How to apply for a South Korea student visa

If you plan to study at a university in South Korea, you will usually need a D-2 student visa. Students taking a Korean language course or another non-degree training program may need a D-4 visa instead.

Requirements depend on your course, nationality, and where you apply. The steps below give a general overview; use the application checklist for your country or region when preparing your documents.

South Korea student visa process

The exact process varies by location, but it usually follows these steps:

1. Get accepted by an eligible institution: Your university must issue a Standard Admission Letter. It should also provide a copy of its business registration certificate or registration-number certificate.
2. Confirm your visa type: Degree students normally use the D-2 route. Korean language students and some other non-degree trainees usually use D-4.
3. Find your application requirements: Review the document list, appointment system, application method, and any translation or legalization rules that apply where you live.
4. Prepare your application: Complete the required visa form or e-form and gather your passport, photograph, admission documents, academic evidence, and proof of funds. You may be asked for additional documents.
5. Submit the application and pay the fee: Depending on where you apply, you may submit your application in person, by post, or through an approved visa application center or agent.
6. Complete any further checks: You may be asked to attend an interview or provide more information before a decision is made.
7. Track your application: Use the Korea Visa Portal or follow the instructions provided when you apply. If approved, print your Visa Grant Notice if required.
8. Prepare for arrival: Make sure the details on your visa are correct before traveling. A visa does not guarantee entry; the final decision is made at the border.

South Korea study visa types

The right visa depends mainly on the type of study you will complete.

The D-2 route has subcategories for different study levels. These include D-2-1 for associate degrees, D-2-2 for bachelor’s degrees, D-2-3 for master’s degrees, D-2-4 for doctoral degrees, D-2-5 for research, D-2-6 for exchange students, and D-2-7 for work-learning linked study. The South Korean government’s student visa guidance provides the current category list. Your university’s international office can help if you are unsure which category applies.

South Korea student visa requirements

The general D-2 document list includes:

• A completed visa application form
• A copy of your passport
• A recent passport-size photograph
• A copy of your institution’s business registration certificate or registration-number certificate
• A Standard Admission Letter issued by the university president or dean
• Proof of your highest level of education
• Proof that you can pay for your studies and living costs
• Family-relationship documents if you use a parent’s bank statement
• A tuberculosis test result, if required

For D-4 applications, the general list also includes a training plan. Your D-2 or D-4 application checklist will show any extra evidence required for your nationality, course, or circumstances. Study in Korea provides general national document guidance.

Financial evidence

You need to show that you can support yourself during your studies. The required amount, whose name the account can be in, how long the funds must be held, and the documents you need vary by application location and university.

Your application checklist will state how much money you need to show and which financial documents are accepted. If a parent or another family member is supporting you, you may also need proof of your relationship and a sponsorship statement.

Document translation and legalization

You may need to have documents translated into Korean or English. Academic and civil documents may also need to be notarized, apostilled, or legalized by a consulate. An apostille is an official certificate that confirms a document is genuine.

Confirm these requirements before paying for translation, notarization, or an apostille. The process may depend on the country that issued each document.

South Korea student visa cost

A single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or more currently costs approximately US$60 under the central fee guidance. Different fees apply to shorter stays and multiple-entry visas. The amount you pay can vary by nationality, visa type, exchange rate, and local payment rules.

The government fee guidance provides the central fee schedule, while your application instructions will show the exact amount and payment method that apply to you. Confirm the amount before paying, as fees and exchange rates can change.

South Korea student visa processing time

Depending on where you apply, processing can take from a few working days to three or four weeks. Allow several weeks where possible and use the published estimate for your application location when planning. Additional documents, interviews, or further checks can cause delays. Do not book non-refundable travel until your visa has been issued.

Visas for student dependents

The F-3 Dependent Family visa may be available to the spouse or unmarried minor child of a D-2 student.

Requirements vary by family circumstances and where each person applies. Each family member’s F-3 checklist will state the financial and relationship evidence they need.

An F-3 visa does not automatically allow a dependent to work. Before accepting a job, they should ask the Korean immigration authorities whether they need separate permission or a different immigration status.

Working while studying in South Korea

A D-2 visa does not give you unrestricted permission to work. Eligible students generally need part-time employment permission before starting a job. The application usually includes an employment contract and confirmation from the university’s international student advisor.

Eligible D-2 students can generally receive permission to work between 10 and 30 hours on weekdays. Your limit depends on your program, year of study, Korean-language ability, academic standing, and university accreditation. Separate limits may apply on weekends and during university vacations.

D-4 language students and some visiting students generally need to wait six months before becoming eligible. Before accepting a job, ask your university’s international office to confirm your permitted hours and that the required employment permission is in place.

Working without the required permission, or outside the conditions of your approval, can affect your immigration status.

What to do if your student visa is refused

View your result through the Korea Visa Portal or follow the instructions provided with the decision. Appeal options and waiting periods for a new application can differ by location.

If your application is refused:

• Read any notice or reason provided through the portal or with the decision
• Contact the embassy or consulate that handled your application to ask whether you can request a review, appeal the decision, or reapply
• Ask your university whether any admission documents need to be clarified or updated
• Address any issue identified before submitting another application
• Consider how a delay may affect enrollment, tuition payments, accommodation, and travel

Before reapplying, find out whether a waiting period applies and whether you need to provide new or corrected evidence.

After you arrive in South Korea

If you plan to stay for more than 90 days, you must complete foreigner registration within 90 days of entering South Korea. You will usually need your passport, application form, photograph, proof of enrollment, and proof of where you live. The Study in Korea registration guidance provides the current document list, and your university can help with the arrival process.

You must also keep your immigration information current. For example, registered foreign residents must report an address change within the required period.

Extending your stay or changing course

Your visa and period of stay are not automatically extended because your course continues. Apply for an extension before your current permission expires.

Changing your course, institution, or purpose of stay may require immigration reporting or advance approval. Your university’s international office and Hi Korea can explain the steps that apply to your situation.

After your studies

Graduating from a South Korean university does not automatically give you permission to remain and work in the country. Eligible graduates may be able to change from D-2 status to D-10-1 job-seeking status.

Eligible graduates may be able to extend D-10-1 status in six-month periods, up to two years in total. Eligibility, evidence requirements, and permitted job-seeking activities can change.

Once you secure a qualifying job, you normally need the immigration status that matches that work before you start.

Get official South Korea visa guidance

Use these official services throughout your application:

• Korea Visa Portal for visa information, forms, and application-status checks
• Study in Korea for guidance for international students
• Hi Korea for immigration services and rules after arrival
• The South Korean embassy or consulate responsible for your application for the document checklist, fee, submission method, and processing time
• Your university’s international office for admission documents and campus-specific support