Age
New ceiling effective 1 October 2026; confirm filing details with KVAC Paris.
French passport / Practical guide
South Korea Working Holiday for French citizens (2026)
Requirements to check for your Working Holiday visa in South Korea, application steps and preparation before travelling.
Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
The French age limit increased to 35 on 1 October 2026. Older consular pages remain historical references, but their age and document list do not replace current instructions.
South Korea at a glance
- Age
- 18–35 inclusiveLearn moreReferences : KR-AGE KR-TABLE
- Length of stay
- 12 monthsLearn moreReferences : KR-TABLE
- Initial funds
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences : KR-TABLE KR-FR-OLD
- Visa fee
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences : KR-AGE KR-TABLE KR-OLD KR-FR-OLD
- Application timing
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences : KR-TABLE
- Language
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences : KR-AGE KR-TABLE KR-OLD KR-FR-OLD
- Study
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences : KR-TABLE
- Work
- 25 hours per weekLearn moreReferences : KR-TABLE
Source research. Confirm every condition with the authority before applying. Rules can change after our source check.
France →South KoreaWorking Holiday in South Korea for French citizens (2026)
Requirements to check and steps to prepare your trip.
Step 1
Check requirements and prepare your language
Annual quota
Annual allocation, not remaining places.
References : KR-TABLE
Application timing
Year-round filing subject to official instructions; no next appointment established.
References : KR-TABLE
Language
No language test established here; Korean remains useful preparation.
References : KR-AGE KR-TABLE KR-OLD KR-FR-OLD
Explore language courses →Length of stay
One stay, primarily for holidays.
References : KR-TABLE
Visa fee
Confirm visa and KVAC charges.
Initial funds
General table: KRW 3,000,000; older France instructions: EUR 2,500. Confirm the France amount and fund return travel separately.
Passport
French passport; general rule requires at least one year validity.
References : KR-TABLE
Insurance
Entire stay; general minimum KRW 40,000,000, confirm with KVAC.
References : KR-TABLE
Documents and participation
Form, photo, passport, funds, return travel, insurance and plan; confirm current French checklist, including health, police and qualification evidence.
References : KR-TABLE
Step 2
Apply for the visa
- Check the new age limit of 35 and the French application requirements with KVAC Paris. The notice of 14 October 2026 supersedes the older age guidance.
- Prepare your passport, travel plan, funds, insurance and the medical, police and education evidence required by the current French checklist.
- Apply from your country of nationality through the KVAC procedure. Confirm charges and documents before filing.
- Wait for the decision before finalising travel, then follow the visa and arrival registration instructions.
Step 3
After approval
Read the full decision: dates, identity, conditions and any evidence needed on arrival. Keep a copy available offline. Do not assume the visa starts or ends on your preferred date.
Step 4
Prepare your trip
The general page gives initial funds of KRW 3 million, separate from return travel, and insurance throughout the stay with a general KRW 40 million coverage amount. An older French checklist mentions EUR 2,500: ask KVAC which current evidence applies and prepare cautiously for both supported scenarios without presenting both as confirmed requirements.
- Passport, visa and evidence accessible offline.
- Insurance, financial reserve and departure travel checked separately.
- First accommodation, arrival transport and emergency contacts prepared.
Step 5
Start your Working Holiday
Keep your passport, visa, insurance and travel plan available. Check the registration formalities stated by the Korean authority. Observe the general 25-hour weekly work limit and applicable occupational restrictions.
Work
Incidental work; France row gives no total employment-period cap. Check permitted occupations.
Study
France row gives no duration cap; private Korean courses, not regular university degrees under H-1.
Explore language courses →Language courses · commercial service
Prepare your language skills before travelling.
Through ViveCampus, you can get quotes for language courses with international-student discounts. Offers may vary by your country of origin and destination. Request a personalized quote to confirm available discounts and the final price. Booking a course does not guarantee a visa.
Other destinations to compare
- Working Holiday in Australia →
- Working Holiday in New Zealand →
- Working Holiday in Japan →
- Working Holiday in Canada →
- Working Holiday in Argentina →
- Working Holiday in Brazil →
- Working Holiday in Chile →
- Working Holiday in Colombia →
- Working Holiday in Ecuador →
- Working Holiday in Mexico →
- Working Holiday in Peru →
- Working Holiday in Uruguay →
- Working Holiday in Hong Kong →
- Working Holiday in Taiwan →
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply at age 35?
The official notice dated 14 October 2026 gives ages 18 to 35 for French citizens, effective from 1 October 2026. Confirm the filing date with KVAC.
Does the old age limit of 30 still apply?
The new notice and current table give 35 for France. Older pages describe an earlier period.
Can I work without a weekly limit?
No. The general page gives 25 hours per week. The French “no limitation” entry concerns the total period of employment, rather than an exemption from the weekly limit.
References : KR-TABLE
Can I take a university degree?
The general page permits private Korean courses but excludes ordinary university degree programmes. The French column with no duration limit does not remove this restriction on the type of study.
References : KR-TABLE
What funds should I prepare?
Current general guidance mentions KRW 3 million, separate from return travel; an older French checklist mentions EUR 2,500. Confirm the current evidence with KVAC and keep return funds separate.
Does the quota guarantee a place?
No. The table gives 2,000 annual places for France. That number does not establish remaining places or available appointments.
References : KR-TABLE
Contacts and consular assistance
For your application, use the issuing authority’s official contact details. For assistance to French citizens abroad, use the French diplomatic directory; the French consulate does not decide the host country’s visa.
French embassy and consulate directory ↗Official sources
Documentary research: individual source check dates below. Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.. Guidance is reviewed periodically; confirm rules before applying.
Source checked on 2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
KR-AGE · Korean WHIC · French age expansion notice
Read the official source ↗Source checked on 2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
KR-TABLE · Korean WHIC · nationality conditions and preparation
Read the official source ↗Source checked on 2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
KR-OLD · Korean embassy in France · older programme notice
Read the official source ↗Source checked on 2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.