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South Korea is a country with prestigious universities. Fortunately, there are different student visas in this country. You can determine your proper visa based on your needs and conditions.

In general, D1, D2, D3, and D4 visas are considered South Korea student visas. D1 visa is for those who intend to take academic courses in the field of art. D2 visas are for those who want to continue their higher education in this country, and the validity of these visas is usually two years. D3 and D4 visas are issued to those who intend to study as a trainee in various areas.

Here we will discuss the South Korean student visa, its application process, application fee, requirements, application form, and other details.

South Korea Student Visa: Application Process

To obtain a South Korea student visa, you must first get admission from your intended university or institution. In order to be accepted, you usually need to provide the following documents:

  • University application form
  • Your passport copy
  • Copy of diploma or last degree (qualifications must be in English)
  • Evidence that you can afford your expenditure while staying in this country.

Video description

Find the links and extra information explained on the video here: 

Application form 

Immigration website (HiKorea) 

Online reservation visit to Sejongno Immigration Office 

Korean embassy in New Delhi 

9, Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri Extension, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India 

Once you have been accepted to your intended university, the application process for a South Korea student visa is:

  1. After receiving admission, you have to pay the tuition fee. The university will then issue a Certificate of Admission or Confirmation of Visa Issuance to you.
  2. Once the university has issued these documents, you can go to the South Korean Embassy in your country to complete the visa application process.
  3. You can contact the embassy to find out the list of required documents you must provide. Note that your documents must be in English or Korean.
  4. The embassy will first process your documents and then decide whether to grant you a visa. The processing time of the student visa will depend on the workload of the embassy.
  5. Once the visa has been issued, you must come to the embassy and collect your visa personally.
  6. We advise all students to get proper student insurance. You will also be issued a landing card upon arrival in the country.
  7. All foreign nationals intending to stay in South Korea for more than 90 days will need an Alien registration card. You can apply for this card 90 days from arrival in South Korea; otherwise, you will be fined. In other words, this card is a kind of ID card.

Interested in immigrating to South Korean as a Engineer? Just click the link.

South Korea Student Visa: Requirements

The documents you must provide to the  South Korean embassy to obtain a student visa are:

  • Passport and its copy: Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months from the arrival date in South Korea. A copy of the passport must be from the photo page.
  • Visa Application Form: You can access this form through the South Korea Embassy website.
  • Applicant Photo: The size of the photo must be the size of the passport photo.
  • Certificate of Admission and Confirmation of Visa Issuance: As mentioned, these documents are issued by the university.
  • Proof of financing: You must provide evidence that you can cover your expenditure in South Korea.
  • Those who intend to participate in exchange programs need to provide more documents.

TB test certificate

If you are from the countries required to take the test;

  • Bangladesh,
  • Cambodia,
  • China,
  • East Timor,
  • India
  • Indonesia,
  • Kyrgyzstan,
  • Malaysia,
  • Mongolia,
  • Myanmar,
  • Nepal,
  • Pakistan,
  • Russia,
  • Sri Lanka,
  • Thailand,
  • Philippines,
  • Laos
  • Uzbekistan,
  • Vietnam

Additional requirements for these countries are needed:

  • Bangladesh,
  • China,
  • Egypt,
  • Ghana,
  • India,
  • Indonesia,
  • Iran,
  • Kazakhstan,
  • Kyrgyzstan,
  • Mongolia,
  • Myanmar,
  • Nepal,
  • Nigeria,
  • Pakistan,
  • Peru,
  • Philippines,
  • Sri Lanka,
  • Thailand,
  • Ukraine,
  • Uzbekistan,
  • Vietnam

Infographic South Korea Student Visa: Requirements, Application Fee

South Korea student visa: Application Fee

The cost of applying for a South Korea visa is as follows:

The type of VisaFee (USD)
Multiple-entry visa90
Double-entry visa70
Single-entry visa (for more than 90 days)60
Single-entry visa (for less than 90 days)40

