Live, travel, and work in Korea for up to 2 years — open to citizens of ~30 eligible countries aged 18–35.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed July 2026
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
July 14, 2026
Source references
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
Stay Duration
1 year (most countries); 1 year 6 months (USA — WEST program); 2 years (Canada, UK)
Processing
1–3 weeks at the Korean consulate in your country
Visa Fee
Free for most countries under reciprocal arrangement; a small administrative fee may apply at some consulates. Verify with the Korean consulate in your country.
Fees and processing times sourced from HiKorea & Ministry of Justice. Figures are updated periodically but may change — verify before submitting.
Readiness check
Use this quick self-check before you spend time on forms or book a consultation for Working Holiday Visa.
Next focus
Eligibility fit
I meet the core H-1 requirements and understand any sponsor, degree, income, family, or experience conditions that apply.
The H-1 Working Holiday visa (워킹홀리데이, 관광취업) is a bilateral agreement between Korea and approximately 30 partner countries that allows young adults to experience life in Korea for an extended period while working to fund their stay. It is primarily a tourism-focused visa with incidental work permitted — not a skilled-work visa.
Stay durations vary by bilateral agreement: most countries receive 1 year; Canada and the United Kingdom receive up to 2 years; the United States receives 1 year and 6 months (via the WEST program). Age eligibility is 18–30 for most countries, extended to 18–35 for Australia and the UK under their bilateral terms.
Annual quotas exist for most participating countries. Unlimited quotas apply for: Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, and some others. Capped countries (2026 figures): Canada (12,000), Japan (10,000), UK (5,000), New Zealand (3,000), France (2,000), USA (2,000), Ireland (800), Taiwan (800), Hong Kong (1,000), Spain (1,000), Italy (500), Czech Republic (300), Austria (300). When a capped country's quota fills, no more H-1 visas are issued until the following year. Quota opening dates vary by country — often announced between November and February for the following year.
The H-1 is a once-per-country, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — you cannot re-apply for H-1 for the same country after you have participated. The application must be made in person at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country — you cannot change your visa status to H-1 from inside Korea.
K-ETA is suspended for most Working Holiday eligible nationalities through 31 December 2026 (USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and others). Always verify the current K-ETA status for your nationality at the Korean consulate website before travelling.
Citizens of countries that have a bilateral working holiday agreement with Korea, between the ages of 18 and 30 (or up to 35 for Australia and the UK). Applicants must not have previously participated in Korea's Working Holiday program for the same country, must not bring dependents on the H-1 visa, and must have sufficient funds to sustain themselves for at least 3 months in Korea at the time of application.
Nationality: citizen of a country with a working holiday agreement with Korea (current list as of 2026: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Israel, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Chile, Poland, Spain, Argentina, Slovakia, Mexico, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and others — verify current list at the Korean consulate website as new countries are added periodically)
Age: 18–30 years old at the time of visa application (inclusive). Australia and UK: 18–35. USA (WEST program): 18–30. Age is based on date of application, not date of travel.
No dependents: you cannot bring a spouse, partner, or children on the H-1 visa. Travel must be unaccompanied (your partner can visit Korea separately on a tourist entry, but not under your H-1 sponsorship)
No prior participation: the H-1 is a one-time opportunity per country. If you previously participated in Korea's Working Holiday program for the same bilateral agreement, you are ineligible to apply again
Sufficient funds: proof of approximately ₩3,000,000 (approx. USD 2,200) or equivalent in your bank account at time of application — to cover initial settlement costs
Return or onward ticket: a return ticket (or proof of funds to purchase one) is typically required at the consulate
Travel/health insurance: valid for the full duration of the intended stay in Korea is required at most Korean consulates; some require comprehensive coverage including medical evacuation
Valid passport: at least 1 year validity beyond the intended stay end date
For some countries: a criminal background check and/or medical certificate may be required — verify with your consulate
Must apply from your home country or country of legal residency — cannot change status to H-1 from inside Korea
Delay and refusal risks
Work-visa delays usually come from job-scope mismatch, sponsor weakness, salary issues, or unauthorized activity.
Korean work visas are activity-specific. A broad title or informal role description is weaker than a contract and duties that match the status precisely.
Manual basis: The manuals organize work statuses by permitted activity and sponsor/occupation requirements.
Business registration, tax, employment, wage, or compliance problems at the sponsor can affect the applicant's review.
Manual basis: Work-status manuals repeatedly include employer documents, hiring restrictions, and sponsor review.
Prior overstays, fines, unauthorized work, tax delinquency, or criminal history can trigger closer review even when the basic visa category looks correct.
Manual basis: The stay manuals repeatedly reference status restrictions, law-violation review, criminal-record checks, tax/payment issues, and status-change limits.
