On 7 October 2026 the Ministry of Justice published the results of its council on the international-student visa system, which has met since 20 April. The plan aims to shift from "attracting" students to helping them "grow", and puts Korean-language ability at the centre of visa rules. Korea had about 350,000 international students in August 2026.
Important: these are plans, and several new visas still have provisional names. Nothing is in force yet and the current rules still apply. Items that need a change of law or other ministries' agreement will be decided later. Every date below is the Ministry's target, not a confirmed start date.
Before you come to Korea • Proof of funds: students with TOPIK level 4 or higher (or KIIP stage 4) would not have to prove funds at visa issuance, whatever their nationality and whether or not the university is certified (target: second half of 2026). Students from countries under stricter screening who have no Korean ability would have to use a study-expense deposit, paid in advance and released in instalments while you study (expanding in steps from the first half of 2027). • Korean level: the Korean and English standards that now apply only at "stricter-screening" universities may be extended step by step to other universities, after a grace period (target: first half of 2027). Ideas include TOPIK 4 (TOPIK 3 for associate degrees) and no longer accepting a university's own Korean test. • Degrees and agents: standard checks of overseas degrees, the agent's details on the standard admission letter (second half of 2026) and a registration system for overseas study agents, starting as a pilot (by the end of 2027). • New visas under study: a gap-year visa for recent high-school graduates from OECD countries, a visiting-student visa for students of overseas universities, and a short-term visa for "global network campus" students.
While you study • Part-time work: permits would be simplified around Korean ability and academic grades, with the Korean requirement strengthened (the paper cites KIIP stage 3). Step 1 (second half of 2026): revised criteria and permitted industries. Step 2 (2027): your university issues a part-time work confirmation and the immigration office approves with fewer documents. Step 3 (2027, pilot): at selected universities, permission could be given before you sign a job contract. The Ministry plans a grace period of about one year; its Q&A says that from 2028, students without a set level of Korean (for example KIIP stage 3) could not do part-time work. • Extending your stay: the proof-of-funds exemption would also apply while you are enrolled, for TOPIK 4 holders and for diligent students, for example with KIIP stage 4, or stage 3 plus the university president's recommendation (target: second half of 2026). • Programmes to check: weekend, night and online programmes, and English-track or interpreted-class departments that mainly serve part-time work, would lose visa privileges even at a certified university (target: first half of 2027).
After graduation • Job-seeking visa (D-10): the maximum stay would depend on Korean ability: up to 3 years in total if you meet a Korean requirement, otherwise 1 year plus two 6-month extensions (2 years in total). Science and engineering graduates and graduates in the regions would be favoured (target: first half of 2027). • Work visas: a route from student (D-2) to skilled worker (E-7) for science and engineering graduates with Korean ability (examples: a B average and KIIP stage 4), limited to fields short of workers such as manufacturing, and a "K-TECH Master" route from D-2 to residence (F-2). Start dates and scale of the E-7 route will be set after talks with other ministries. • Alumni visit visa: a multiple-entry visa for graduates who have returned home (provisional name; the papers mention validity of 3, 5 and up to 10 years) (target: second half of 2026). • Regions and start-ups: redesigned regional visas with more benefits for settling in a region (for example work permission for an accompanying spouse); a university-linked start-up course (participants may register a business while enrolled), and part-time work for foreigners preparing a technology start-up (D-10-2). • Also planned: an online job-visa checklist by occupation (second half of 2026), a "visa growth ladder" from entry to settlement (by the first half of 2028), student visa and stay support centres in five regions (target: second half of 2028) and yearly publication of student statistics.
For universities: the Ministry plans to rate universities on visa refusal, graduation, employment and Korean-level rates, and to adjust student visa numbers with a "traffic light" system (2027–2028).
What it means for you: nothing changes today. The plan gives Korean-language ability a larger role in proof of funds, part-time work and the length of the D-10, so building your Korean now is likely to help. Do not change your plans because of something that has not been decided: required levels and start dates are still to come.
What to do: check back here. We will post each rule when it is officially published.
Source: Ministry of Justice press release and annexes (reform strategy draft and Q&A), 7 October 2026.