Working Holiday (H-1)

A year in Korea without a sponsor. Who qualifies and how it works.

In short

The H-1 Working Holiday visa lets young people from partner countries live in Korea for up to a year (longer for some nationalities), travel, and work part-time. You don't need an employer sponsor or job offer.
Age: usually 18–30 at application (some countries to 34/35; the US has no age cap but requires student/recent-grad status).
Apply from your home country (you can't apply from inside Korea). It's generally a once-in-a-lifetime visa.
Work is capped (about 25 hours/week / ~1,300 hours a year) and some jobs are off-limits (notably teaching English, which needs an E-2).

For young people, the Working Holiday is the easiest way to live in Korea instead of just visiting. It needs no sponsor and no degree, so it's the most flexible option. You get a year to try different jobs, study a bit, travel, and see whether living in Korea suits you.

Who's eligible

Nationality: you must hold a passport from a partner country (Korea has agreements with ~26–29). These include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the US, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Poland, Spain, Argentina and more.
Age: typically 18–30 inclusive at application. Some countries extend it: Canada and UK to 35; Ireland, Taiwan, Portugal, Germany and others to 34. The US has no age limit but you must be a current post-secondary student or have graduated within the past year.
Other: valid passport, clean criminal record, proof of funds (commonly around ₩3,000,000+), a departure/return plan, and health insurance covering your whole stay (often min. ₩40,000,000 coverage).
No dependents. You can't bring a spouse or children on H-1.

Rules are set per country. Length of stay, quotas, age caps and work limits come from each bilateral agreement, so always confirm with the Korean embassy/consulate in your country. Some details vary a lot. For example, the UK gets up to 2 years, the US can extend 6 months, Canada allows two stays.

What you can and can't do

Allowed: part-time work to fund your stay, such as hospitality (cafés, restaurants, hotels), retail, farm work, resort/ski/beach jobs, event staffing, translation support, internships. You can also study Korean casually and travel freely (it's usually multiple-entry).

Not allowed: the main purpose has to be the holiday, with work on the side. Off-limits jobs include teaching English or other languages (requires an E-2), and licensed/professional roles (medicine, law, professor, pilot, professional entertainment). You generally can't work more than ~25 hours/week.

Teaching English needs a different visa. Language instruction needs an E-2. Some "English education assistant" gigs exist, but formal teaching on H-1 is prohibited.

How to apply

Check your country's rules & quota

Visit the Korean embassy/consulate site for your nationality. Quota countries (Canada, Japan, US, UK, etc.) can fill within weeks of opening. Unlimited-quota countries (Australia, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark) don't cap. Plan 3–6 months ahead.

Gather documents

Typically: passport (valid 6–12+ months), application form + photo, a travel/activity plan, proof of funds (bank statements), criminal-record check, and qualifying health insurance. The US requires proof of student/recent-grad status.

Apply at the consulate

Submit in your home country. You can't get H-1 from inside Korea. Processing is usually a few weeks.

Enter Korea & get set up

Your stay clock starts on entry, not issue date. If your stay exceeds 90 days, register for an ARC. You'll need it for a bank account and phone contract. Then find work after you arrive.

Budget

Part-time work at minimum wage (₩10,320/hr in 2026 × ~108 hrs/month) earns roughly ₩1,000,000+/month. That's enough for a modest life in a smaller city, but tight in central Seoul. Plan a first-month cushion of about ₩2.5–4M for deposit, rent, phone, transport and setup. A lot of working-holiday makers live in areas like Haebangchon, Hongdae, Itaewon or Hapjeong for English-friendly jobs and short commutes. See our cost-of-living guide.

Staying on after H-1

Since H-1 can't be extended, plan ahead if you want to stay. A common option is switching to a longer-term visa before it ends, for example finding an employer to sponsor an E-7, or enrolling to study on a D-2. Sort this well before your H-1 expires; see the extensions & status-change guide.

Common questions

Can I apply if I'm over 30?

It depends on your country. Canada/UK go to 35, several others to 34, and the US has no cap (but needs student/recent-grad status). Most others stop at 30.

Can I get it more than once?

Generally no. It's usually once-in-a-lifetime. Japan is a notable exception (twice), and some countries allow longer or repeat stays.

Do I need a job before arriving?

No. You find work after you enter Korea. The visa doesn't require a job offer.

Can I teach English?

No. That requires an E-2 visa. English teaching is specifically excluded from H-1.

Sources: Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Working Holiday Info Center (whic.mofa.go.kr), Korean consulate guidance, 사증민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 (2026). Country-specific rules per bilateral agreements.

Last verified: July 2026. Age caps, quotas, stay length and work rules vary by country and change, so confirm with the Korean embassy/consulate in your country before applying. General information, not immigration or legal advice.

Doing a working holiday?

Ask others about jobs, neighborhoods and what the year is really like. Post in the community and tag it Immigration.

Ask the community →