South Korea Student Visa Types

  • Associated degree (D-2-1): People who want to enroll for an associate degree in a college, or undergraduate/graduate college established under the Higher Education Act need to apply for this visa.
  • Bachelor’s degree (D-2-2): This permission is for individuals who want to register for a bachelor’s degree in a college, or undergraduate/graduate college under the Higher Education Act.
  • Master’s degree (D-2-3): This permission is for people who plan to continue their higher education for a master’s degree in a college, undergraduate/graduate college under the Higher Education Act, or a college under the Special Act.
  • Doctoral degree (D-2-4): People who want to study for a doctorate under the Higher Education Act must apply for this visa.
  • A research study (D-2-5): People who want to participate in research projects in a college, or undergraduate/graduate college under the Higher Education Act need this visa.
  • Exchange student (D-2-6): This visa is for exchange students who plan to study for a needed course/curriculum under the exchange program agreement between corresponding universities.
  • Korean language trainee (D-4-1): This permission is for those who want to learn Korean at an academic institution, a tertiary education center under the Higher Education Act. The applicant for this visa must have a high school diploma or be a student of high school or below.
  • Student (elementary, middle, high school) (D-4-3): Students who intend to study in high school or lower will need this visa.
  • Foreign language trainee (D-4-7): Individuals who intend to learn a foreign language need this visa at an academic institution or a tertiary education center under the Higher Education Act. Provided the visa applicant has a high school diploma or higher or is currently studying at the high school level.
  • Korean art and culture (D-1): People who intend to participate in art activities or academic programs related to art in South Korea need this visa. You should note that the applicant for this visa should not be charged for these activities.
  • Industrial trainee (D-3-11): People who intend to get technical training at an industrial entity involved in abroad investment under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act need this visa.
  • Industrial trainee (technology) (D-3-12): Those who want to take a training course at a technology-exporting entity should apply for this visa, provided that the need for the training at the entity is approved by the Minister of Justice of ROK.
  • Industrial trainee (plant) (D-3-13): Individuals who intend to participate in a training program at an entity that transports industrial pieces of equipment (plants) under the Foreign Trade Act must apply for this visa.
  • General trainee (others) (D-4-2): People who want to participate in research or get training at an organization, company, or academic institution need this permission.
  • Trainee chef (Korean cuisine) (D-4-5): People who are keen to get training experience in Korean cuisine at a Korean cooking academy must apply for this visa.
  • General trainee (private institute) (D-4-6): People who want to enroll as a trainee in a private educational institution need this visa.

Note: If you do not meet the criteria, you can apply through a visitor visa or a family visa.

Is the D2 student visa in South Korea different?

South Korea D2 student visa is for students who want to continue their education in the postgraduate or MA programs. The requirements for the D2 visa could vary a bit compared with others.

Let’s sum up…

We reviewed the South Korea student visa application process, application fee, requirements, and other related details in the previous sections. In other articles on the Visa Library website, you can learn about different types of South Korean visas as well as how to immigrate to other countries.

If you have experience in the South Korean student visa application process, share it with other readers and us through the comments section. Sharing your experiences is invaluable.

Also, do not forget to share your questions and feedback with us. We will respond as soon as possible.

FAQs

What is the first step to applying for Korea student visa?

You should get admission from a Koran university.

What is the average processing time?

It’s about two to three months or could take longer.

Can I work under a student visa?

Yes, you may work but only part-time.

What is the language requirement for a student visa?

It’s up to the course taught in English or Korean.

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19 Comments

  1. Joon-woo says:

    I had no idea I should pay the tuition fee after admission. Big thx.

  2. Hulk says:

    I want to learn the Korean language in Korea. I’ve heard there is such a visa to apply for. Is that so?

    • Support says:

      Yes. There is. A D-4-1 visa or a language trainee visa enables you to learn the Korean language in the legal institutions of Korea. However, you must at least have a high school diploma.

  3. Seojun says:

    I didn’t know the South Korea student visa for a doctoral degree is called D-2-4.

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  7. R says:

    This content is very helpful, thank you. I was wondering though, what does financial independence mean exactly in this context? Thank you.

    • Visa Library says:

      Dear Sir/Madam
      Thank you for your kind comment.
      Financial independence means that having enough funds to cover the expenses for the visa and staying in the country. You need to prove it to the officials through bank statements or other forms of proof.

  8. Juicy says:

    Hey thanks for the article. Great information. Do you know the minimum (in US dollar ) a visa applicant needs to have at the bank to be able to prove they are financially qualified to study in south Korea?

    • Visa Library says:

      Dear Sir/Madam
      Thank you for your comment.
      Financial independence for a South Korean student visa depends on the course or program you have applied for, your condition, the city you will be living in, and the tuition you have to pay.
      If you have to pay the tuition, consider the total amount+one year normal cost of living in the city.

  9. Ashley says:

    Do you know if you are required to take classes to go on the D-2-5 visa, or if you are just able to work in a research lab? Thank you!

    • B Rajabali says:

      The language requirements are with the university; if you have to take a language class, you will see it in your admission letter.

  10. Edel Gan says:

    This is very useful, do you happen to know which schools in Korea can offer admission letter for D4-3 visa?

    • M-behroozi says:

      Dear Edel,
      Thank you for your nice comment. You can visit the universities’ websites and see if they offer admission.