Working Holiday (H-1)

A year living in Korea with no sponsor needed — 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 — no employer sponsor or job offer needed.
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 — never from inside Korea — and 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 — that needs an E-2).

The Working Holiday is the easiest way for a young person to actually live in Korea rather than just visit. Because it needs no sponsor and no degree, it's the most flexible entry point — a year to try different jobs, study casually, travel, and get a real feel for whether Korea is for 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 perks vary a lot — e.g. 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 — 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 primary purpose must be the holiday, not work. 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.

Want to teach English? This isn't the 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 cannot 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 reality

Part-time work at minimum wage (₩10,320/hr in 2026 × ~108 hrs/month) earns roughly ₩1,000,000+/month — 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. Many working-holiday makers cluster in areas like Haebangchon, Hongdae, Itaewon or Hapjeong for English-friendly jobs and short commutes. See our cost-of-living guide.

Using H-1 as a stepping stone

Since H-1 can't be extended, plan ahead if you want to stay. A common move 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?

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 — always 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 the year-in-Korea reality — post in the community and tag it Immigration.

Ask the community →