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General Permit Information
Korea has bilateral Working Holiday Visa programs with twenty-five countries/regions worldwide. (Oct, 2018)
These agreements are created under the mutual cooperation and establishment of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Republic of Korea and respective countries involved.
The main purpose of this visa is primarily to have a holiday for an extended period of time and engage in short-term employment as an incidental aspect of your stay. This is a one-time only visa that allows you to immerse yourself in Korea.
Working Holiday Permit Holders may register for Korean language courses at private educational institutions (Hakwon, Korean language institutes) during certain period of time. [Cannot take a regular degree course at University which requires study visa]. Allowed language study period may vary depending on the MOU of respective country.
You may work up to 25 hours per week. Allowed employment period may vary depending on MOU of respective country. For details of working holiday visa, limit of employment period/ Study period by nationality, please refer to this link. [Regulated by Ministry of Justice]
http://whic.mofa.go.kr/upload/temp/kr_workingholiday_english.pdf (Check Visa Validity)
You may leave and re-enter Korea as many times as you wish during your 12 month (maximum) stay, conditions may apply.
List of Participating Countries/Region Annual Quota
Country |
Quota |
---|---|
Argentina |
200 |
Australia |
Unlimited |
Austria |
300 |
Belgium |
200 |
Canada |
4000 |
Chile |
100 |
Czech Republic |
300 |
Denmark |
Unlimited |
France |
2000 |
Germany |
Unlimited |
Hong Kong |
1000 |
Hungary |
100 |
Ireland |
600 |
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 Adminstrative Region.
Entry Requirements
Korean Embassies and Consulates reserve the right to request further documentation and/or refuse any application.
You will find more information on the website of the relevant embassy/consulate.
To be eligible for a Korean Working Holiday Visa, the applicant must:
Additional conditions
The following documents must be provided:
* Please note that above requirements and additional documents may vary among respective Embassies/Consulates or KVAC. Reservation before visiting the Korean Embassy/Consulate may be necessary for the application. Therefore, you must contact and obtain up-to-date official information from appropriate Embassies/Consulates in your region/country and check visa availability(quota), your eligibility before planning for visa application.
List of Embassy : http://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/wpge/m_5756/contents.
Application Process
A Working Holiday Visa cannot be granted in Korea.
All Korea Working Holiday Visa applications must be made in your home country.
Individuals must be inside the country of your origin when you apply and when your visa is granted.
* Exception: if you are Austrian, you can also submit your application in Japan (Tokyo), China (Beijing, Shanghai),
Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Completed Visa Application form together with the necessary supporting documents can be lodged at Korean Embassies /Consulates directly or by post. (Post service may not be available. Please check with nearest embassies/consulates). * If you are a German national, please contact KVAC in Berlin ( kvacdeinfo@iom.int / website : www.visaforkorea.eu) or your jurisdictional Korean Consulate in Germany for further application details. If you are a French national, please contact KVAC in Paris ( kvacfrinfo@iom.int / website : www.visaforkorea.eu) for further application details as well.
Applications are accepted year-round and will be approved on a first-come first-served basis.