Which student visa do you need?
There are only two, and the difference is simple: D-2 is for a degree, D-4 is for language study. Everything below follows from that one choice.
2
visa types for students
4
stages, in a fixed order
90
days to register after arrival
1345
HiKorea, the official helpline
THE SHORT VERSION
A student visa isn't a tourist visa you convert
In most cases you cannot arrive as a tourist and switch to D-2 or D-4 once you're here — the application starts from outside Korea, before you fly. Limited exceptions exist for some nationalities; ask immigration before counting on one.
It's tied to your school
Your visa is linked to the university that sponsored it. You can move to another school at the same degree level inside Korea if you meet the conditions (such as TOPIK 3), but you must report it within 15 days. Language students usually have to re-apply from abroad.
The timeline is longer than it looks
Between admission, visa processing and your embassy's schedule, most students need 3 to 6 months. Starting late is the single biggest cause of missed intakes.
START HERE
D-2 or D-4
Pick the row that matches your situation. If you have not been admitted to a degree programme yet, you are looking at D-4.
D-2
STUDY VISA
For students admitted to a degree programme
For an associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral programme at a Korean university. You cannot apply until your university issues your Standard Certificate of Admission.
STAYUp to 2 years per grant, renewed until you finish
PART-TIME WORKWith permission, 10–35 hrs/week by Korean level
AFTER GRADUATIONCan switch to D-10 or E-7
Degree programmesAdmission certificate required
See the full document checklist →D-4
LANGUAGE TRAINING VISA
For Korean-language study at a university institute
For Korean language training at a language institute run by a Korean university (private academies and lifelong-education centres do not qualify). Many students take this route first and switch to a D-2 once they are admitted to a degree programme.
STAYVisa for up to 6 months, extended in Korea while you study
PART-TIME WORKAfter 6 months, up to 20 hrs/week, one workplace
AFTER GRADUATIONSwitch to D-2 once admitted to a degree
Language institute6-month visa
See the full document checklist →Still not sure which one applies to you?
If you have an admission letter for a degree course, it is D-2. If you are coming to learn Korean first, or you have not been admitted anywhere yet, it is D-4. Contact us if your case is in between.
Never miss a visa deadline
Work out your alien registration, extension and reporting dates in one minute and add reminders to your phone.
What to do in your first 90 days in Korea?
Alien registration, health insurance, bank and phone in order, plus a calculator for your registration date.
Could you apply by e-visa?
If your university is top-certified, or you are a master's or doctoral student at a certified one, you can apply online without visiting an embassy. See who qualifies and how it works.
WHAT CHANGED RECENTLYUPDATED WEEKLY
Visa rules change mid-application
Korean student-visa policy shifts without much warning, and the official sources are Korean-only. This board tracks what changed, in plain language, as it happens.
Free account unlocks everything
8 postsPage 1 of 2
EMAIL ALERTS
Find out the week it changes, not the week you apply
Pick the categories you care about and we'll email you the day we post about them — nothing else, ever.
You will be emailed when we post about D-2.
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HOW TO PREPARE
Four stages, in this order
Each stage depends on the one before it. Doing them out of order is the most common reason applications get delayed.
018 DOCS
University Application
Choose your school and submit your application documents. Diplomas issued outside Korea need an apostille or consular confirmation (mainland China: a CHSI/CDGDC verification report).
Roughly 6–9 months before your intake
024 DOCS
Enrollment After Acceptance
Pay your tuition and prove your financial capacity. Your university then issues the certificate you need for the visa.
Before the enrollment deadline
034 DOCS
Visa (D-2) Application
Apply at the Korean embassy or consulate for the country you live in (or where your last school is). Some students instead use a visa issuance certificate that their university applies for, or apply online for an e-visa. Processing usually takes two to four weeks.
At least 1 month before you fly
044 DOCS
After Arrival · Alien Registration
Register at your local immigration office and collect your ARC. Without it you cannot open a bank account or get a phone plan.
Within 90 days of arrival
See every document you need, stage by stage
The Document Locker builds your own list — it marks what is required, optional, or conditional, and unlocks each stage as you finish the one before.
DO NOT GET THIS WRONG
Four mistakes that cost students a semester
Every one of these is recoverable if you catch it early, and expensive if you do not.
