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If you want to visit Korea,  know their culture while supplementing your funds with short-term work, you need a South Korean working holiday visa (H-1 visa). The South Korean government has defined this visa for citizens of some countries. Therefore, before applying for this visa, you should make sure that your country is on the list of authorized countries.

In this blog, we have defined the working holiday visa, list of countries, application process, and requirements of this visa.

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South Korea Working Holiday Visa

AustraliaBelgiumChileDenmarkGermany
HungaryIsraelJapanNew ZealandPortugal
SwedenUnited kingdomAustriaCanadaCzech republic
FranceHong kongIrelandItalyNetherlands
PolandSpainTaiwanUnited States 

The purpose of this visa is to create short-term employment opportunities in South Korea. In other words, the citizens of the mentioned countries can work in South Korea for a short time and save their income.

Important information for holders of South Korea working holiday visas:

  • The H-1 visa is issued to strengthen sightseeing. Therefore, having employment should be the next priority for the visa holder.
  • If the holders of this visa stay in Korea for more than 90 days, they need to register with the immigration office in the relevant jurisdiction within 90 days from arrival.
  • H1-visa holders are allowed to change their place of residence. However, the new address must be notified to the local immigration office within 14 days of the relocation.
  • Those who want to enroll in academic courses other than Korean language training must apply for a D-2 student visa.
  • The H-1 visa is issued as a multiple entry visa.
  • The visa holders can work 25 hours per week and 1,300 hours per year.  They also cannot work for more than six months with the same employer.

Read our article to move to South Korea as a college professor.

What are South Korea working holiday visa requirements?

Applicants for a working holiday visa (H-1) must meet the following requirements for this visa:

  • Applicants must be young and between the ages of 18 and 30  when issuing the visa.
  • They must be nationals of countries that have signed the working holiday agreement with South Korea.
  • They must have a valid passport.
  • They should not have previously received a South Korea working holiday visa.
  • Applicants must have sufficient funds to provide a return ticket and entry fees.
  • They should not have a criminal record.
  • They are not allowed to travel to South Korea with their dependents.

Applicants must provide the following documents:

  • South Korea working holiday visa application form
  • Color photo of the applicant in dimensions of 3.5 by 4.5 on white background
  • Original and copy of the passport: It must be valid for at least six months.
  • Round trip flight plans
  • A bank statement indicating that the applicant can meet travel expenses for the first three months of the stay
  • A criminal records
  • The doctor’s official letter shows that the following tests have been performed within the last three months, and the applicant is physically healthy:
    • Chest X-ray
    • Blood test
    • Urinalysis
    • HIV test result
    • Narcotic Drug Test
  • Health Condition Report Form
  • Applicant’s current resume

What are South Korea working holiday visa requirements?

Applicants for a working holiday visa (H-1) must meet the following requirements for this visa:

  • Applicants must be young and between the ages of 18 and 30  when issuing the visa.
  • They must be nationals of countries that have signed the working holiday agreement with South Korea.
  • They must have a valid passport.
  • They should not have previously received a South Korea working holiday visa.
  • Applicants must have sufficient funds to provide a return ticket and entry fees.
  • They should not have a criminal record.
  • They are not allowed to travel to South Korea with their dependents.

Applicants must provide the following documents:

  • South Korea working holiday visa application form
  • Color photo of the applicant in dimensions of 3.5 by 4.5 on white background
  • Original and copy of the passport: It must be valid for at least six months.
  • Round trip flight plans
  • A bank statement indicating that the applicant can meet travel expenses for the first three months of the stay
  • A criminal records
  • The doctor’s official letter shows that the following tests have been performed within the last three months, and the applicant is physically healthy:
    • Chest X-ray
    • Blood test
    • Urinalysis
    • HIV test result
    • Narcotic Drug Test
  • Health Condition Report Form
  • Applicant’s current resume

If you want to know how to immigrate to South Korea as a doctor, read our article. 

What are South Korea working holiday visa requirements?

Applicants for a working holiday visa (H-1) must meet the following requirements for this visa:

  • Applicants must be young and between the ages of 18 and 30  when issuing the visa.
  • They must be nationals of countries that have signed the working holiday agreement with South Korea.
  • They must have a valid passport.
  • They should not have previously received a South Korea working holiday visa.
  • Applicants must have sufficient funds to provide a return ticket and entry fees.
  • They should not have a criminal record.
  • They are not allowed to travel to South Korea with their dependents.

Applicants must provide the following documents:

  • South Korea working holiday visa application form
  • Color photo of the applicant in dimensions of 3.5 by 4.5 on white background
  • Original and copy of the passport: It must be valid for at least six months.
  • Round trip flight plans
  • A bank statement indicating that the applicant can meet travel expenses for the first three months of the stay
  • A criminal records
  • The doctor’s official letter shows that the following tests have been performed within the last three months, and the applicant is physically healthy:
    • Chest X-ray
    • Blood test
    • Urinalysis
    • HIV test result
    • Narcotic Drug Test
  • Health Condition Report Form
  • Applicant’s current resume

If you want to know how to immigrate to South Korea as a doctor, read our article. 

What are the job restrictions set for H-1 visa holders?

H1-1 visa holders are not allowed to do the following jobs:

1. Entertainment-related occupations such as:

  • Receptionists
  • Dancers
  • Singers
  • Musicians
  • Acrobats

2. Jobs that require special qualifications, such as:

  • Medical doctors
  • Lawyers
  • Professors
  • Pilots
  •  Language instructors

What is the South Korea working holiday visa application?

To apply for this visa, all you have to do is submit your documents to the nearest South Korean consulate in your country.

  • Be sure to provide the correct information when filling out the application form. Failure to provide accurate and incompatible information may result in the rejection of the visa application.
  • You may be asked for additional documents after submitting the documents. So make sure you have plenty of time before applying for a visa.
  • The filed documents will not be returned.
  • Contact the South Korean consulate in your home country for more information.

What is the length of the stay under the South Korea working holiday visa?

The duration of stay with an H-1 visa is up to 1 year from the arrival date. The holder of this visa can enter South Korea within 12 months after the issuance of the visa.

How long does it take to assess the submitted documents and issue the visa?

The processing time of documents depends on the workload of South Korean embassies in different countries. But it can be said that it takes an average of 7 to 10 working days to review the documents and issue the visa.

How much does it cost to apply for South Korea working holiday visa?

The answer depends on the embassy where you are applying. Canadian citizens who apply at the Vancouver embassy, for example, have to pay $Cdn  117. Australian citizens must pay AUD509.60 in Melbourne or Sydney.

Japan, Hong Kong, and France are exempt from working holiday visa application fees.

Are holders of this visa allowed to renew/extend it?

No.

Can H-1 visa holders bring their relatives to South Korea?

No. Holders of this visa cannot include their parents, spouse, child, and other dependents on this visa.

Let’s sum up

In this article, we have reviewed the most common questions you may encounter when applying for a  South Korea working holiday visa. On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other South Korean visas as well as ways to immigrate to other countries. In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences in comments is a great help for applicants.

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