Before You Go — Visa, Finances, CV & Packing Checklist
Everything you need to do before leaving for the UK on a YMS visa: application process, finances, CV prep, flights, and a complete packing checklist.
KRW amounts shown next to GBP prices use the ECB reference rate £1 = ₩2,003 as of 2 Apr 2026. They are reference figures only and may differ from your actual bank, card, or remittance rate.
Visa Application
How to Apply for YMS
The UK YMS (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa has a quota of around 5,000 spots per year for Korean nationals, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. It used to be a lottery system but has since switched to first-come, first-served. The quota hasn't been fully filled in recent years, so as long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you can essentially get your visa as soon as you apply.
Required Documents
- Passport (check it has enough validity remaining)
- Proof of funds (minimum balance of £2,530 (approx. ₩5,068,349))
- Passport photo
- Visa application form (completed online)
Costs
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee | £298 (approx. ₩596,983) | Paid at time of application |
| IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) | £1,035 (approx. ₩2,073,416) | For a 2-year stay |
| Priority processing (optional) | Additional fee | Processed within 5 business days |
ℹ️ Visa Timeline FAQ
- Choosing your visa start date — Must be within 6 months of your application date
- Entry deadline — Your visa takes effect from the start date printed on your vignette. You must enter the UK within that window
- ETA — YMS visa holders do not need an ETA
Getting Your Finances Ready
Minimum Funds Required
You need to show a minimum balance of £2,530 (approx. ₩5,068,349) when applying for your visa, but realistically, you'll need a lot more to get settled.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa fee + IHS | ~$1,500 |
| One-way flight | $600~1,100 |
| First month's rent + deposit | $1,500~3,000 |
| Initial living expenses (1~2 months) | $1,100~2,300 |
| Total | At least $3,800~5,400 |
Currency Exchange & International Transfers
- Wise (formerly TransferWise) — Lowest fees for international transfers. Uses the real mid-market exchange rate. A must-have app for working holidaymakers
- OFX / Remitly — Other solid options for international transfers. Compare rates with Wise to get the best deal
- Avoid bank transfers — High fees and poor exchange rates can cost you tens of dollars per transaction
💡 팁
Rather than sending a large lump sum, it's better to split your transfers and send when the exchange rate is favorable.
Flights & Initial Accommodation
Flight Booking Tips
- One-way vs return: if your return date is uncertain, go with a one-way ticket
- Compare prices on Skyscanner and Google Flights
- Booking 2~3 months in advance is often the cheapest
Temporary Accommodation on Arrival
- Airbnb — The most common choice
- Sublets via community groups — Working holidaymakers who are leaving or traveling often sublet their rooms short-term. Usually cheaper than Airbnb and comes with an existing setup
- Book your temporary accommodation for at least 2~3 weeks — you'll need that time to attend viewings and find a proper place
⚠️ 주의
Location tip: Book somewhere near the area you plan to live, or close to a major transport hub.
Getting from the Airport to Central London
| Option | Travel Time | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi (Uber, etc.) | 40~60 min | £40~70 (approx. ₩80,132~₩140,231) | 2+ suitcases |
| Elizabeth Line | ~40 min | £12~13 (approx. ₩24,040~₩26,043) | Traveling light (best value) |
| Heathrow Express | 15 min | £25+ (approx. ₩50,083+) | Staying near Paddington |
| Tube (Underground) | 50~60 min | £5~6 (approx. ₩10,017~₩12,020) | Not recommended (hard with luggage) |
The Complete Packing Guide
ℹ️ Luggage Ground Rules
- Check your airline's luggage allowance (typically 23kg x 1
2 checked bags, 710kg carry-on) - If you can buy it there, don't bring it — packing light is always the right call
- Use compression bags for bulky items and roll your clothes to save space
Documents & Important Items
⚠️ Check Your Passport Validity Before You Leave
It's recommended that your passport has at least 3 years of validity remaining at the time of departure.
- Renewing your passport while in the UK is possible but a hassle (embassy appointment, processing time, etc.)
