Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada

The governments of the Republic of Korea and Canada have agreed to further increase the number of available slots for their Working Holiday Program this year as part of their concerted efforts to bolster people-to-people exchange, particularly among youth. 

This agreement increases the quota for the Working Holiday Program from the current 6,500 to 8,500 for the remainder of 2023. It is the second addition this year following an earlier agreement that raised the quota from 4,000 to 6,500 in February.

The Korea-Canada Working Holiday Program was launched in 1995 to give youth the opportunity to travel and work in each other’s countries. In January 2024, the current program will be renewed and expanded into the Youth Mobility Program to allow for more youth to participate in more categories and for longer periods. Main features of the new Youth Mobility Program include:

       ㅇ The eligibility age will increase from the current 18-30 to 18-35.

       ㅇ The total number of available slots for participation will be expanded to 12,000.

       ㅇ Participants may stay for up to 24 months, compared to the current 12 months. Those in the Working Holiday and Young Professionals Programs can participate twice, each time for up to 24 months.

       ㅇ Canadian youth will be exempt from the 25-hour working-hour restriction that is imposed on other Working Holiday participants in Korea.

Details of the Korea-Canada Youth Mobility Program can be found here: 

https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ca-en/brd/m_5231/view.do?seq=761709&page=1

For those interested in participating in Korea's Working Holiday Program, please visit the website of the Working Holiday Info Center at whic.mofa.go.kr.