Age
The Auckland instructions specify age at visa issuance. Apply early enough to resolve this before turning 31.
References: KR-AUCKLAND NZE-KR-PRIMARY
New Zealand passport / Working Holiday
Working Holiday in South Korea for New Zealanders (2026)
Check the essential requirements, then follow the five stages to prepare your application and trip.
Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
Official consular indexed notices were read on 18 October; direct retrieval returned access errors. Older fee and five-to-seven-working-day processing estimates are not treated as current guarantees.
Key facts at a glance
- Age
- 18–30Learn moreReferences: KR-AUCKLAND NZE-KR-PRIMARY
- Length of stay
- Up to 1 yearLearn moreReferences: KR-AUCKLAND NZE-KR-PRIMARY
- Initial funds
- At least NZD 4,200 plus travel resourcesLearn moreReferences: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
- Visa fee
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
- Annual quota
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
- Application dates and timing
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
- Language
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
- Study
- To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
- Work
- Up to 25 hours weekly and 1,300 hours yearlyLearn moreReferences: KR-AUCKLAND NZE-KR-PRIMARY
New Zealand →South KoreaWorking Holiday in South Korea for New Zealanders (2026)
Requirements, application steps and preparation before departure.
Step 1
Check requirements and language preparation
Length of stay
Tourism must be the primary purpose.
References: KR-AUCKLAND NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Initial funds
Wellington requests a certified account balance of at least NZD 4,200. Auckland separately requires travel-ticket resources; do not treat maintenance as including departure costs.
References: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
Visa fee
Wellington’s notice dated 3 June 2022 lists NZD 126. It has not been established as the current fee; confirm the charge and payment method with your competent consular office.
References: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
Annual quota
KR: The inspected programme instructions do not establish an annual outbound New Zealand allocation. This is not evidence of unlimited places.
References: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Application dates and timing
KR: The inspected instructions do not establish a dated annual New Zealand application window. Follow the authority’s application route and appointment instructions.
References: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Language
KR: The inspected New Zealand-passport instructions do not specify a language-test threshold. This does not establish a general exemption from all document or employment language requirements.
References: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Explore language courses →Passport
At least 13 months validity
References: KR NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Insurance
Wellington’s published checklist specifies at least KRW 40 million, with an approximate NZD comparison. Use the stated KRW cover rather than turning the comparison into a separate exact threshold.
References: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
Documents and participation
Wellington’s published checklist includes police evidence; chest X-ray, blood and urine results; an activity plan; and NZ travel movement history. Confirm the currently required tests and accepted report format with your competent office before paying.
References: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
Step 2
Apply through the official route
- Confirm the Korean consular office responsible for your NZ address and the six-month NZ residence condition.
- Request the current H-1 checklist before obtaining police and specified medical evidence; prepare insurance, certified balance and activity plan.
- Submit through the competent office’s authorised route; Wellington’s published notice permits personal or courier filing, which must not be assumed for Auckland.
- Wait for the visa and check the issue-age condition and entry/stay dates; follow the permission’s registration instructions after entry.
Step 3
Read your approval and entry conditions
Read the entire approval notice: identity, dates, entry deadline and conditions. Keep it available offline. Do not assume the visa starts on your preferred date.
Step 4
Get ready for the trip
Allow for police evidence, travel movement history and any medical tests the responsible office currently requires. Ensure the passport exceeds thirteen months and insurance covers the full intended stay; confirm older fee and processing notices before relying on them.
- Passport, visa and requested evidence accessible offline.
- Initial funds, insurance and departure costs checked separately.
- First accommodation and airport transport arranged.
Step 5
Start your Working Holiday
Read your issued H-1 permission before employment and complete its required residence-registration procedures. Track both the twenty-five-hour weekly and 1,300-hour annual limits; some occupations require a different status.
Work
No separate same-employer duration is stated in Auckland’s instructions. Occupational restrictions still apply.
Study
Auckland mentions Korean-language learning, but the inspected New Zealand instructions do not establish a numerical study limit. Confirm the permitted course length before enrolling.
Explore language courses →Language courses · commercial service
Plan a language course for your trip.
Through ViveCampus you can request language-course quotes with international-student discounts. Offers may vary by your country of origin and destination. A personalized quote confirms available discounts and the final price. Booking a course does not guarantee a visa.
Auckland mentions Korean-language learning, but the inspected New Zealand instructions do not establish a numerical study limit. Confirm the permitted course length before enrolling.
Other destinations to compare
- Working Holiday in Argentina →
- Working Holiday in Austria →
- Working Holiday in Belgium →
- Brazil - source note →
- Working Holiday in Canada →
- Working Holiday in Chile →
- Working Holiday in Croatia →
- Working Holiday in Czechia →
- Working Holiday in Denmark →
- Working Holiday in Estonia →
- Working Holiday in Finland →
- Working Holiday in France →
- Working Holiday in Germany →
- Working Holiday in Hong Kong →
- Working Holiday in Hungary →
- Working Holiday in Ireland →
- Working Holiday in Israel →
- Working Holiday in Italy →
- Working Holiday in Japan →
- Working Holiday in Latvia →
- Working Holiday in Lithuania →
- Working Holiday in Luxembourg →
- Malaysia - source note →
- Working Holiday in Malta →
- Working Holiday in Mexico →
- Working Holiday in the Netherlands →
- Working Holiday in Norway →
- Peru - source note →
- Working Holiday in the Philippines →
- Working Holiday in Poland →
- Portugal - source note →
- Working Holiday in Singapore →
- Working Holiday in Slovakia →
- Slovenia - source note →
- Spain - source note →
- Working Holiday in Sweden →
- Working Holiday in Taiwan →
- Working Holiday in Thailand →
- Türkiye - source note →
- Working Holiday in the United Kingdom →
- Working Holiday in Uruguay →
- Working Holiday in Vietnam →
Frequently asked questions
At which stage does the age limit apply?
Auckland states eighteen to thirty at issuance. Do not assume filing just before your birthday is sufficient if issuance would occur later.
References: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Explore language courses →Must I have lived in New Zealand?
The NZ consular instructions require at least six months of residence in New Zealand at application. Keep the requested travel movement evidence.
References: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Is there a three-month same-employer limit?
Auckland states no specific employer-duration limit, but gives twenty-five hours weekly and 1,300 hours annually. Both hours limits and occupational exclusions still matter.
References: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Can I teach a foreign language on H-1?
Auckland excludes foreign-language instruction under H-1 and says a change to E-2 is required for that activity. Do not start such work on the assumption any temporary job is permitted.
References: NZE-KR-PRIMARY
Can I use the old NZD 126 fee?
That amount comes from Wellington’s June 2022 notice. Confirm today’s charge and the proper payment route with the competent office before paying.
References: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
Are the medical tests identical at every office?
Do not assume so. Wellington’s notice lists chest X-ray, blood and urine evidence; ask your own office for its current checklist before arranging tests.
References: NZE-KR-WELLINGTON
Official sources
Research consulted: 17 October 2026. Check current requirements with the issuing authority before applying.
2026-10-17 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
KR · Korean Embassy Wellington - H-1
Read the official instructions ↗2026-10-17 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
KR-AUCKLAND · Korean Consulate Auckland - H-1
Read the official instructions ↗2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.
NZE-KR-PRIMARY · KR issuing authority - New Zealand Working Holiday
Read the official instructions ↗2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.