Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada

The Working Holiday Program aims to promote international understanding by enabling young people to experience the culture of another country. It allows working holiday participants to have an extended holiday by supplementing their travel funds with part-time employment. The goal of the program is to provide the participant with first-hand cultural experience in local communities.

A working holiday visa enables youths from countries that have made working holiday agreements or memoranda with Korea to undertake short term work during their stay to supplement their travel funds.

This program promotes mutual understanding and cultural exchange between countries and provides youth with the opportunity to experience and understand the diverse cultures and lifestyles of partner countries. Korea initiated its Working Holiday Program with Australia in July 1995, then with Canada in January 1996, and with Japan and New Zealand in April and May 1999 respectively.

1. Since the primary purpose of the working holiday program is to encourage sightseeing, H-1 visa recipients should not concentrate solely on employment activities as soon as they enter Korea. If H-1 visa holders stay in Korea more than 90 days, they must register with the immigration office in the appropriate jurisdiction within 90 days from entry.

2. If H-1 visa holders wish to change his/her place of residence. they need to report their new address to the head of the local immigration office, branch office or the new city/municipal/county office within 14 days after relocation.

3. H-1 visa holders are not permitted to be employed as receptionists, dancers, singers, musicians or acrobats at places of entertainment which might endanger good morals and manners, or as medical doctors, lawyers, professors, pilots, language instructors or other professional services which require certain qualifications in accordance with domestic laws.

4. Those who desire to take a training or educational course in pursuit of an academic degree other than a Korean language training course will be required to apply for a student visa (D-2).

※For more information about working holiday, please click → “Working Holiday Information Center”

Canadians (between ages 18 and 35 at the time of visa issuance) currently residing in Canada whose main purpose is tourism for a definite amount of time and supplement their travel funds through certain kinds of short-term work during their stay. 

※ You must not previously taken part in Korea Working Holiday Program.

※ Dependent family members of H-1 visa applicant cannot be accompanied. 

※ Please fully understand that this program is primarily intended as a travel vacation and employment is only intended to supplement expenses. 

▷Period of Stay: Up to 2 year

▷Validation of Visa: 2 years from the visa issuance

▷Entry: Multiple entry

▷Visa Fee: $117 CAD for Canadians (Cash or Money Order)

▷Processing Time: approximately 7 to 10 business days

1. Visa Application Form

     - Section 1.7: National Identity Number (SIN #)

      - Section 2.2 Visa Code: Your visa category you are applying for

2. Original Passport and a photocopy of passport

     - Original passport must have a validity of 6 months or more left

3. 1 Colour Photo (size 3.5 x 4.5cm)

     - White background, date stamped taken within 6 months at the back of the photo

4. Working Holiday Plan

      - Please write the date and signature at the bottom of the activity plan

      - Specify details about your travel schedule and activity plan

5. Resume (CV) 

     - Explaining work experience

6. Certificate from the most recent school attended 

     - Proof of highest academic qualifications or enrollment/certificate of graduation from your final school

      -ex. official school transcripts/school letters (be notarized by a lawyer or notary public as a certified true copy within our jurisdiction Ontario)

7. RCMP Fingerprints Criminal Record Check

      - Issued within recent 6 months 

8. Physical Examination performed by a physician

     - Issued within 3 months including a chest X-ray, urinalysis, blood test and HIV test

9.  Health/Medical Insurance (Must indicate the coverage price)

      - Health/Medical Insurance should remain valid throughout your stay in Korea  (Coverage: KRW 40,000,000 minimum)

      - Health/Medical Insurance that guarantees your return to your country and medical treatment during your stay in Korea

10. Bank statement with certified bank stamp 

     - Proving that the applicant has the ability to cover travel expenses for the first 3 months of the stay (approximately $3,400 CAD)

11. Round Trip flight schedules 

     - Travel itinerary

     - Applicants are advised not to purchase their tickets until their visas are approved

12. Visa Fee (Only Cash or Money Order)

     - $117 CAD (Cash Only)

13. Documents to prove renunciation (국적상실신고)

          Only applicable for those who had Korean nationality in the past.

-[If you reported before 2008]: 

O If you have reported renunciation before 2008, please provide jejokdeungbon (제적등본) issued within 3 months from the date of application.

-[If you reported after 2008]:

O If you have reported renunciation after 2008, please provide basic certificate (“기본증명서” ) and family relation certification (“가족관계증명서”) issued within 3 months from the date of application in detailed version (상세). 

※ Photocopies of these documents can be submitted but not printed photos. Please be aware that if the documents have 2 pages, you must submit the second page also.

※ Please refer to each visa category you’re applying for to verify the required documents for your visa category. 

※ If you already received a visa, but never used before and have a remaining validity date, you cannot resubmit your visa application. 

※ Please note that additional documents may be requested upon Consul’s review

※ All Visa applicants must be physically present in person

※ The head of Korean diplomatic missions abroad may request for additional documents depending on the condition of the country of residence/jurisdiction if it is deemed necessary for visa evaluation.

※ After your visa has been submitted, all submitted supporting documents will not be returned back to the applicant except your original passport, PR Card, Visa Permits. During the visa process, you may cancel your visa but, we do not return your submitted documents and visa fee. 

※ Please be aware that incomplete application package will be returned back to you without processing.