Working Holiday(H-1)
| Scope of Activities | * The primary purpose must be tourism, and activities inconsistent with the intent of the agreement—such as full-time employment, full-time study, journalism, or political activities—are prohibited.
Employment Activity Standards * If the counterpart country adjusts the permitted employment period for Korean nationals, the same adjustment shall apply reciprocally. * However, the maximum permitted working hours are capped at 25 hours per week. Employment Periods by Country Agreement Country / Employment Period / Maximum Weekly Hours / Maximum Hours * Israel / 3 months / 25 hrs per week / 300 hrs (25 hrs × 12 weeks) * Australia, Italy, Belgium / 6 months / 25 hrs per week / 625 hrs (25 hrs × 25 weeks) * Denmark / 9 months / 25 hrs per week / 950 hrs (25 hrs × 38 weeks) * Canada / During H-1 stay / 40 hrs per week / 2,080 hrs (40 hrs × 52 weeks) * Other countries / During H-1 stay / 25 hrs per week / 1,300 hrs (25 hrs × 52 weeks) * Types of Employment : No restriction by contract type (contract, part-time, etc.). * Prohibited Employment Categories (E-1 ~ E-7 visas) : * Occupations in entertainment venues such as host/hostess, dancer, singer, musician, acrobat, etc. (E-6). * Licensed professions requiring specific qualifications (doctor, lawyer, professor, pilot, language instructor, etc.) and occupations under E-7 (Specific Activities). * Businesses contrary to public morals or involving gambling. * Businesses defined under the *Act on Special Cases Concerning Regulation and Punishment of Speculative Acts (Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1). * Businesses under the *Food Sanitation Act* (Article 36, Enforcement Decree Article 21(8)), including karaoke bars and adult entertainment establishments. * Businesses under the *Act on Regulation of Amusement Businesses* that are deemed harmful to good public morals. * Businesses offering services involving physical contact, nudity, or sexual conduct, designated as “off-limits to minors” by the Youth Protection Committee and announced by the Minister of Gender Equality and Family. * Businesses producing, distributing, or selling harmful media or substances to minors, designated as restricted by presidential decree and publicly announced. * Private tutoring activities as defined by the *Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes. * Other activities outside the scope of the holder’s status of stay, or otherwise restricted by the Minister of Justice. Facilities, Equipment, and Business Types Deemed Harmful to Youth (No. 2013-52, Aug. 13, 2013, Minister of Gender Equality and Family) : 1. Facility Type : Partitioned, closed-off, or concealed spaces. 2. Equipment Type : Private bathrooms, bathtubs, beds, bedding, convertible sofas, multimedia equipment, karaoke machines, adult dolls (real dolls), sex toys, etc. 3. Business Type : Kissing rooms, sexual massage parlors, nude shows, adult PC rooms, “glass rooms,” “hug hotels,” doll experience rooms, etc., where physical or sexual contact, nudity, sexual activity, or adult media use is possible. Academic Activity Standards * If the counterpart country adjusts the permitted study period for Korean nationals, the same adjustment shall apply reciprocally. Study Periods by Country Agreement Country / Study Period * Australia / 4 months * Canada, Ireland, Denmark, Hong Kong, Austria, Israel, Belgium, New Zealand / 6 months * Other countries / During H-1 stay * Permitted Study Forms : Language institutes, short-term study courses, etc. * Restricted Study Forms : * Regular academic courses equivalent to D-2 (Study) visa activities. * Study combined with foreign language teaching assistance. * Example : If a working holiday foreigner attends a Korean language academy but also teaches Korean students conversational foreign language, this constitutes “language instruction” requiring a Conversation Teaching visa, and is therefore prohibited. |
| Eligible Person | A national of a country that has concluded an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Korea on working holidays, who intends to engage in short-term employment activities to cover travel expenses while primarily staying for the purpose of tourism.
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| Management Standards | # Permission
* When young people (ages 18 to 30) from countries that have concluded an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Korea on working holidays enter primarily for the purpose of tourism and engage in short-term employment activities to cover their travel expenses. * Must possess a valid passport, round-trip airline ticket, and sufficient funds for expenses during the initial period of stay. * Holders of a Working Holiday visa who wish to engage in professional occupations requiring specific qualifications (such as doctor, lawyer, professor, aircraft pilot, language instructor, etc.) must obtain permission to change to the appropriate stay status. # Restriction * Persons seeking employment in industries contrary to the purpose of the agreement or in occupations that require specific qualifications under domestic law. * Persons who intend to devote themselves solely to employment rather than tourism immediately upon entry. * Persons who engage in activities beyond the permitted scope of employment or study. |
| Maximum Period of Stay That Can Be Granted at One Time | Period of stay under the agreement |
| Change or Addition of Workplace | * Employment activities may be carried out without separately adding or changing workplaces.
- However, restrictions apply if one seeks employment in occupations that require specific qualifications, licenses, or fall under the E-7 (Specific Activities) category. |
| Granting of Stay Status | Not applicable |
| Permission for Change of Stay Status | (Standard) In principle, change of status is restricted.
(Change to Professional Qualifications, etc.) Change of status is permitted for professional occupations requiring specific qualifications (such as doctor, lawyer, professor, aircraft pilot, language instructor, etc.) and for certain activities under E-7, provided the applicant meets the required qualifications. * However, this does not apply to nationals of the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, Italy, Israel, or Belgium. (Other) Change from any other stay status to the Working Holiday status is not permitted. |
| Permission for Extension of Stay | Extension is allowed within a period of up to one year from the date of entry.
* However, under the agreement, extensions of up to 1 year and 6 months are possible for the United States, and up to 2 years for the United Kingdom and Canada. |
| Re-entry Permit | 1. Implementation of the Re-entry Permit Exemption System (Revised Enforcement Rules, effective December 1, 2010)
* Foreigners who have completed registration and intend to re-enter within one year from the date of departure are exempt from the re-entry permit. * If less than one year remains in the period of stay, the re-entry permit is exempted within the remaining stay period. ※ However, those subject to entry restrictions or visa issuance restrictions must visit the immigration office (or branch office) with jurisdiction over their place of stay to obtain a re-entry permit. Required Documents : Application form (Form No. 34), passport, alien registration card, and fee. |
| Foreigner Registration | Eligibility
* Those intending to stay longer than 90 days (no exceptions under agreements) Required Documents 1. Application form (Form No. 34), passport, one standard-sized photo, and fee 2. Travel itinerary and activity plan 3. Copy of the business registration certificate and contract of the workplace, etc. (if employed) 4. Proof of residence (e.g., monthly lease agreement) * If the place of residence has changed, guidance on reporting the change of residence will be provided |
