Korea Working Holiday visa (H-1): which countries qualify, age limits, yearly quotas, documents and fee
Numbers checked against the official source on 2026-10-19
Korea has working holiday agreements with thirty countries and regions. The H-1 visa lets you have an extended holiday in Korea for 1 year and take short-term work as a secondary part of the stay; you may work up to 25 hours per week. The usual age range is 18 to 30 at the time of application, but several countries are 34 or 35, and Japan is 18 to 25. Each country has its own yearly quota. You must apply from your home country, and the visa can be taken only once (with exceptions for Canadians and Japanese).
Source: Working Holiday Info Center (Overseas Koreans Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs site whic.mofa.go.kr), "General Information" page. The country table is headed "Updated for 2026/27"; the page does not print a revision date. Read on 2026-10-19. The Info Center itself says this is general information and to check with the Korean embassy, consulate or visa application centre (KVAC) in your jurisdiction.
Eligibility checklist
The Info Center lists these conditions. You must:
- be aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of application (the page adds that this could vary by nationality);
- not be accompanied by any dependents at any point during your stay in Korea under this visa;
- be in your own country when you apply and when the visa is granted;
- hold a valid passport from a partner country or region that is valid for at least a year;
- come to Korea for the primary purpose of having a holiday (those who want to work or study longer should consider other visa types);
- 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 the holiday (minimum KRW 3,000,000);
- have a valid return flight ticket or evidence of funds for one;
- have appropriate health insurance for your whole stay;
- submit travel plans, and pay the visa application fee when you submit the form.
Additional conditions: no substantial criminal record, and a health condition fit for travel and work in Korea.
Partner countries, age limits and quotas (2026/27)
| Country / region | Age | Annual quota | Limit of employment period | Limit of academic 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 |
| Brazil | 18-34** | 300 | No Limitation | No limitation |
| Belgium | 18-30 | 200 | 6 months | 6 months |
| Canada | 18-35** | 12000 | No limitation** | 6 months |
| Chile | 18-34** | 100 | No limitation | No limitation |
| Czech Republic | 18-30 | 300 | No limitation | No limitation |
| Denmark | 18-34** | Unlimited | 9 months | 6 months |
| Finland | 18-35 | To be updated | To be updated | To be updated |
| France | 18-35** | 2000 | No limitation | No limitation |
| Germany | 18-34** | 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 | No limitation |
| Japan | 18-25** | 10000 | No limitation | No limitation |
| Latvia | 18-34** | 100 | No limitation | No limitation |
| Luxembourg | 18-35** | 100 | 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 |
Notes printed under the table:
- Hong Kong is described as China's Special Administrative Region.
- Canada: Canadian participants are exempt from the 25-hour weekly work limit. They may stay up to 24 months (previously 12), and the program can be used twice, each time for up to 24 months under the agreement; the second application goes through the Korean embassy or consulate in Canada.
- Japan: must be at least 18 and under 25 (30 if the authorities determine there are unavoidable circumstances). The participation limit for Japanese nationals is expanded from one time to two times.
- U.K.: extension can be granted (up to 1 year) under the agreement.
- U.S.A.: participants must be bona fide post-secondary students or recent graduates (within 1 year after graduation) and provide evidence from their institution; extension can be granted (up to 6 months) under the agreement.
- Finland's quota and limits read "To be updated" in the table.
- For employment period, academic activity and hours of work, the Info Center says the Ministry of Justice has all authority; call the Korea Immigration Contact Center on 1345 (from within Korea).
The Info Center also says that on this visa you may enrol in Korean courses at private institutions such as hakwon or language schools, but not in regular university degree courses (consider a study visa for those); the allowed language-study period depends on the agreement with your country.
Documents
The Info Center lists these basic documents: visa application form; valid passport and one passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm); return flight ticket or evidence of funds for one; supporting financial documents (for example a certified bank statement); health insurance valid throughout your stay with minimum coverage of KRW 40,000,000; travel plans; application fee; criminal record check; medical certificate; and proof of student status or your highest academic qualification. Embassies may ask for more, and may refuse any application.
How to apply
- Apply in your home country. Working holiday visas are not granted to people already in Korea. Austrians may also use the Korean missions in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- Check the quota and your age. Use the table above, then ask the embassy or consulate whether the quota is still open.
- Submit the form and documents in person or by post to the nearest Korean embassy or consulate. Germans, French, U.K. and Dutch applicants are pointed to the visa application centres (KVAC) in Berlin, Paris, London and The Hague.
- Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed first-come, first-served.
Fee
The Info Center only says that you pay the visa application fee when you submit the form and that fees may vary by nationality; it prints no amount. Article 71 of the Immigration Act Enforcement Rule sets visa fees as a US-dollar equivalent: US$40 for a single-entry visa for a stay of 90 days or less, US$60 for 91 days or more, US$70 for a double-entry visa and US$90 for unlimited entries. Which of these your H-1 visa falls under, and the local-currency amount, is set by the embassy. HiKorea lists Hong Kong and France as exempt from the visa application fee for the H-1 visa. See Korea immigration fees for the full schedule, including extension of stay.
After you arrive
For registration and the residence card, see Alien registration (residence card). Health cover: National Health Insurance for foreign residents. Wage floor for any job: Minimum wage in Korea 2026.
Where the pages differ
| Item | Info Center page | Other official page | What we show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age range | "18 and 30 (inclusive)" in the checklist, but 18-25 to 18-35 in the country table | none | The country table is the headline; the checklist itself says it varies by nationality. |
| Fee | no amount; "fees may vary by nationality" | HiKorea: fee exemption for Hong Kong and France on H-1; Article 71 dollar amounts | We show no single H-1 fee. Ask your embassy. |
Checked 2026-10-19. Eligibility and conditions can change without notice (the Info Center says so). Not immigration advice: confirm with the embassy or consulate that will receive your application.
Official sources
- Working Holiday Info Center (Overseas Koreans Agency) — General Information — partner countries, age, quota (updated for 2026/27), eligibility, documents, application process; no revision date printed (read on 2026-10-19) (checked 2026-10-19)
- HiKorea — Visa Issuance Fee — visa fee table and fee-exempt countries (Hong Kong and France for H-1); no revision date printed (read on 2026-10-19) (checked 2026-10-19)
- National Law Information Center — Immigration Act Enforcement Rule, Article 71 — visa review fee in US dollars (US$40 / 60 / 70 / 90); in force 2026-09-15 (checked 2026-10-19)
Prices change. If an official page shows a different number from this page, the official page wins — and please tell us so we can fix it.