Work, visas & study
Working holiday visa (H-1) for South Korea
As of: October 2026 · Leben in Korea
Want to spend a year in Korea, travel and fund it all with jobs? Then the working holiday visa is your way. Here's the most important information for German citizens at a glance.
What is the H-1 visa?
The working holiday visa for South Korea is called H-1. It's for young German citizens who want to holiday in Korea and fund their stay with jobs.
With it you can stay in Korea for a maximum of 12 months.
Who can apply?
For German citizens the age limit is 18 to 34 years (inclusive).
The age limit can change at the turn of the year. What counts is the application date: if you hand in the application in person, it's the day of your visit. If you send it by post, it's the day it arrives at the visa center.
Where do you apply?
Applications are only accepted at the Korea Visa Application Center Berlin (KVAC), Charlottenstrasse 68, 10117 Berlin. You'll find information and the current document list on visaforkorea.eu.
Important: if your documents are incomplete or the fee isn't paid, your application won't be processed. Best check directly on visaforkorea.eu which documents exactly are required and how high the fee is.
After arrival: foreigner registration
If you stay in Korea for more than 90 days, you have to register as a foreigner within 90 days of entry and you get the Residence Card.
Checklist
- Check the age limit at the time of your application
- Read the current document list on visaforkorea.eu
- Submit complete documents and pay the fee
- After arrival: plan an appointment for foreigner registration
Sources
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea – Note on applying for working holiday visas (H-1)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea – Visa types
- City of Incheon – Foreigner registration
As of: October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice. No guarantee; the official authorities have the final word.