Live and work in Korea for up to one year while exploring the country.
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
April 22, 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); 2 years (Canada, UK); 1 year 6 months (USA)
Processing
1–3 weeks
Visa Fee
Free for most countries (reciprocal arrangement); check with 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 allows young adults from countries with a bilateral working holiday agreement with Korea to live, travel, and work in Korea for up to 1 year (up to 2 years for Canada and UK). It is primarily for tourism with incidental work permitted to fund the stay.
Citizens of countries with a Working Holiday agreement with Korea, aged 18–30 (some agreements extend to 35). Eligible countries include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and around 25 others.
National of a country with a working holiday agreement with Korea (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, USA, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Israel, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Chile, Poland, Spain, Argentina, and others)
Age: 18–30 years old at time of application (some countries allow up to 35)
No dependents accompanying you on the working holiday visa
No prior participation in Korea's Working Holiday program (one-time per country)
Proof of sufficient funds for at least 3 months of stay
Return ticket or equivalent funds, travel insurance
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.
Valid passport (1+ year remaining)
Visa application form + passport photo
Proof of sufficient funds (bank statement)
Return or onward ticket
Travel/health insurance covering the stay
Some consulates: criminal background check or health certificate
Check your country's eligibility and quota
Korea operates quotas per country per year. Annual quotas per the 2026.3 official manual: Australia (unlimited), Germany (unlimited), Sweden (unlimited), Denmark (unlimited), Canada (12,000), Japan (10,000), UK (5,000), New Zealand (3,000), USA (2,000), France (2,000), Ireland (800), Hong Kong (1,000), Taiwan (800), Spain (1,000), Italy (500), Czech Republic (300), Austria (300), and others. Check the Korean consulate website for current availability.
Apply at the Korean consulate abroad
The application must be made in person at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country. A 사증발급인정서 (Certificate of Visa Issuance) is NOT applicable for H-1 — you must apply directly at the consulate. Some consulates accept online pre-registration.
Arrive and register
After entering Korea, register at your local immigration office within 90 days to receive your ARC if staying long-term.
Find work (optional)
Working is permitted but limited — you cannot work in the same job for more than 6 months, or in certain restricted industries. You are free to change jobs.
Need help with your H-1 visa?
Connect with a verified specialist who handles H-1 applications.
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Unfamiliar with a term?
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
Still have questions about the H-1 visa?
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Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
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.
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All agents on Mr. Visa Korea are certified immigration administrative agents (행정사) registered in Korea.
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