Study in Korea from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is on Korea's Ministry of Justice list of 35 tuberculosis high-risk countries, so a stay of more than 90 days requires a TB certificate (including a chest X-ray) from a hospital designated by the Korean embassy. We could not verify the current list of designated hospitals in Sri Lanka: ask the Korean embassy in Colombo before you go for the test.

Sri Lanka is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Sri Lankan documents cannot get an apostille. Korea's visa manual accepts either an apostille or a consular confirmation by a Korean consul, and for Sri Lanka this is typically done in steps: Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs first, then confirmation by the Korean embassy. Ask your target university exactly which documents (for example your A/L results and certificates) and which steps it requires before you start.

The Ministry of Justice sets no fixed amount: you must show one year of tuition plus living costs (six months for a D-4 language course), and your university states the figure in its admission guide. A large deposit made right before applying can be questioned as borrowed money, so keep the balance settled in your account.

Many Sri Lankans go to Korea through the Employment Permit System (EPS), which requires passing the EPS-TOPIK exam and leads to an E-9 work visa arranged through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. Studying is a different route: a D-4 (language) or D-2 (degree) visa is applied for with an admission from a university, and the two are not interchangeable. If someone offers you a 'student visa' that is really a job, or an EPS job through a university, ask for it in writing.

We could not find an official Sri Lankan student association in Korea or a Facebook group we could verify, so we are not going to name one. Until we do, ask your university's international office whether Sri Lankan students are enrolled and can put you in touch. If you know a real, active community, tell us and we will add it.