If you are planning to visit South Korea and you are not sure about what options are available regarding visas, this guide is for you!

If you are planning a short vacation or you are wondering about the working holiday option, this guide will help you understand the necesary visas and entry requirements for these two options.

1. Short-Term Visits & Tourism (Tourist / Transit)

If you are visiting South Korea purely for tourism you may not need to apply for a traditional visa in advance.

  • Visa-Free entry: Nationals of many countries (such as the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and EU nations) can enter South Korea visa-free for tourism. You can check if your country is among the allowed ones here

  • Important Step: Usually even if you are from a visa-exempt country, you must apply for and receive a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) online before boarding your flight. This is typically valid for multiple entries over 3 years. There has been an exemption period extension during 2026 so if you travel this year and your country is on the exception list you will not need it.

  • Duration: Depending on your nationality, visa-free stays generally range from 30 to 90 days, you can check the details on the country list posted above.

In case your country is not on the visa free entry list you will need to apply for a:

Short-Term Tourist Visa (C-3-9).

Key Requirements for the C-3-9 Tourist Visa

Because you require a formal visa evaluation, the South Korean government requires documentation proving your intent to visit strictly for tourism and your ability to fund the trip. Typical requirements include:

  1. Visa Application Form: Completed and signed, available via the official Korea Visa Portal or your local embassy’s website.
  2. Valid Passport: Must have at least 6 months of remaining validity and blank visa pages.
  3. Passport-Sized Photographs: Recent color photos meeting standard specifications.
  4. Flight & Accommodation Details: Confirmed round-trip flight itineraries and hotel bookings (or an invitation if staying with friends/family).

In some cases you might also need:

Financial Proof: Bank statements (usually covering the last 3 to 6 months) proving you have sufficient funds to support your stay in South Korea without needing to work.

Employment or Student Verification: A letter from your employer confirming your position, salary, and approved leave, or enrollment proof if you are a student. This demonstrates strong ties to your home country.

Check always the specifics for your country on the embassy of the Republic of Korea since they can change. For example if your country is Malaysia you can check here or here for the Philippines.

Usually you can get this info searching in Google korea embassy + your country and then go to consular/visa service -> requirements, and choosing the specific visa.

2. The South Korean Working Holiday Visa (H-1)

The H-1 Working Holiday Visa is designed for young travelers who want to experience life in South Korea long-term while supplementing their travel funds through short-term work.

Who is Eligible?

  • Age Requirements: Typically open to individuals aged 18 to 30 (or up to 35 for select partner nationalities, such as Canada, France, etc.).

  • Partner Countries: South Korea has reciprocal working holiday agreements with numerous countries globally (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and more). Check the official Working Holiday Info Center (WHIC) to confirm if your country participates.

  • Key Conditions:

    • You must apply from your home country (outside of Korea).
    • It is a one-time-only visa.
    • The primary purpose must be a holiday; working is meant to be secondary so there are quite a few restrictions on what can you do or how many hours can you work for example:

You cannot work as a foreign language instructor or private tutor. Professional English teaching requires an E-2 visa.

Working holiday makers are technically restricted to work a maximum of 25 hours per week.

WARNING! South Korea limits the number of Working Holiday (H-1) by country, every country has a negotiated annual cap or arrangement with the South Korean government. Visas are granted in a ‘first-come, first-served’ capacity so don’t wait too long!

You can check the quotas here

For more information you can contact [email protected]

Required Documents for H-1 Visa

While specific embassy requirements can vary slightly, you will generally need to submit:

  1. Valid Passport (with at least 6–12 months of remaining validity) and a passport-size photo.
  2. Completed Visa Application Form.
  3. Travel Itinerary & Activity Plan detailing what you intend to do during your stay.
  4. Proof of Financial Support: A certified bank statement proving you have sufficient funds for the initial stages of your trip (typically a minimum of 3,000,000 KRW).
  5. Return Flight Ticket or proof of funds to purchase one.
  6. Health Insurance: A policy covering medical treatment and hospitalizations for the duration of your stay (minimum coverage amounts apply, often around 40,000,000 KRW).
  7. Criminal Background Check (if requested by your local embassy).

Here you can download the official working holiday guide (PDF)

Application Process & Timeline

  • Where to Apply: You must submit your application to the South Korean Embassy, Consulate, or an official Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in your home country.
  • Processing Time: Standard processing generally takes anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks (often around 10 to 14 business days) for the tourist visa or 1 to 4 weeks (approximately 5 to 14 working days) for the working holiday, of course this can’t extend depending on the embassy’s workload.
  • Visa Issuance Notice: South Korea largely issues electronic Visa Grant Notices instead of physical passport stickers. Once approved, you can log onto the Korea Visa Portal to print out your official visa certificate, which you will present to immigration upon arrival.

3. Other Major Long-Term Visa Categories

If a working holiday or simple tourism doesn’t match your goals, South Korea offers several other structured paths:

  • Study Visas (D-2 / D-4): For individuals enrolled in degree programs (D-2) or language study programs (D-4) at accredited Korean universities or language institutes.

  • Employment Visas (E-Series): For professional work, including teaching English (E-2), specialized research (E-3), or arts and entertainment (E-6). These require a formal employment contract with a sponsoring Korean organization.

  • Long-Term General Visas: Categories exist for corporate investments, religious work, and family/marriage sponsorship.

I will expand those long-term options on part 2, stay tune for it :)

And if you want to improve your korean before your trip, don’t forget to download Tokki Korean, available on the Google Play Store