Can I change from H-1 (Working Holiday) to another visa status?

In principle, changing status from H-1 is restricted. However, you can change to a professional occupation that requires certain qualifications, or to Specific Activities (E-7), if you meet the requirements. But this exception is blocked depending on your nationality.

Requirements checklist

• The status you want must be a professional occupation (doctor, lawyer, professor, aircraft pilot, conversation instructor, etc.) or Specific Activities (E-7).
• You must meet all requirements for that status (education, work experience, certificates, employment contract, etc.).
• Your nationality must not be the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, Italy, Israel, or Belgium. Citizens of these countries cannot change status even under the exception above.
• You must start the work only after you receive the change permit.

Good to know

• You cannot change from another status to H-1.
• With H-1 status, you cannot work in a professional occupation or an E-7 job. To work, you must first get a change permit for that status.
• Other routes, such as changing to Corporate Investment (D-8), differ by nationality and status. Citizens of Ireland, France, and the United Kingdom are told they cannot change to D-8.
• Unless you got H-1 as a person from a non-agreement country, if a change is difficult, the usual way is to leave Korea and enter again with a new visa.

How to apply

• Apply at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or the immigration office (출입국·외국인관서) that has jurisdiction over you.
• The change fee is 100,000 KRW.
• You must apply before your period of stay ends.

The answer depends on your nationality and the status you want. If you tell me your nationality and target status, I can give more specific guidance. For complex cases, I recommend the K-VISA AI administrative agent consultation (Visa Service in the app). Please check once more at HiKorea or 1345 for final confirmation.