Get into Korea
D-2

Student Visa

Study Abroad (Degree Program)

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 programStudy
Admitted to a degree program at a Korean universityExchange students on degree-level programs (D-2-6)
How are you getting this visa?
0/5 stamped

Korean terms in ( ) are the exact words to show or say at the immigration counter.

Before you arrive

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Your university issues a Standard Certificate of Admission (표준입학허가서) after you accept the offer and usually after paying the first tuition. The international office handles this — ask them for the visa-issuance version.

Documents

  • Standard Certificate of Admission (표준입학허가서)
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After you arrive in Korea

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Documents for your nationality

Some documents depend on your country. Pick it to see what changes for you.

Count your deadlines

Enter your dates to see how many days you have. The 90-day residence-card deadline is the one most people miss.

Fill in a date above to see your countdown.

Estimate only — confirm exact dates with HiKorea.

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Sending money home from Korea

Banks vs licensed apps, the January 2026 rule changes, and how to stop losing money in the exchange rate.

Read the guide →

Exceptions worth knowing

  • Countries under 'visa-issuance restricted' lists have extra financial/document requirements.
  • If you're already in Korea on another visa (e.g., D-4), you may change status at the immigration office without leaving Korea.
  • Part-time work is allowed with permission — register for the part-time work permit (S-3, 시간제취업) at the immigration office first. You need at least TOPIK 2 to work at all, and hours across all your jobs are counted together. With sufficient Korean (undergrad: TOPIK 3 in years 1–2, TOPIK 4 in years 3–4; graduate: TOPIK 4), you can work up to 25 hrs/week (undergrad) or 30 hrs/week (grad) on weekdays, plus unlimited hours on weekends, holidays, and vacations. Below that level, the cap drops to 10 hrs/week (undergrad) / 15 hrs/week (grad).
  • Degree students (not language trainees) can bring a spouse and unmarried children under 19 on an F-3 dependent visa (동반) — the sponsor must show income above a minimum living-cost threshold. Since April 2025, dependents apply at the Korean embassy abroad; in-country F-3 filing is suspended.

Unsure about your case?

Call 1345, the Immigration Contact Center (19 languages; +82-1345 from abroad), describe your situation, and ask for the document checklist for your case by email. Can't make calls? HiKorea's online inquiry answers in writing, and before you fly, your local Korean embassy's email works just as well.

This is a guide — confirm before you act

Get into Korea is an independent guide, not a government body and not legal or administrative advice. Requirements change often and depend on your nationality and situation, so details here may be outdated or not apply to you. We take no responsibility for any decision made from this page — always verify your exact case with the official sources below before you apply or pay any fee.

Official sources — verify here