Source note
These are practical risk factors for Working Holiday Visa, not a complete list of legal refusal grounds. Final review can vary by nationality, filing channel, consulate, immigration office, and case facts.
Valid passport (minimum 1 year + duration of stay validity remaining)
Completed visa application form + recent passport-size photograph
Proof of sufficient funds (bank statement showing the required balance — typically ₩3,000,000 equivalent; some consulates require the balance to be in your account for 3+ months)
Return or onward flight ticket (or proof of sufficient funds to purchase one)
Travel/health insurance policy covering medical treatment and repatriation for the full stay in Korea
Criminal background check (required by some countries' consulates — check with the Korean consulate in your country)
Medical certificate (required by some countries' consulates)
Completed application fee payment (if applicable — varies by country)
Step 1 — Verify your country's current quota and opening date
Check the Korean embassy or consulate website in your country for the current year's quota status. For capped countries (Canada, Japan, UK, New Zealand, USA, France, Ireland, etc.), the annual quota often fills within hours or days of opening — set a calendar reminder for the quota opening date, which is typically announced in November–January. For unlimited-quota countries (Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands), you can apply at any time of year.
Step 2 — Confirm your eligibility
Verify your nationality, age at the time of application (must be 18–30, or 18–35 for Australia/UK), and that you have not previously participated in Korea's H-1 Working Holiday program. The program is strictly once per person per bilateral agreement — no exceptions.
Step 3 — Prepare your documents
Gather: passport (1+ year validity), application form, passport photo, bank statement showing sufficient funds, return/onward flight ticket (or booking confirmation), travel/health insurance certificate, and any country-specific requirements (criminal check, health certificate). Do NOT book one-way flights — a return or onward ticket is required at most consulates.
Step 4 — Apply in person at the Korean consulate
The H-1 visa CANNOT be applied for via a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) — it must be applied for directly at the Korean consulate in your home country (or country of legal residence). Some consulates accept online appointment booking; others require walk-in. Bring all original documents plus photocopies. Processing is usually 1–3 weeks.
Step 5 — Enter Korea and settle in
On arrival, immigration will stamp your passport with the H-1 entry. You are free to travel, explore, and begin looking for work immediately. For stays of 90+ days, register for an Alien Registration Card (ARC) at the local immigration office within 90 days — bring your passport, application form, 2 photos, and ₩30,000.
Step 6 — Find work (optional)
Most legal employment is permitted on H-1: service jobs (cafes, restaurants, convenience stores), English tutoring, agriculture, factory work, hospitality, gig work, and more. You cannot work for the same employer for more than 6 consecutive months, and work in certain restricted industries is not permitted. Popular job sources: WorknPlay (worknplay.co.kr), Indeed Korea, Facebook expat groups.
Step 7 — Plan your next visa before H-1 expires
The H-1 is non-renewable for most participants. Plan ahead for what comes next: D-4 language study, D-2 university study, E-7 skilled work (if you secured a job offer), or F-6 (if you married a Korean national). Status changes must be applied for before your H-1 expires — do not overstay.
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Visa Process
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
The Alien Registration Card (ARC) is the official ID card issued to foreigners staying in South Korea for 91 days or longer. It is required to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, and access most public services.
Visa Process
HiKorea
How to use HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — Korea's official immigration portal for visa extensions, status changes, and ARC renewal. Processing time: 3-10 business days.
Visa Process
Visa Extension (Stay Period Extension)
A visa extension — officially called a 'stay period extension' (체류기간 연장) in Korean immigration law — allows a foreigner to legally remain in Korea beyond the expiry date on their current visa or ARC without leaving the country.
Visa Process
Status of Sojourn Change (체류자격 변경)
A status of sojourn change allows a foreigner already in South Korea to switch from one visa category to another without leaving the country — for example, from a D-2 student visa to an E-7 skilled worker visa upon graduation and employment.
Get instant answers to these visa questions with our Korea-focused AI assistant.
The same visa can involve different authentication, translation, sponsor-document, and review risks depending on nationality and document origin.
United Kingdom
The H-1 route is useful for UK citizens who want a working-holiday stay in Korea rather than a long-term employer-sponsored work visa.
Focus areas
Australia
The H-1 route is useful for Australian citizens planning a temporary working-holiday stay in Korea rather than a fixed employer-sponsored career role.
Focus areas
Germany
The H-1 route is relevant for German citizens who want a temporary Korea working-holiday stay and flexible travel plan instead of a long-term sponsored work visa.
Focus areas
France
The H-1 route is a practical Korea page for French citizens planning a temporary working-holiday stay rather than a long-term employer-sponsored move.
Focus areas
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