Ethnic Koreans from China and CIS countries can live and work in Korea for up to 3 years.
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
Issuance-manual sections covering H-2 working-visit eligibility, overseas Korean routing, and consular intake rules.
Stay-manual sections covering H-2 stay-period handling, work-registration obligations, and transition points into F-4 or E-7-4 pathways.
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.
These points are drawn from Korea immigration manuals and recurring review patterns for higher-risk visa categories.
HiKorea — Korean visa & residency manual: Issuance-manual sections on H-2 working-visit eligibility and overseas Korean routing.
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau: Stay-manual sections on H-2 stay handling, work registration, and transition points into F-4 or E-7-4.
Stay Duration
Up to 3 years (consulate issues a 5-year multiple-entry visa; after each entry, up to 3 years of stay is stamped; re-entry resets the stay clock)
Processing
4–8 weeks at the Korean consulate
Visa Fee
$74.63–$111.94 (consulate fee varies by country); $44.78 (extension at immigration office)
Fees and processing times sourced from HiKorea & Ministry of Justice. Figures are updated periodically but may change — verify before submitting.
Readiness check
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Next focus
Eligibility fit
I meet the core H-2 requirements and understand any sponsor, degree, income, family, or experience conditions that apply.
⚠️ IMPORTANT (2026 UPDATE): The H-2 Working Holiday visa is no longer available to new applicants. New issuances were officially stopped on February 12, 2026. If you are an overseas Korean looking to live and work in Korea, you must now apply for the F-4 Overseas Korean visa instead — F-4 is the unified replacement for H-2 and offers equal or broader rights.
Existing H-2 holders: Your status remains valid. You may continue working in Korea under your current H-2 visa for up to the 3-year maximum stay. Extensions are not available beyond the existing permitted period. When your H-2 expires, you will need to apply for F-4 if you wish to continue residing in Korea.
Historical context: The H-2 visa allowed overseas Koreans from China and CIS countries (ethnic Koreans with foreign nationality) to work in Korea across a wide range of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and most service sectors.
H-2 is no longer issued to new applicants as of February 12, 2026. This page is for reference only — for existing H-2 holders and historical information. New applicants should see the F-4 (Overseas Korean) visa page.
Nationality of China or one of the six eligible CIS states (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan)
Age 25 or older at the time of application
Proof of ethnic Korean descent (호적 family register, birth certificate, or equivalent lineage documents from the home country)
Valid passport with at least 6 months validity
No serious criminal record (criminal background check required)
Physical health — medical examination may be required
Applicants from China: must register through the Korean government's designated H-2 application system (quota-managed)
Delay and refusal risks
H-2 risk centers on eligibility as an overseas Korean/working-visit holder and complying with the status-specific work rules.
Family records, lineage documents, names, translations, and authentication must support the claimed H-2 eligibility route.
Manual basis: The H-2 manual separates working-visit eligibility from other overseas-Korean routes and relies on documentary proof.
H-2 does not mean any job is allowed. Restricted industries, unreported work, or activity outside the status can affect extension or future upgrade options.
Manual basis: The stay manual includes H-2 work-scope, work-registration, and restriction language.
Moving from H-2 to F-4, F-5, F-2, or E-7-4 depends on different requirements. A weak upgrade strategy can waste years of records.
Manual basis: The manuals treat H-2, F-4, F-5, and skilled-worker transitions as separate pathways with different evidence.
Valid passport + visa application form + passport photo
Proof of ethnic Korean descent (호적 family register or home-country equivalent)
Criminal background check from home country (apostilled or authenticated, issued within 3–6 months)
Medical examination certificate (if required by the consulate)
For China applicants: registration confirmation from the designated H-2 portal (국외동포 방문취업 신청 시스템)
Bank statements showing sufficient funds
Verify eligibility and prepare lineage documents
Confirm your nationality is one of the seven eligible countries and that you are 25+. Gather documents proving ethnic Korean descent — typically the 호적 (family register) or an equivalent home-country certificate.
Register in the application system (China applicants)
Chinese nationals must apply through Korea's designated online portal for H-2 applicants. The system is quota-managed; registration opens periodically. CIS nationals typically apply directly at the consulate.
Apply at the Korean consulate
Submit your application at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country. A 5-year multiple-entry H-2 visa is typically issued if approved.
Complete employment training on arrival
After arriving in Korea, you must complete mandatory employment training (취업교육) — typically a 1-day session covering labour law, safety, and immigration rules — before starting work.
Register with the employment centre
Report to a local employment support centre (고용센터) to register as an H-2 worker. This enables the employment-matching system and ensures your stay is tracked correctly.
Need help with your H-2 visa?
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The same visa can involve different authentication, translation, sponsor-document, and review risks depending on nationality and document origin.
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Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
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 Visit Visa, not a complete list of legal refusal grounds. Final review can vary by nationality, filing channel, consulate, immigration office, and case facts.
Register as a foreign resident and get ARC
Register at your local immigration office within 90 days of arrival and obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC). You will then be able to apply for jobs in the designated industries.
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