H-1 vs H-2 Visa — Working Holiday vs Working Visit: Which One Can You Get?

Citizens of countries with a Working Holiday treaty with Korea (e.g. USA, Australia, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, and others — 25+ countries)

Ethnic Koreans (조선족/고려인) from China and 14 CIS/other countries ONLY — not open to other nationalities

18–30 (18–35 for some countries like Canada, Australia, Germany)

Experience Korean culture and travel, funded by temporary work — work is a means, not the goal

Work in Korea in permitted manual/service sectors

Up to 1 year (extendable to 2 years for some nationalities — AU, CA, DE, DK, FR, IE, JP, NZ, UK)

Permitted manual and service sector occupations (manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fishery, food service, cleaning, caregiving). White-collar professional work is not permitted.

Must pass the overseas Korean Korean Proficiency Test (한국어시험) or the domestic EPS-TOPIK system to enter the pool

None — can change jobs freely, no notification required

Can change employers within permitted occupations without prior approval — notification to immigration within 15 days

Typically once per lifetime per treaty (some countries allow repeated use — check your specific treaty)

experience and Korean acquired can support application. F-2-7 possible if K-Points qualify.

experience counts toward E-7-4 upgrade (4+ years) or F-2-99 long-term residency. (Overseas Korean) is a parallel option for eligible ethnic Koreans.