Application steps - British, Dutch, French, Germans

Visa applications are never fun, but if you know what steps to anticipate, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

The first thing to know is that the authority that is responsible for Korean Working Holiday Visa H-1 applications (among other categories) from France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK is called the KVAC, Korea Visa Application Center. They are official partners to, but separate from, Korean consulates and embassies.

Here are the steps that you should follow in the application processes.

1. Check the quota

First, you may want to confirm that the annual Working Holiday Visa quota for your nationality has not yet been reached.

• British: 5,000 → KVAC London reachable at [email protected]
• Dutch: 200 → KVAC Hague reachable at [email protected]
• French: 2,000 → KVAC Paris reachable at [email protected]
• German: unlimited → KVAC Berlin reachable at [email protected]

Source

Annual quotas do not change significantly year to year, if at all. Germans do not have a quota to worry about.

If there are no more available spots left, unfortunately you will have to wait until the following program year to apply. For the best chances, apply early in the season, as applications are processed on a first come first serve basis.

2. Gather supporting documents

To see the list of documents required for applicants of your nationality, go to the KVAC website. Then,

1. Click on LIST OF MANDATORY DOCUMENTS BY VISA TYPE (for your country) and
2. Follow the shortcut to the page for H-1 Working Holiday.

There, you will find the list of required documents for your nationality. Unless you receive instruction otherwise, any document not written in English or Korean should be accompanied by a certified translation into English or Korean.

If you have any questions about the application, you should contact your KVAC.

These samples may be helpful for your gathering of supporting documents.

• Work and Travel activity plan (view official sample)
• Medical certificate (view sample used by a previous Working Holiday Visa holder)

3. Fill out the application form

The visa application form can be downloaded on the KVAC website.

A few special fields on the form to be aware of as a Working Holiday Visa applicant:

• 1.7: For National Identity No., put the equivalent of the national number that your country issues.
• 2.2: For Status of Stay, put “Working Holiday Visa”.
• 8.1: For Purpose of Visit to Korea, select “Other” and indicate “Working Holiday”.
• 8.4: For Address in Korea, put the address of where you plan to stay upon arriving in Korea. It can be a youth hostel or an Airbnb, for example.
• 8.5: For Contact No. in Korea, put the phone number of your accommodation from 8.4.
• 8.7: For Countries travelled to in the last 5 years, if you travelled to more countries than the number of rows on the form, you can simply attach a printed table (from Excel, for example) to your application.
• 9: For Details of Invitation, unless someone has invited you to Korea on this visa, you should indicate “No”.
• 10.1: For Estimated Travel Costs, indicate how much savings you have. Make sure you meet the minimum requirement for your citizenship.

Once you’re done, make sure to sign it by hand.

4. Pay fees and submit your application

Before submitting your application, you must first pay the applicable fees and send proof to your KVAC. Only 2-3 days later may you then submit the rest of your application. Instructions for payment and submission are in the links below.

If you are applying at the KVAC in:

• Berlin, you can submit your application by mail or in person (no appointment needed).
• The Hague, you can submit your application by mail or in person (no appointment needed).
• London, you must submit your application by mail.
• Paris, you can submit your application by mail or in person (no appointment needed).

Carefully follow the instructions provided by your KVAC. Contact them should you have any questions.

4. Wait for your visa grant notice

Congratulations, you’ve submitted your application!

You can check the status of your application on the Korea Visa Portal. On the left, click on “Check Application Status”. It might take a couple of days for your application to be registered in the system so don’t panic if you don’t see it right away.

Upon approval, you will receive a “visa grant notice”. This is not your visa, it is simply letter of notification. Your actual visa is digitally tied to the passport that you applied with.