Working Holiday in Korea

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General Information

Korea has bilateral working holiday visa agreements with twenty-five countries/regions(as of Jan, 2023).

These agreements have been reached based on mutual cooperation and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the government of respective partner countries.

The working holiday visa allows you to have an extended holiday in Korea for 1 year and engage in short-term employment as a secondary part of your stay. This is a one-time only visa, but extension can be granted to U.S. nationals (up to 6 months) and U.K. nationals (up to 1 year) in accordance with the agreements between Korea and their respective countries. For more information on the extension process, please contact the Korea Immigration Contact Center at ☎1345.

If you come to Korea on a working holiday visa, you may register for Korean language courses at private educational institutions such as hakwon or Korean language schools, but not for regular university degree courses, for which you may want to consider a study visa. Allowed language study periods may vary depending on what is provided in the MOU between Korea and your country.

You may work up to 25 hours per week with this visa. Allowed employment period may also vary according to the MOU between Korea and your country. For more details about the working holiday visa such as employment permits and study permits, please click on the following link: http://whic.mofa.go.kr/upload/temp/kr_workingholiday_english.pdf

 

List of Partner Countries/Regions and Annual Quota

Country

Quota

Argentina

200

Australia

Unlimited

Austria

300

Belgium

200

Canada

8500

Chile

100

Czech Republic

300

Denmark

Unlimited

France

2000

Germany

Unlimited

Hong Kong

1000

Hungary

100

Ireland

800

Country

Quota

Israel

200

Italy

500

Japan

10000

Netherlands

100

New Zealand

3000

Poland

200

Portugal

200

Spain

1000

Sweden

Unlimited

Taiwan

800

U.K.

1000

U.S.A.

2000

 

 

* Hong Kong is China's Special Administrative Region.
* The quota for working holiday participants for Canadian and Korean increased from 4,000 to 8,500 only in 2023 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Republic of Korea     

 


Entry Requirements

Korean embassies and consulates reserve the right to request further documentation and/or refuse any application. You can find more information on the website of your nearest Korean embassy or consulate.
List of Korean diplomatic missions : http://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/wpge/m_5756/contents


To be eligible for Korea’s working holiday visa, you must:

  •           be aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of application *** Exceptions are listed in the next section. 
  •           not be accompanied, under this visa, by any dependents at any point in time during your stay in Korea
  •           be in your country when you apply for this visa and when your visa is granted
  •           hold a valid passport issued by one of our partner countries or regions that is valid for at least a year
  •           come to Korea for the primary purpose of having a holiday
      (Those desiring to work or study for a longer period of time
      should consider different types of visa instead of the working holiday visa.)
  •           not have previously taken part in Korea’s working holiday program
  •           be able to prove your financial ability to pay for the initial stages of your holiday in Korea
      (minimum of KRW 3,000,000)
  •           have a valid return flight ticket or evidence of financial ability to afford a return flight
  •           have appropriate health insurance for the duration of your stay in Korea
  •           submit travel plans, and
  •           must pay the visa application fee when you submit your application form (fees may vary by nationality).

Additional conditions

  •           You must not have a substantial criminal record.
  •           Your health condition must be fit for travel and work in Korea.

The following documents must be provided.

  •           Visa application form
  •           Valid passport and one passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
  •           Return flight ticket or evidence of financial ability to afford one
  •           Supporting financial documentation (e.g. a certified copy of bank statement)
  •           Health insurance that will remain valid throughout your stay in Korea (minimum coverage: KRW 40,000,000)
  •           Travel plans
  •           Application fee
  •           Criminal record check
  •           Medical certificate
  •           Proof of student status or the highest academic qualification

* Please note that the above documents are basic requirements and additional documents may be required by your Korean embassy/consulate or Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC). For visa application, reservation may be necessary before visiting the venue. Please check with the nearest Korean embassy or consulate in your country or region and obtain up-to-date official information about visa availability (quota) and your eligibility before planning for application. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly a single entry visa may be issued.
List of diplomatic missions : http://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/wpge/m_5756/contents

Application Process

All working holiday visa applications must be made in your home country. You must be in the country of your nationality when you apply for this visa and when your visa is granted. Working holiday visas are not granted for those in Korea.
*** Exceptions (application & quota, age, work eligibility etc.):
*For Austrians : If you are Austrian, you can also submit your application via Korean diplomatic missions in Tokyo, Japan; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Hong Kong; and Taiwan.
*For Germans, French, the UK, the Netherlands nationals : If you are a German national, please contact the KVAC in Berlin (kvacdeinfo@iom.int, www.visaforkorea.eu) or your nearest Korean consulate in Germany for further application details. If you are a French national, please contact the KVAC in Paris (kvacfrinfo@iom.int, www.visaforkorea.eu) for further application details. If you are from the U.K., please contact the KVAC in London (kvacukinfo@iom.int, www.visaforkorea.eu) for further application details. If you are from the Netherlands, please contact the KVAC in Hague (kvacnlinfo@iom.int, www.visaforkorea.eu) for further application details.

*For Argentinians : Consulte el enlace sobre el límite de edad para argentinos (from Feb. 2023) : 
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ar-es/brd/m_6300/view.do?seq=754261&page=1
*For French : Consultez le lien de notification ici pour connaître le changement de politique en matière de limite d'âge de l'ambassade de France. (jusqu’au 15 mars 2024.) : 
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/fr-fr/wpge/m_9491/contents.do
*For Irish : Check the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland for quota/age eligibility updates (from Mar. 2023) : 
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ie-en/wpge/m_8216/contents.do
*For Portuguese : Consulte a Embaixada da República da Coreia em Portugal para atualização de elegibilidade etária (from Sep. 2023) : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/pt-pt/brd/m_23747/view.do?seq=12&page=1
*For Canadian : Check Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada for quota/age/work eligibility updates (from 2024) :
https://www.mofa.go.kr/ca-en/brd/m_5231/view.do?seq=761716&page=1
 

Completed visa application form together with the necessary supporting documents can be submitted to the Korean embassy or consulate nearest to you in person or by post. (Post service may not be available depending on the region. Please check with your Korean diplomatic mission.)  


Applications are accepted year-round and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
 


+82-1899-1955 Working Hour:Mon. ~ Fri. 10:00~18:00 (Korea Standard Time)

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