AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN REGARDING A WORKING HOLIDAY SCHEME

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Parties" and individually as the "Party"),

In a spirit of promoting closer co-operative relationship between the two countries, and

Desirous of providing wider opportunities for their nationals, particularly the youth, to appreciate the culture and general way of life of the other country for the purpose of promoting mutual understanding between the two countries,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. The Government of Japan shall issue, free of charge, to a national of the Republic of Latvia residing in the Republic of Latvia a working holiday visa, if such national meets all of the following requirements:

(a) intending to enter Japan primarily for the purpose of spending holidays;

(b) being between eighteen and thirty years of age, both inclusive, at the time of application for the working holiday visa;

(c) not being accompanied by dependants except for those in possession of working holiday visas or other visas issued by the Government of Japan;

(d) possessing a valid passport, and a return travel ticket or sufficient funds with which to purchase such ticket;

(e) possessing reasonable funds for the maintenance of his or her stay in Japan during the initial period of the stay;

(f) intending to leave Japan at the end of his or her stay and not altering his or her status of residence during the stay;

(g) not having previously been issued a working holiday visa by the Government of Japan;

(h) having sufficient medical insurance as required by laws and regulations in force in Japan;

(i) having no criminal record; and

(j) intending to comply with the laws and regulations in force in Japan during his or her stay in Japan.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 above, the Government of Japan reserves the right not to approve any particular visa application it receives.

Article 2

1. The Government of the Republic of Latvia shall issue, free of charge, to a national of Japan residing in Japan a long-term visa under the Working Holiday Scheme, if such national meets all of the following requirements:

(a) intending to enter the Republic of Latvia primarily for the purpose of spending holidays;

(b) being between eighteen and thirty years of age, both inclusive, at the time of application for the long-term visa;

(c) not being accompanied by dependants;

(d) possessing a valid passport, and a return travel ticket or sufficient funds with which to purchase such ticket;

(e) possessing reasonable funds for the maintenance of his or her stay in the Republic of Latvia during the initial period of the stay;

(f) intending to leave the Republic of Latvia at the end of his or her stay and not altering his or her status of residence during the stay;

(g) not having previously been issued a long-term visa under the Working Holiday Scheme by the Republic of Latvia;

(h) having sufficient medical insurance as required by laws and regulations in force in the Republic of Latvia;

(i) having no criminal record; and

(j) intending to comply with the laws and regulations in force in the Republic of Latvia during his or her stay in the Republic of Latvia.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 above, the Government of the Republic of Latvia reserves the right not to approve any particular visa application it receives.

Article 3

1. The Government of Japan shall permit a national of the Republic of Latvia to apply for the working holiday visa mentioned in Article 1 at the Embassy of Japan located in the Republic of Latvia. When necessary, the applicant will be interviewed by the representatives of the Embassy of Japan to determine his or her eligibility.

2. The Government of the Republic of Latvia shall permit a national of Japan to apply for a long-term visa mentioned in Article 2 at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia located in Japan. When necessary, the applicant will be interviewed by the representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to determine his or her eligibility.

Article 4

1. The Government of Japan shall permit the nationals of the Republic of Latvia who possess valid working holiday visas mentioned in Article 1 to stay in Japan for a period of up to one year from the date of entry and allow them to engage in employment without work permit as an incidental activity of their holidays for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in Japan.

2. The Government of the Republic of Latvia shall permit the nationals of Japan who possess valid long-term visas mentioned in Article 2 to stay in the Republic of Latvia for a period of up to one year from the date of entry and grant them unrestricted right to engage in employment as an incidental activity of their holidays for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the Republic of Latvia.

3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, each Party reserves the right to refuse entry into the territory of its country to any person who has been issued a visa under this Agreement, or remove any person who has obtained entry under this Agreement.

Article 5

Each Party, on the basis of reciprocity, shall determine the number of the working holiday visas mentioned in Article 1 and long-term visas mentioned in Article 2 it may issue annually for nationals of the other country and shall notify the other Party of such number through diplomatic channels.

Article 6

The provisions of this Agreement shall be implemented in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the respective countries.

Article 7

1. The Parties shall notify each other, in writing, of the completion of their respective internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement. This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the latter of the dates of receipt of the notifications.

2. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be resolved by the Parties through diplomatic channels.

3. Amendments to this Agreement may be negotiated between the Parties at any time. Any amendment shall be concluded in a written form.

4. Either Party may suspend the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement, in whole or in part, temporarily for reasons of public policy. Any such suspension shall be notified immediately to the other Party through diplomatic channels.

5. This Agreement shall remain in force for an indefinite period. Either Party may terminate this Agreement by giving three months' written notice to the other Party through diplomatic channels.

6. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or suspension of the implementation of any provision of this Agreement, unless otherwise decided by the Parties through diplomatic channels, each Party shall afford favorable consideration to the request for entry or stay of any national of the other country who, at the date of such termination or suspension, has been issued a valid working holiday visa mentioned in Article 1 or a valid long-term visa mentioned in Article 2 or has been permitted to stay in the territory of the country of that Party in accordance with Article 4.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

DONE in duplicate at Riga on the 11th day of October 2022, in Latvian, Japanese and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.