1MONEY
Depositing the money right before you apply
The rule is enough to cover one year of tuition and living costs, not a set holding period — but a large sum deposited days before you apply invites questions about where it came from. Some embassies (Vietnam, China) require a special locked deposit, so check your country's rule.
2TB TEST
Testing at the wrong hospital
If your nationality requires a tuberculosis certificate, it must come from a hospital designated by the Korean embassy. A certificate from any other hospital will not be accepted.
3PASSPORT
A passport that expires during your studies
Renew it before you apply for the visa if you can. If you do replace your passport in Korea, report the new details to immigration within 15 days.
4DEADLINE
Missing the 90-day registration window
Book your immigration appointment as soon as you land. Slots fill up quickly at the start of each semester, and the 90 days do not pause because the office is full.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
The questions everyone asks
QDo I need a tuberculosis test certificate?
AOnly if you are a national of one of Korea's 35 tuberculosis high-risk countries (including China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Indonesia and more) and apply for a stay of more than 90 days. The certificate must come from a hospital designated by the Korean embassy.
QHow much money do I have to show?
AThe Ministry of Justice sets no fixed figure: you must show enough for one year of tuition plus living costs (six months for a D-4 language course). Your university states the exact amount in its admission guide, usually in US dollars. Some embassies also check how long the money has been in the account.
1 year tuition + livingAmount set by university
QWhen do I have to apply for my alien registration card?
AWithin 90 days of arriving in Korea, at the immigration office for your area. Book your appointment early — slots fill up quickly at the start of each semester.
90 days
QCan I switch from a D-4 to a D-2 without leaving Korea?
AYes. Once a university admits you to a degree programme and issues your Standard Certificate of Admission, you apply to change your status at your local immigration office, with your institute attendance/grade record and fresh proof of funds. Start before your D-4 expires.
QCan I work part-time on a student visa?
ANot automatically. You need confirmation from your university and permission from immigration first. On a D-2, weekday limits are 10 hours a week without the required Korean level (15 for master's/PhD), 25 hours with it (30 for master's/PhD), and 30 (35) at certified universities or with top grades. The required level is TOPIK 3 for 1st/2nd-year undergraduates and TOPIK 4 for 3rd/4th years and graduate students. On a D-4 you must wait six months, then up to 20 hours a week.
FEES
Visa and stay permit fees
What the immigration office charges for the procedures students use most. These are the official fees in the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act.
| Procedure | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single-entry visa, stay of 90 days or less | USD 40 |
| Single-entry visa, stay of 91 days or more | USD 60 |
| Multiple-entry visa, up to 2 entries | USD 70 |
| Multiple-entry visa, no limit on entries | USD 90 |
| Extension of stay | 60,000 KRW |
| Change of status (for example D-4 to D-2, or D-2 to D-10) | 100,000 KRW |
| Part-time work permit (D-2 and D-4 students) | 20,000 KRW |
| Permit for activity outside your status (general) | 120,000 KRW |
| Change or addition of workplace | 120,000 KRW |
| Single re-entry permit | 30,000 KRW |
| Multiple re-entry permit | 50,000 KRW |
| Alien registration card, first issue or reissue | 35,000 KRW |
- Visa fees are in US dollars and are collected in local currency at the Korean embassy or consulate.
- 20,000 KRW applies when the Minister of Justice allows it for D-2 and D-4 students. The general fee for activity outside your status is 120,000 KRW.
- Applications for extension, change of status and re-entry made online get a 20% reduction.
- Other statuses and special cases, such as F-5 and F-6, have different fees.
Source: Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act, in force from 2026-09-15. Fees can change; the law comes first. ↗
Information last checked on 2026-09-27. If an official notice differs, the official notice comes first.
GET IN TOUCH
Your case is probably not the standard one.
Nationality, previous refusals, a gap in your studies, family-run finances — the details are what decide these applications. Ask an advisor which of them apply to you; for hands-on help preparing your application, we connect you with an approved partner agency.
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Checked against the Ministry of Justice Visa and Stay manuals (September 2026). Rules change — confirm with HiKorea (☎ 1345) before you act.
This information is for reference only and rules change. Always confirm with HiKorea (☎ 1345) or your university's international office before you submit.