Luxembourg has opened its doors to a large number of Japanese nationals through the bilateral Working Holiday Program launched in June, which allows people from both countries to live and work in each other’s territories temporarily.
The program is available to nationals of Japan between the ages of 18 and 30, permitting them to live and work in Luxembourg for up to one year, Schengen.News reports.
A cap of 100 visas is issued annually to nationals of Japan wishing to travel to Luxembourg through this scheme.
The then-charge d’affaires ad interim at the Luxembourg Embassy in Tokyo, David Goebbels, told the Japanese Times that Japanese nationals are more than welcome, encouraging more people to come to Luxembourg through this scheme.
Luxembourg is considered the 30th destination for nationals of Japan who become part of the Working Holiday scheme.
Goebbels said that for young Japanese interested in this program, Luxembourg offers not just a job but also a vibrant environment in which diverse languages and cultures intersect.
We have welcomed a lot of people and we’re very proud of that. They (visitors) will hear many languages, and this might be interesting for young people to come and see. They’ll have a good time.
A Japanese woman who has been living in Luxembourg for more than 20 years and is now a certified local tourist guide called on young Japanese nationals to become part of this program.
She told the Japanese Times that Luxembourg is an attractive destination for European nationals as well, with a large number of workers commuting from neighbouring states due to the high wages.
Requirements for Benefiting From the Working Holiday Program
In order to benefit from this scheme, nationals of Japan are required to meet some requirements before heading to Luxembourg, such as being aged between 18 and 30, not being accompanied by dependents and possessing reasonable funds for their maintenance during their period of stay in Luxembourg.
Similar requirements are also applied to Luxembourg nationals planning to travel to Japan through this program.
With a Working Holiday visa, Luxembourg citizens need not obtain further permission to engage in remunerative activities while in Japan, provided these activities do not contravene Japanese laws and regulations, especially those regulating businesses offering food and entertainment as well as any other regulations in force which affect public order and good morals.
The working holiday program came soon after the Chinese embassy’s announcement to extend its visa-free entry for citizens of Luxembourg by the end of 2025.