- Many European countries will deny entry if your passport has less than 6 months of validity remaining from your departure date — even if your visa is still valid
Electronics
Medicine & Health
⚠️ A Note on Medicine
You can buy basic medication at pharmacies (Boots, Superdrug) in the UK, but the selection is more limited and prices are higher than back home. In particular, specialty digestive medicine and pain relief patches can be hard to find locally, so definitely bring those.
Food & Seasonings
💡 팁
In London, Asian supermarkets (H-Mart, Seoul Plaza, etc.) stock most Korean ingredients. Bring just enough to get you through the first week or two, then buy locally.
Daily Essentials
Nice-to-Haves If You Have Room
These are things you can buy in the UK, but they're either more expensive or a pain to find. If you have space and weight to spare, bring them from home.
- Notebooks & pens — Stationery in the UK costs 2~3x what you'd pay back home. Prepare for sticker shock
- Chopsticks & spoons — Available locally, but much cheaper to bring a set from home
- Extra socks — Light, compact, and always useful. Bring more than you think you'll need
Toiletries & Personal Care
💡 팁
If you wear contact lenses, bring 6 months to a year's supply from home. In the UK, you need an optician appointment and a prescription before you can buy them, and they're significantly more expensive.
Clothing
What NOT to Bring
Heavy, bulky, different-voltage items (Korea: 220V/60Hz vs UK: 230V/50Hz) that are easy to pick up secondhand locally. Your luggage weight is precious.
| Item | Why Not to Bring It |
|---|---|
| Electric blanket | Heavy and bulky. Risk of malfunction due to voltage/frequency differences. You can buy one locally for £20~30 (approx. ₩40,066~₩60,099) |
| Rice cooker | The worst for weight + bulk. Secondhand ones on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree go for £10~20 (approx. ₩20,033~₩40,066). New small ones at Argos are around £20 (approx. ₩40,066) |
| Hair dryer | Available at Boots or Argos for £10~15 (approx. ₩20,033~₩30,050). Korean models often break due to the frequency difference |
| Hair straightener / curling iron | Same reason as hair dryers. UK models cost £15~25 (approx. ₩30,050~₩50,083) |
| Large pots / frying pans | Most flat shares come with basic cookware. If not, charity shops sell them for £2~5 (approx. ₩4,007~₩10,017) |
| Duvet / pillow | Takes up half your suitcase. Available at Primark or IKEA for £10~20 (approx. ₩20,033~₩40,066). Tons of secondhand options too |
| Multiple towels | Bring 1 |
| Lots of books | Heavy. Use a Kindle or e-books. Book swaps are common in expat communities |
| A whole box of instant noodles | Available at Asian supermarkets in London. Bring 5~10 packs max |
| Large quantities of sauces/seasonings | Available at Asian supermarkets — even Tesco stocks soy sauce and sriracha. Bring small sizes only |
💡 Where to Find Secondhand Stuff
- Facebook Marketplace — Working holidaymakers leaving the UK sell rice cookers, electric blankets, and more for next to nothing (top recommendation)
- Gumtree — The UK's version of Craigslist
- Community group chats — Tons of listings during "moving home" season (December~February)
- Charity shops — Found all over the UK. Great for household items, kitchenware, and clothes at low prices
- Freecycle / OLIO app — Free stuff platforms
⚠️ Voltage Warning
Korea (220V/60Hz) and the UK (230V/50Hz) have similar voltage but different frequencies. Appliances with motors (hair dryers, blenders, etc.) can overheat, make noise, or have a shortened lifespan due to the frequency difference. Chargers (laptops, phones) are 100~240V compatible, so they just need a plug adapter.
Seasonal Clothing Guide
| Season | Temperature | What to Wear |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar~May) | 8~15°C | Thin layers + light jacket. Expect frequent rain |
| Summer (Jun~Aug) | 15~25°C | T-shirts + a thin cardigan (evenings cool down fast) |
| Autumn (Sep~Nov) | 8~16°C | Jumpers, jackets, waterproof outer layer. Daylight drops sharply from October |
| Winter (Dec~Feb) | 2~8°C | Windproof & waterproof coat + layers. Scarf, gloves, and beanie are essential |
💡 Key Takeaway
Focus on waterproof jackets and layerable clothing. UK weather can change multiple times in a single day. Umbrellas tend to flip inside out in the wind, so a waterproof jacket is far more practical.
