An internship in Japan can strengthen your CV considerably, but the entry rules differ more than many people expect. Japan distinguishes between short stays, paid employment and approved internships. This guide explains the cases, shows which insurance you need and helps you plan the costs.
Short answer: German citizens can enter Japan visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days, but they may not work during that time. For paid internships and longer stays, a permit with the activity designation “Designated Activities” is usually needed, which requires an agreement between your university and the host. The European Health Insurance Card does not apply in Japan. Stand: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- Short stays of up to 90 days are possible without a visa, but they exclude paid work.
- Paid internships usually need a permit for Designated Activities, which is typically applied for through the host organisation.
- Your university must include the internship in your study plan and sign a written agreement.
- The EHIC does not apply in Japan, so private travel health insurance is essential.
- Funding from Auslands-BAföG, the DAAD or scholarships is possible, but there is no fixed flat rate for Japan.
Short stay or internship permit: what applies to you?
What matters is not the title of the internship but the actual activity and whether it is paid. Sitting in on office work is different from a full-time internship with tasks in the day-to-day working routine. The Embassy of Japan in Berlin gives binding information on this.
| Case | Usually fits | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Observation or short placement without pay | Visa-free short stay of up to 90 days | No paid work. Tasks with the character of work can count as work. |
| Paid internship as part of your studies | Permit for Designated Activities | The host organisation and your university work together. The permit is applied for in Japan. |
| Internship over several months | Designated Activities | According to publications on internships of foreign students, limited to at most one year and half of the study period. Confirm with the embassy. |
The details on the activity designation are based on publications about internships of foreign students in Japan. Check the specifics with the embassy or the immigration authority before you book a flight or accommodation.
Which requirements apply to an internship with a permit?
For students from foreign universities, several conditions generally apply. You must be at least 18 years old at the start, the internship must relate to your field of study, and your university must recognise it. The university and the Japanese organisation sign a written agreement that governs purpose, duration, pay, insurance and termination.
Placement through third parties is not permitted. The activity must be arranged directly with the host, otherwise the basis of the permit lapses.
The Working Holiday visa is a special route for people under 31, but it is not an internship visa. The Embassy of Japan in Germany requires that the stay is predominantly a holiday with occasional part-time work. Anyone who wants to work predominantly is not eligible to apply. Eligible are German citizens aged 18 and over, and the application must be submitted before the 31st birthday. Details are in our guide Working Holiday Japan.
Which health insurance do you need in Japan?
The European Health Insurance Card applies only in EU countries, the EEA and some agreement states. Japan is not among them. For a stay you therefore need your own travel health insurance, which covers treatment, hospital stays and repatriation. Pay particular attention to pre-existing conditions when comparing policies.
If you live in Japan for more than three months and register your residence there, you usually become a member of the Japanese national health insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken). For a short internship this usually does not apply, so the gap is closed only by your private travel insurance. Statutory health insurance in Germany covers treatment outside the EU only to a limited extent. Guide values by destination region can be found in our article Private travel health insurance per month: guide values by region.
What does an internship in Japan cost?
In large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, accommodation is the largest cost item. The following calculation is an assumption and not a market check. It shows the order of magnitude for a stay of eight weeks.
Example calculation for eight weeks in Tokyo
Assumption: eight weeks of internship, accommodation at 900 euros per month, living costs at 500 euros per month, flight 1,000 euros, fees for the permit or visa 150 euros, insurance for the period 150 euros.
| Item | Assumption | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 2 months at 900 euros | 1,800 euros |
| Living costs | 2 months at 500 euros | 1,000 euros |
| Flight | Return flight | 1,000 euros |
| Permit or fees | Assumed | 150 euros |
| Insurance | Assumed for the period | 150 euros |
| Total | 4,100 euros |
Which funding is available?
There is no funding reserved solely for internships in Japan. Auslands-BAföG can cover internships if they are part of your training; your BAföG office gives the answer. The DAAD offers programmes for internships abroad, whose calls change. Whether Erasmus+ applies depends on whether your partner university in Japan is part of the programme. An overview is provided by our guide Funding Study Abroad: BAföG, Erasmus and Scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do an internship in Japan without a visa?
Only within narrow limits. A visa-free short stay does not permit paid work. Paid internships and longer assignments usually need a permit with the activity designation Designated Activities.
Is an unpaid internship in Japan permitted?
Unpaid does not automatically mean permitted. What matters is whether the activity looks like work and has an economic purpose. Clarify this with the embassy and your university before booking.
Does my German health insurance apply in Japan?
Only to a limited extent. The statutory insurer pays out only a limited amount outside the EU, and the EHIC does not apply in Japan. Private travel health insurance with repatriation cover is therefore the usual route.
When do I become insured in Japan?
If you live in Japan for more than three months and have a registered residence, you usually become a member of the Japanese health insurance. Short internships usually do not fall under this. The exact rule is clarified with the responsible municipal office and the embassy.
Can my university help with the permit?
Yes, and often it is essential, because the agreement between your university and the host is part of the requirements. Approach your International Office early and ask for templates.
What to do now
- Check whether your plan counts as a visit, a short stay or an internship with a permit.
- Ask your International Office for an agreement with the Japanese host organisation.
- Clarify with your health insurer and a private provider what protection applies in Japan.
- Book only after the host and your university have confirmed, and, if necessary, after the permit has been granted.
Related guides
- Student Internship: Minimum Wage and Social Insurance
- Private Health Insurance for Internships: What You Need to Know
- Studying Outside the EU: Health Insurance Rules
- Internship Abroad in Australia: Visa, Insurance and Funding
- Funding Study Abroad: BAföG, Erasmus and Scholarships
Sources: Embassy of Japan in Germany, working holiday visa (page dated 19 August 2026), Embassy of Japan in Germany, entry and visas (ask there about internships and Designated Activities), SGB V, section 5 (as of October 2026).
Stand: October 2026. This guide is information, not individual advice.
