South Korea working holiday visa for US citizens

This page is for United States passport holders who are interested in the South Korea Working Holiday program (H-1 visa). To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30. This visa allows a stay of up to 18 months from the date of entry into South Korea. The application fee is $45.

You must be a current college student or a recent graduate, meaning you graduated within the last 1 year. Applicants need to provide proof of their student or graduate status from their post-secondary institution. You will also need to show evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself for at least 6 months. Applications are made at the Korean embassy or consulate that serves your residential area.

Passport

United States

Age range

18 to 30

Stay

Up to 18 months from entry

Fee

$45 visa application fee

Conditions for US citizens

• Participants must be bona fide college students or recent graduates (within 1 year of graduation) with proof from their post-secondary institution, and show funds for at least 6 months. Apply at the Korean embassy or consulate covering your area.

General rules of the program

• Enter Korea within 12 months of visa issuance (the Hong Kong program uses a 3-month entry window).
• No set time limit with one employer, but some jobs are excluded: adult entertainment, performing as a dancer, singer, musician or acrobat, licensed professions (for example medicine, law, professor, pilot), foreign language teaching (needs an E-2 visa), journalism, religion, academic research and technical instruction.
• Korean language study is possible; degree study needs a student (D-2) visa.
• The Korean consulate lists $80 for Australia, Canada and New Zealand applicants, and no fee for France and Japan.
• Dependants cannot accompany you.
• Passport with at least 6 months' validity and 2 blank pages, photo, application form, round-trip ticket, proof of funds, a trip plan, and depending on nationality academic records, a criminal record check or a medical exam.

What stands out

Unlike many other working holiday programs, South Korea’s visa for US citizens has a specific educational requirement. Applicants must be bona fide college students or recent graduates within 1 year of their graduation. The length of stay is also notable at up to 18 months, which is longer than the typical 12 months offered by Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland to US citizens. Certain jobs are excluded, including foreign language teaching, which requires a separate E-2 visa. Dependants cannot accompany the visa holder.

How to apply, step by step

1. Contact the Korean embassy or consulate that covers where you live and check its current document list.
2. Prepare your passport, photo, form, round-trip ticket, proof of funds, trip plan and any academic, police or medical records asked of your nationality.
3. Submit the application; you may be asked for more documents or an interview.

Other programs open to US citizens

From the programs in this directory. Status is shown only where the official page stated it.

Full list: working holiday visas for US citizens.

All passports for this program: South Korea working holiday visa (H-1).