Phone Plan — Keep Your Home Country Number
Why You Need to Keep It
Once you're in the UK, you'll use a UK SIM, but do not cancel your home country phone number. Most services back home require your original number for identity verification.
- Banking apps — OTP codes, transfer verification, and login all need your home number
- Government services — Pension, health insurance, government portals all require identity verification
- KakaoTalk — Changing your number can cause issues with your friend list and chat history
- Other apps — Naver, Coupang, and other Korean apps require your Korean number to log in
- When you return — Without your number, re-verifying everything is a nightmare
🚨 Do NOT Cancel Your Home Number
"I'm going to the UK anyway, might as well cancel" is the worst decision you can make. There will absolutely be moments when you need to verify your identity with your home number while abroad. It only costs a few dollars a month to keep it active — never cancel it.
Keeping It Cheap with an MVNO
You don't need to stay on an expensive plan with a major carrier. Before you leave, switch to the cheapest MVNO plan available.
| MVNO | Cheapest Plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Liiv Mobile | ~$1.60/month | LG U+ network. Easy sign-up via app |
| Pin Direct | ~$1.60/month | KT network |
| Yeoyu Mobile | ~$0.80/month | Minimal voice/data — rock-bottom pricing |
| Snowman | ~$0.70/month | KT network. Among the cheapest |
| KT M Mobile | ~$2.40/month | KT subsidiary — reliable |
💡 MVNO Switch Tips
- You can port your number (MNP) to keep your existing number on the new MVNO
- Switch 2~3 weeks before departure — activation can take some time
- The cheapest plan with minimal data/calls is all you need. You won't be using it in the UK anyway
- Set up automatic payment so the plan stays active while you're abroad
How to Receive Verification Texts from Abroad
Even if you leave your home SIM behind, there are ways to receive verification messages.
- Dual SIM / eSIM phone — The most convenient option: use your home country physical SIM + a UK eSIM. You can receive texts and calls on your home number
- Leave your SIM with family — Give your home SIM to a family member and have them forward verification codes via messenger
- Internet phone (070 numbers) — Some MVNOs offer international call forwarding services
💡 팁
The recommended combo: Home country MVNO SIM (physical SIM) + UK eSIM. One phone, two numbers. You can receive verification texts from home in real time.
English Preparation Guide
Level Needed by Job Type
- Hospitality / retail — Basic conversational English is enough. You'll improve quickly on the job
- Office / admin — Need to handle emails and phone calls in English
- Warehouse / cleaning — Often requires very little English
Useful Prep Before You Leave
- Everyday English phrases — practice situation-specific vocabulary for supermarkets, banks, GP surgeries, estate agents, etc.
- British vs American English differences — flat, lift, queue, cheers, mate, etc.
- Get used to British accents — watch BBC, UK YouTube channels, British shows on Netflix
Prepare Your CV Before You Fly
If you want to start job hunting quickly after arrival, it helps a lot to finish a basic UK-style CV before you leave. Your first week in the UK usually gets swallowed by SIM setup, banking, housing viewings, and transport, so leaving your CV until then often slows everything down.
What to finish before departure
- Draft a one-page CV using your English name
- Remove your photo, date of birth, gender, and long personal-introduction paragraphs
- Split out 2~3 key bullets for cafe, retail, or office roles
- Save a clean PDF filename and keep it in cloud storage or on your phone
- Leave only your phone number to swap after you get your UK SIM
💡 Start with this CV guide
How to Write a UK Working Holiday CV covers the UK CV structure, what to remove, and how to rewrite your experience bullets for the jobs you want.
Final Pre-Departure Checklist
💡 One last pass
If you want to turn this into a date-based action list, get your departure checklist and see what to prioritise next.
Related Guides
- How to Write a UK Working Holiday CV — Get your resume into a UK-ready format before arrival.
- Reality Check for a UK Working Holiday — Reset expectations before you commit to flights and savings targets.
- What to Do in Your First 7 Days in the UK — Preview the order of SIM, bank, NI Number, and GP setup.