All visa guides

Grouped by why you're coming. Each guide is a stampable checklist.

Study

Student Visa

For degree programs (bachelor's, master's, PhD) at a Korean university. Issued after you receive a Certificate of Admission from the school.

Stay: Up to 2 years per grant, extendable through your program D-4

Language Study Visa

General Trainee (Language Course)

For Korean language programs at university language institutes (어학당). The most common first visa for people planning to enter a degree program later.

Stay: 6 months per grant, extendable up to 2 years total

Work

E-2

Foreign Language Instructor

Conversation Instruction (회화지도)

For native-level speakers teaching conversation at hagwons, schools, or companies. Requires citizenship of a designated country for the language taught (for English: US, UK, CA, AU, NZ, IE, ZA).

Stay: 1–2 years, renewable E-7

For professionals in designated occupations (developers, designers, engineers, chefs, and 80-plus job codes in all). Sponsored by a Korean employer; requirements combine degree + experience + salary threshold.

Stay: Up to 3 years, renewable D-10

Job Seeker Visa

Job Search & Startup Prep

The bridge visa between graduation and a work visa. It lets you stay in Korea to job-hunt, intern, or prepare a startup, then change to E-7 (or D-8) once you're hired. It is not a work visa itself.

Stay: 6 months–1 year per grant; up to 3 years total by points

Business

D-8

Investor / Startup Visa

Corporate Investment

For founders and investors. D-8-1 requires a KRW 100M+ investment into a Korean corporation; D-8-4 (technology startup) uses the OASIS points program instead of capital.

Stay: 1–2 years, renewable

Residency

F-2-7

Points-Based Residency

Long-Term Residence (Points System)

Long-term residency for skilled visa holders (E-1~E-7, D-2 graduates working, etc.) scoring 80+ points across age, education, Korean ability (TOPIK/KIIP), and income.

Stay: Up to 5 years; work in almost any job (few restrictions)

Heritage

F-4

Overseas Korean Visa

For Koreans of Foreign Nationality

For ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship and their direct descendants — former Korean nationals and all generations of their lineage (the old grandchildren limit was removed in 2019). Broad work rights except simple-labor jobs.

Stay: 3 years, effectively renewable indefinitely

Family

F-6

Marriage Migrant Visa

Spouse of a Korean National

For spouses of Korean nationals. The application examines whether the marriage is genuine, plus the Korean spouse's income, housing, and the couple's ability to communicate.

Stay: 1–3 years, renewable; path to F-5/citizenship

Youth

H-1

Working Holiday Visa

Tourism & Employment

For young people from countries with a working holiday agreement with Korea. Travel plus part-time work, once per lifetime.

Stay: Up to 1 year (UK 2 years, US 18 months); ages 18–30, some countries to 35; not extendable