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From part-time work during your studies to switching to an employment visa after graduation — the rules you have to follow, and the ones that get students deported.
WHILE YOU STUDY
Part-time work rules
The basic principle
On a D-2 visa you are not allowed to work at all by default. You need confirmation from your university and permission from immigration before you start — not after.
Allowed hours
25–30 hours a week on weekdays, depending on your grades and your Korean level. There is no hour limit on weekends, public holidays and vacation periods.
25–30 hrs / weekVacation unlimited
The procedure
Sign your employment contract, get confirmation from your university, then apply to immigration for permission.
Contract→University→Immigration
Never take a job in these five fields
Working in any of them can cost you your visa, even if your university has confirmed your job.
01
Entertainment & gambling
Bars, clubs, adult entertainment, betting
02
Delivery & designated driving
Any platform or gig-type work
03
Foreign-language instruction
Language schools, kids' cafés and camps included
04
Construction site work
On-site manual labour of any kind
05
Dispatch & subcontracting agencies
Labour brokers and placement firms
AFTER GRADUATION
Two ways to stay and work
D-10
JOB-SEEKING VISA
Lets you stay in Korea for up to two years to look for work after you graduate, so you do not have to leave the country while you apply and interview.
Up to 2 years
E-7
SPECIFIC ACTIVITY VISA
The visa you switch to when you take a full-time job related to your major. Your employer has to sponsor it, and the job must match what you studied.
Employer-sponsoredMajor-related
FREQUENTLY ASKED
What students get wrong
QWhat happens if I'm caught working without permission?
AA fine of up to 30 million KRW, and you can be ordered to leave Korea. Your employer is fined too — that is why a legitimate employer will ask to see your work permission before hiring you.
Up to ₩30M fineForced departure
QCan I switch to an E-7 for a job unrelated to my major?
AUsually not. The E-7 requires the job to match your field of study, and immigration checks how closely your degree relates to the job description.
QIs there any advantage to graduating from a Korean university?
AYes. If you graduate from a Korean university you can apply to switch to a D-10 job-seeking visa within three years of graduating — an easier route than applying from outside Korea.
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