Visa Guide · Ministry of Justice

D-2 Student Visa

For students enrolled in a degree program at a Korean university — bachelor's, master's, PhD, or exchange. The foundation of the study-then-work path.

D-2 Subtypes

D-2-2Bachelor's (학사)4 years + extensions up to 6 years
D-2-3Master's (석사)2 years + extensions up to 5 years
D-2-4PhD (박사)3 years + extensions up to 8 years
D-2-6Exchange student1–2 semesters, up to 2 years
D-2-7Work-study (GKS)Per program terms

Requirements & Documents

Admission표준입학허가서 (Standard Admission Letter) from a Korean university — required before applying
FinancesBank balance statement showing USD $10,000–20,000 (varies by university)
Education docsHigh school or university diploma + transcript, apostilled or embassy-certified
TB testRequired for nationals of designated countries (China, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia, etc.)
Visa feeApproximately USD $60 for single-entry 91+ day visa

Part-Time Work Rules

D-2 students can apply for part-time work permission (시간제 취업허가). Rules are strict — violating them risks visa revocation.

→Must apply through your university and get official approval before working
→Maximum: 20 hours/week during semesters (25 hours with TOPIK 4+, 30 hours with TOPIK 5+)
→No restrictions during vacation periods (official school holidays)
→Construction and certain other industries are prohibited
→Working without approval = illegal employment = potential deportation

After You Graduate — Next Steps

D-2 → D-10

Apply for job-search visa before your D-2 expires. New graduates (within 1 year of graduation) are exempt from the points system — get up to 3 years to job hunt.

D-10 → E-7

Once you have a job offer with ₩31,120,000+/year salary and major-job match, convert to E-7 professional work visa.

E-7 → F-5

After 5 years on E-7, with average income ≥ ₩43,000,000/year, apply for permanent residency.

⚠️ Stay Compliant

  • → Register as a foreign resident within 90 days of arrival
  • → Maintain attendance above 70% — failure can block visa renewal
  • → Notify immigration if you change your address
  • → Apply for extension before your current visa expires (recommend 2 months ahead)
GKS Scholarship →D-10 Job Search Visa →

Based on Ministry of Justice student visa guidelines. Confirm details with hikorea.go.kr.