Korean Visa Guide for Taiwanese Citizens

How does the H-1 Working Holiday visa work for Taiwanese?

Taiwan and Korea have an active H-1 Working Holiday bilateral agreement. Eligibility: ① Taiwanese citizenship (ROC passport) ② Age 18–30 at the time of application ③ Valid passport ④ Sufficient funds (typically ~KRW 3,000,000 / ~NTD 70,000 equivalent) ⑤ No accompanying dependants. The visa is valid for 1 year and allows work in most sectors. Apply at the Korean Consulate in Taipei. Annual quotas for Taiwan are among the highest in Asia — apply early in the year for the best chance.

Can Taiwanese people teach English in Korea?

Taiwan is not one of the 7 E-2 treaty countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa), so the standard E-2 English Teacher visa is not available to Taiwanese nationals. However, Taiwanese nationals who speak English fluently may explore the E-7 visa for English language instruction at universities or corporate training programs — the requirements are more stringent than E-2 but the route exists. Taiwanese nationals are also well-positioned for E-7 roles in Chinese language instruction, translation, and Asia-facing business development.

Is Korean language required for Taiwanese visa applicants?

Korean is not legally required for most visas. However, Taiwanese applicants for D-2 university programs taught in Korean will need to demonstrate Korean proficiency (typically TOPIK Level 3–4). For E-7, most international-facing roles use English, though Korean helps significantly. For F-5 permanent residency (whether via F-6, F-2-7, or the general route), TOPIK is part of the points/requirements. Taiwan's proximity to Korean culture and widespread TOPIK testing centres give Taiwanese applicants an advantage in building language credentials quickly.

Can Taiwanese work in Korean entertainment and media?

Yes. Taiwanese nationals have a strong presence in Korean entertainment (K-pop trainee programmes, drama production, fashion). The E-6 visa (Arts and Entertainment) covers performers, and E-7 covers media/production roles. Trainee agreements with K-pop agencies are a form of entertainment industry employment — check that any trainee contract correctly specifies the visa status the agency will sponsor. Taiwanese nationals who are part of K-pop acts or entertainment productions will typically be on E-6-2 for events or E-6-1 for ongoing performance contracts.