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Working Holiday — Republic of Korea

GermanyYouth mobility

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What combination of travel, work, study or training does the programme permit?

The German-Korean bilateral Working Holiday declaration permits a stay for cultural exposure with casual employment to supplement travel funds. The current German-language Seoul embassy page describes short-term work up to 50 days per year or a mini-job and still quotes EUR 556 per month. The embassy English FAQ also mentions paid internships, says up to six months with one employer, quotes EUR 450 per month, and says full-time work requires a different work visa; the current applicability of those FAQ limits is not reconciled. Germany’s Minijob-Zentrale states that the general mini-job earnings limit rose to EUR 603 from January 2026. These official presentations do not establish a reconciled visa-specific monthly cap or whether the English FAQ’s employer limit remains current.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The applicable Korean Working Holiday monthly earnings and employer-duration limits are unresolved: Seoul German guidance says €556/50 days, its English FAQ says €450/six months, while Germany-wide 2026 mini-job law uses €603. The bilateral declaration gives no numeric cap.
  • Bilateral joint declaration, casual holiday employment
    — for the purpose of supplementing their funds for the trip or — for the purpose of work-related further training also to take up employment on a casual basis in the Federal Republic of Germany or the Republic of Korea, as the case may be,
  • Current Seoul German WH guidance, 50 days or €556 mini-job
    Um die eigenen Reisemittel aufzustocken kann mit dem Visum eine kurzfristige Beschäftigung aufgenommen werden: maximal 50 Tage pro Jahr oder ein „Minijob (Gehalt von maximal 556 Euro pro Monat, es gilt der gesetzliche Mindestlohn)
  • Seoul English FAQ, employer six months, €450 and no full-time work
    What is the maximum time I am allowed to work on my Working Holiday Visa? You have the possibility to work for one employer for up to six months (overall up to one year if you change employment) to offset your travel expenses or for additional training in connection with your employment. Because the employment is limited to 6 months, marginal employment (up to 450 euros/month), short-term employment (up to 50 working days/year) as well as paid internships are possible. A typical job could for example be tutoring. Am I allowed to work full time? No. In order to work full time you need a Working Visa. It is illegal to take up full time employment with the Working Holiday Visa.
  • Minijob-Zentrale Germany-wide limit from 1 Jan 2026
    Als Minijobberin oder Minijobber ist es wichtig, die aktuelle Verdienstgrenze im Auge zu behalten. Diese beträgt ab dem 1. Januar 2026 603 Euro.

What are the defining limitations: quota, ballot, previous participation, employer limits, study limits or equivalent?

Only once per person; no accompanying children; a spouse only if they also qualify; full-time employment is not allowed. The official source does not state a quota.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Full-time ban comes from the embassy English FAQ, which diverges from the German page on other figures.

What funds, insurance, onward travel or similar preparation is particularly important?

For Korean Working Holiday preparation, the current German-language Embassy Seoul checklist asks for the applicant’s own bank book showing at least EUR 3,500 equivalent, reduced by EUR 1,000 each on proof of a paid return ticket or paid accommodation for the first three months. Its English Working Holiday FAQ instead states a EUR 2,000 minimum deposit. The embassy checklist requires German-valid liability, health and accident insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover for each; health cover includes hospital treatment and return transport to Korea and insurance must cover the whole intended stay. The available official texts do not reconcile the two cash thresholds.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The German and English pages of Embassy Seoul publish conflicting EUR 3,500 and EUR 2,000 bank minima; the currently controlling amount is not established.
  • Seoul German WH checklist, €3,500 and two €1,000 reductions
    Finanzierungsnachweis : Eigenes Bankbuch des Antragstellers, auf dem sich ein Mindestbetrag von umgerechnet 3.500,- EUR befindet (dieser Betrag reduziert sich um je 1.000,- EUR bei Vorlage eines Rückflugtickets oder Nachweis einer festen Unterkunft für die ersten drei Monate - jeweils mit Zahlungsnachweis
  • Seoul English FAQ, €2,000 bank minimum
    Proof of means of support (applicant’s bank pass book with minimum deposit of 2000 euros or equivalent)
  • Seoul German WH checklist, three insurances and €30,000 each
    Ausreichender Versicherungsschutz: Nachweis einer für Deutschland gültigen Haftpflichtversicherung (Deckungssumme mindestens 30.000 EUR) Nachweis einer für Deutschland gültigen Krankenversicherung , die auch Krankenhausbehandlung und Rücktransport in die Republik Korea beinhaltet (Deckungssumme mindestens 30.000 EUR) Unfallversicherung (Deckungssumme mindestens 30.000 EUR)
  • Seoul German WH checklist, insurance whole intended stay
    Der Versicherungsschutz muss für die gesamte Dauer des beabsichtigten Aufenthalts in Deutschland gültig sein.

How long can the person stay, can the programme be extended or repeated, and what happens when it ends?

Stay of up to 12 months; a new application is not possible after a previous Working Holiday visa for Germany. The official source does not state what happens when the stay ends.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • What happens at the end of the stay is not stated.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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