Korea Visa Guide (1): H-1 Working Holiday Visa – Requirements, Process & Tips
Complete Guide to the H-1 Working Holiday Visa in Korea
If you're planning to move to Korea on a working holiday, you’ve probably wondered:
- What documents do I need?
- Where do I apply?
- What can I actually do with this visa?
For many first-time applicants, the process can feel complicated and overwhelming.
In this article, we’ve organized everything you need to know about the H-1 visa—from basic information to application steps and important tips.
👉 This article is part of our Korea Visa Guide series :
→ Part 1: H-1 Working Holiday Visa (You are here)
→ Part 2: D-4 Language Training Visa
📌 Table of Contents
- What is the H-1 visa?
- Stay period & extension
- What you can / cannot do
- Eligibility & partner countries
- Required documents
- Application process (step-by-step)
- Jobs you can do
- Differences from other visas
🛂 What is the H-1 Visa?
The H-1 visa is issued under the Working Holiday Program (WHP) between Korea and partner countries.
It allows young people to:
👉 travel and work in Korea at the same time
In simple terms:
a visa that combines travel and short-term work
🎯 Purpose & Key Features
- Experience Korean culture and daily life
- Work legally for a limited time
- Designed for short-term stays (not long-term employment)
- Promotes cultural exchange between countries
⏳ Stay Period & Extension
- Up to 1 year stay
- Extension is generally not allowed
- Changing to another visa during stay is restricted
※ Some exceptions may apply depending on nationality, so check with your local Korean embassy.
✅ What You Can / Cannot Do
✔️ Allowed
- Travel and cultural activities
- Part-time jobs (cafes, shops, office assistant roles, etc.)
- Language study
❌ Not Allowed
- Full-time professional work
- Jobs requiring licenses (doctor, lawyer, etc.)
- Illegal or unregistered employment
🌍 Eligibility & Partner Countries
To apply for the H-1 visa, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be a citizen of a country that has a Working Holiday agreement with Korea
- Be between 18–30 years old (may vary depending on country)
- Have sufficient funds to support your stay
- Have no criminal record
- Not have previously received an H-1 visa
🌐 Partner Countries (as of 2024)
Korea currently has Working Holiday agreements with the following countries:
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Chile, Finland, Hungary, Austria, Israel, Norway, Argentina
※ The availability and conditions may vary slightly by country, so it’s important to check with your local Korean embassy.
📄 Required Documents
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- Visa application form
- Passport photo
- Bank statement (proof of sufficient funds)
- Flight ticket or reservation
- Criminal background check
- Health certificate
- Travel insurance
- Graduation or enrollment certificate
- Travel & work plan
🧾 Application Process (Step-by-Step)
- Check eligibility
- Prepare all required documents
- Apply at the Korean embassy/consulate
- Wait for approval (2–4 weeks)
- Receive your visa and prepare for entry
- Enter Korea
- Register at immigration (within 90 days)
- Submit additional documents if required
- Receive your Resident Card
- Start your life in Korea
💼 Jobs You Can Do
- Cafes / restaurants
- Retail jobs
- Office assistant / marketing support
- Language-related work
- Factory work (with limitations)
❌ Jobs You Cannot Do
- Medical / legal professions
- Adult entertainment industry
- Jobs arranged illegally
🔄 Differences from Other Visas
H-1 Visa
- Travel + part-time work
- Up to 1 year stay
E-7 Visa
- Professional employment
- Long-term stay
D-2 Visa
- University study
- Limited work allowed
D-4 Visa
- Language training
- Part-time allowed
⚠️ Important Things to Know
Even if the process looks simple, many applicants struggle with:
- complicated paperwork
- unclear requirements
- language barriers
Even small mistakes in documents can delay or affect your visa approval.
Because of this, some people prepare everything on their own,
while others choose to use services like Hanamichi to organize documents and guide the process—especially if they want to avoid mistakes and reduce stress.
📝 Final Summary
The H-1 visa is a unique opportunity to:
👉 travel, work, and experience life in Korea
It’s not designed for long-term employment,
but it allows you to experience Korea at your own pace.
Key Points
- Stay up to 1 year
- Focus on short-term work & cultural experience
- No extension in most cases
- Careful preparation is important
If you're planning a working holiday in Korea,
make sure to prepare based on your goals and lifestyle.
📌 What’s Next?
👉 What you should prepare before coming to Korea
(housing, SIM card, bank account, etc.)
📌 You can find more detailed guides and useful information about living in Korea on the official Hanamichi blog.
🔗 https://hanamichi.kr/en/blog/Korea%20H-1%20Visa
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