Watch: Malta Strikes Youth Working Holiday Visa Deal With Japan
Malta and Japan have struck an agreement for a working holiday visa scheme that will benefit youths from both countries.
Speaking from Tokyo, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg stated that discussions between Malta and Japan regarding a working holiday visa have been ongoing for the past nine years and have now reached a positive conclusion.
Through this deal, Maltese people aged between 18 and 30 will be allowed to work and study in Japan for a set period of time, while Japanese youths will be allowed to work and study in Malta.
More details about how this scheme will operate are set to be released in the near future.
“A number of stakeholders have spoken to us about this, I’m glad we reached this deal and I’m now looking forward to implementing it,” Borg said.
The arrangement was concluded following a meeting between Borg and his Japanese counterpart Hisayuki Fujii.
“The Working Holiday with Japan opens new opportunities for our younger generations to travel to Japan and experience the culture, history, and innovation that this country can offer,” Borg explained. The new visa is open for travellers aged 18 to 30. It will also introduce a similar working holiday visa process to Japanese youths wishing to visit Malta for similar experiences, including students of English language training schools and other educational institutions.”
“Japan is Malta’s third-largest non-EU student market in English language training travel segment, and there is potential for further growth in coming years. Through this arrangement, we are supporting language schools and other related service providers as they continue developing this promising sector,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.
Tomorrow, the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister will lead the celebrations marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, at the Osaka World EXPO 2025.