requirement on official sources varies depending on your nationality.

To take just a few examples, for citizens of:

• Australia, insurance is not mentioned.
• Canada and the United Kingdom, insurance is recommended.
• Ireland, insurance is listed as a prerequisite.
• New Zealand, insurance is optional unless you plan to engage in high risk activities such as skiing.
• Germany, you can either take out private insurance OR pledge to enroll Japan’s National Health Insurance.

It is important that you check and follow the requirements for your country.

Once you arrive in Japan, you must declare your address at the local city hall within 14 days. Doing so normally makes you eligible for Japan’s National Health Insurance.

If insurance is a requirement

If private medical insurance is a requirement for your nationality, you should take out an insurance that covers at least

1. medical expenses,
2. hospitalization, and
3. repatriation.

These are standard coverage requirements for most working holiday destinations.

At first glance, purchasing private insurance in addition to Japan’s public health insurance may seem redundant.

However, Japan’s National Health Insurance generally covers only 70% of eligible medical expenses, leaving you responsible for the remaining 30%.

In this case, private insurance can function as secondary insurance, reimbursing you for up to the remaining 30%.

Additionally, Japan’s National Health Insurance does not cover repatriation in case of serious illness or death. A private medical insurance like Globe WHV addresses this coverage gap.

If insurance is optional or recommended

If insurance is not mandatory for your nationality, you might be tempted to save money by relying solely on Japan’s National Health Insurance.

When making this important decision, keep in mind that Japan’s National Health Insurance:

1. Covers only up to 70% of eligible medical costs. The remaining 30% is your responsibility. Private medical insurance can act as a secondary insurance to cover up to this 30%.
2. Does not cover repatriation in case of serious illness or death.
3. May take time to arrange after you arrive, while you complete your local registration and other administrative formalities.

For these reasons, many working holiday makers choose to purchase private medical insurance, such as Globe WHV, or at least repatriation insurance.

Depending on your needs, coverage can be purchased for your first few months in Japan or for the duration of your stay.