🇰🇷 How long do the South Korea Working Holiday quotas last

Volare Editorial | October 10, 2026

One of the biggest questions when planning a trip to South Korea is the real availability of the Working Holiday (H-1) visas. Unlike other destinations, the speed at which quotas run out depends entirely on your nationality and the current bilateral treaty. This categorization defines the level of urgency with which you must process your application at consulates and KVAC (Korea Visa Application Center) centers. Below, we break down the five major availability groups so you know exactly at what pace you should prepare your documents.

Summary Board Unlimited and Massive Quotas

For citizens of this block, the migratory clock ticks at a much more relaxed pace thanks to generous diplomatic agreements.

Availability Category	Affected Countries	Exhaustion Risk
♾️ Unlimited Quotas	Germany, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden.	Null. By having unlimited quotas guaranteed by bilateral treaty, there is no risk of exhaustion. The application is open and available permanently throughout the entire year.
🏢 Massive Quotas	Canada (12,000), Japan (10,000), United Kingdom (5,000), and France (2,000).	Low / High Availability. Given the large volume of the approved annual quota, vacancies are usually available most of the year. They are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis until the processing capacity of the diplomatic missions is exhausted.

Summary Board WEST Program and Medium Quotas

This group requires strategic planning, either because it depends on specific calendars or because it faces a sustained demand that consumes spots by mid-year.

Availability Category	Affected Countries	Exhaustion Risk
🦅 WEST Program	United States (2,000 quotas).	Subject to Schedule. Constant but regulated availability. They are managed through sponsors of the WEST Program, which opens specific application windows throughout the year coordinated with the US government.
⚖️ Medium Quotas	Spain (1,000), Hong Kong (1,000), Taiwan, Ireland, and Italy.	Moderate. Although the quota is considerable, the demand from these nationalities is high and constant. It is recommended to apply during the first quarter of the year on the MOFA portal to secure a spot before they run out (usually between June and August).

Summary Board Reduced Quotas and High Competition

If your passport is on this list, applying turns into a bureaucratic sprint where every day of delay counts.

Availability Category	Affected Countries	Exhaustion Risk
🚀 High Competition	Argentina, Chile, Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Belgium, Israel, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Andorra.	Very High / Fast Exhaustion. Having a very reduced annual quota (frequently between 100 and 500 visas), the spots tend to sell out quickly shortly after the opening of the consular calendar, usually in January. It requires having everything ready and applying immediately upon the opening of appointments.

Master your paperwork with Working Holiday Visa Quest

Knowing if your country will exhaust its quotas in January or if you have margin until August is crucial so you do not waste money on translations or apostilles that could expire. That is why we invite you to register for Working Holiday Visa Quest, our interactive platform that transforms this process into a gamified adventure. With the help of Avi, your virtual copilot, you will have time calculators and early warnings so you apply at the exact moment and do not miss your country's quota.

More Information at Volare

Understanding the dynamics of the quotas is the first step towards your adventure in Seoul. To know how to organize your document folder and maximize your chances of success in the interview, we invite you to consult the Official South Korea Working Holiday Visa Guide on our web portal.