How long do South Korea Working Holiday quotas usually last?

Redaccion Volare | March 1, 2026

One of the biggest questions when planning a trip to South Korea is the availability of Working Holiday (H-1) visas. The speed at which quotas are exhausted depends entirely on the applicant's nationality and the current bilateral treaty, which defines the level of urgency with which the application must be processed at consulates and KVAC centers.

1. Unlimited Quota Group (No risk of exhaustion)

Applies to: Germany, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden.

Total availability. Having unlimited quotas guaranteed by bilateral treaty, there is no risk of exhaustion. Application is open and permanently available throughout the year.

2. Massive Quota Group (High Availability)

Applies to: Canada (12,000), Japan (10,000), United Kingdom (5,000), and France (2,000).

High availability. Given the large volume of the approved annual quota, vacancies are usually available for most of the year. They are assigned strictly on a first-come, first-served basis until the processing capacity of diplomatic missions is exhausted.

3. WEST Program (US Exclusive)

Applies to: United States.

Constant availability, but subject to schedule. The 2,000 quotas of the agreement are managed through WEST Program sponsors, which opens specific application windows throughout the year regulated in coordination with the US government.

4. Medium Quota Group (Moderate Availability)

Applies to: Spain (1,000), Hong Kong (1,000), Taiwan, Ireland, and Italy.

Moderate availability. Although the quota is considerable, the demand from these nationalities is high and constant. They are granted strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is recommended to apply during the first quarter of the year on the MOFA portal to secure a spot before they run out.

5. Reduced Quota Group (Fast Exhaustion / High Competition)

Applies to: Argentina, Chile, Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Belgium, Israel, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Andorra.

High competition / Fast exhaustion. Having a very small annual quota, spots tend to run out quickly shortly after the opening of the consular calendar (usually in January). They are assigned strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is required to apply immediately when the slots open in the corresponding systems.