Working Holiday in Korea

Working Holiday Info Center(Overseas Koreans Agency)

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General Information

※ This is general information, for the latest and most accurate details, it is recommended that you reach out to the relevant Korean embassy, consulate, or KVAC within your jurisdiction. 

Korea has bilateral working holiday visa agreements with twenty-eight countries/regions.

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 (dometically).

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 (Updated for 2023/24)

Country

Age

Quota

Limit of Employment period

Limit of Arcdemic Activity period

Andorra*

18-30

50

No limitation

No limitation

Argentina

18-34**

200

No limitation

No limitation

Australia

18-30

Unlimited

6 months under same employer

4 months

Austria

18-30

300

No limitation

No limitation

Belgium

18-30

200

6 months

6 months

Canada

18-35**

12000

No limitation**

6 months

Chile

18-30

100

No limitation

No limitation

Czech Republic

18-30

300

No limitation

No limitation

Denmark

18-34**

Unlimited

9 months

6 months

France

18-30**

2000

No limitation

No limitation

Germany

18-30

Unlimited

No limitation

No limitation

Hong Kong*

18-30

1000

6 months under same employer

6 months

Hungary

18-30

100

No limitation

No limitation

Ireland

18-34**

800

No limitation

6 months

Israel

18-30

200

3 months under same employer

6 months

Italy

18-30

500

6 months under same employer

No limitation

Japan

18-25**

10000

No limitation

No limitation

Netherlands

18-30

200

No limitation

No limitation

New Zealand

18-30

3000

No limitation

6 months

Poland

18-30

200

No limitation

No limitation

Portugal

18-34**

200

No limitation

No limitation

Spain

18-30

1000

No limitation

No limitation

Sweden

18-30

Unlimited

No limitation

No limitation

Taiwan

18-34**

800

No limitation

No limitation

U.K.

18-35**

5000

No limitation

No limitation

U.S.A.

18-30**

2000

No limitation

No limitation


* Hong Kong is China's Special Administrative Region.

** Andorra : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/es-es/brd/m_24370/view.do?seq=19&page=1

** Argentina : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ar-es/brd/m_6300/view.do?seq=754261&page=1

** Canada : https://www.mofa.go.kr/ca-en/brd/m_5231/view.do?seq=761716&page=1
    1) Canadian participants are exempt from the twenty five hour working-hour restriction.
    2) For the period of stay, Canadian Participants may stay for up to 24 months, compared to the previous 12 months. Those in the Working Holiday program can participate twice, each time for up to 24 months in accordance with the agreements. (contact Korean embassy/consulate in Canada over your jurisdiction for the application for the second working holiday)


** Denmark : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/dk-en/brd/m_24401/view.do?seq=3&page=1

** France : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/fr-fr/wpge/m_9491/contents.do
    be aged 18 to 30 at the time of the visa application (The Korean and French governments have agreed, within the framework of a bilateral agreement, to temporarily extend the maximum age of eligibility for the PVT from 30 to 32 years until December 31, 2024.)

** Ireland :
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ie-en/wpge/m_8216/contents.do

** Japan : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/jp-ja/brd/m_1106/view.do?seq=758522&page=1
    Must be at least 18 years old and under 25 years old (30 years old if it is determined that there are unavoidable circumstances)


** Latvia : https://www.mofa.go.kr/www/brd/m_4080/view.do?seq=375268&page=1&pitem=10

** Luxembourg : https://seoul.mae.lu/en/service_citoyens/work-travel/leaving-luxembourg/south-korea.html

** Netherlands : https://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/brd/m_5674/view.do?seq=320931&page=1

** Portugal : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/pt-pt/brd/m_23747/view.do?seq=12&page=1


** Taiwan : https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/tw-zh/brd/m_19839/list.do

** U.K. : https://www.mofa.go.kr/www/brd/m_4080/view.do?seq=374385
1) Extension can be granted to the U.K. nationals (up to 1 year) in accordance with the agreements.

** U.S.A :
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-seattle-en/brd/m_23042/view.do?seq=3&page=3
    1) U.S. participants should be bona fide post-secondary students or recent graduates (within 1 year after graduation), and provide evidence of status from his/her post-secondary institution,
    2) For the period of stay, extension can be granted to U.S. nationals (up to 6 months) in accordance with the agreements.

*** For any inquiry regarding Limit of Academic Activity period, employment period, hours of work, Ministry of Justice has all authority over foreigners’ sojourn, regulation and limitation. Inquiry to Korea Immigration Contact Center at ☎1345 (dometically).

*** Application eligibility and applied conditions may change without notice, thus, it is recommended that applicants reconfirm with the jurisdictional visa application authority (Korean embassy/consulate/KVAC) before applying.

 


Entry Requirements

Korean embassies and consulates reserve the center 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 (*this could vary by nationality) 
  •               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 :
*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.
 

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.


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