In recent years, many students choose to study abroad, and Korea is one of the popular destinations. However, for students who are going to study abroad in Korea for the first time, applying for a student visa can be a complex process. If you’re considering studying  abroad in Korea, you’ve come to the right place. This article provides two different methods for applying for a student visa and offers helpful tips to make the application process smoother. We want to help you prepare for your study abroad journey by sharing our knowledge and expertise.

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Korea Student Visa

D-2 Student Visa

If you’re considering studying abroad in Korea, you’ll need to apply for a student visa. The most common type of student visa is the D-2 visa, which is suitable for a wide range of degree programs, including exchange programs between universities. Here are the types of programs that are eligible for the D-2 visa:

• Formal degree programs (Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral)
• Exchange programs (academic exchange between universities)
• Short-term courses (summer/winter courses lasting less than 3 months)
• Invited by the Ministry of National Defense (foreign military students)

D-4 Student Visa

The D-4 visa is a general training visa that is typically applied for by those attending language classes in Korea. These types of courses are generally shorter in duration. If you’re planning to study any of the following programs, then the D-4 visa is the right choice for you:

• Courses offered by affiliated language schools of universities
• Integrated undergraduate/graduate/doctoral degree programs offered by the National Institute for International Education (for recipients of government invitation scholarships)
• Invited by the Ministry of National Defense (foreign military students)

Note that if you hold a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport, you can enter Korea visa-free for up to 90 days (3 months). If your study program is within this period, you may not need to apply for the D-4 visa.

Documents for Applying D-2/ D-4 student visa

Below is a checklist of documents required for applying for a Korea D-2/D-4 student visa:

Common documents

• Visa application form and passport photo (white background, color photo, 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm)
• Passport (valid for at least 6 months, original and photocopy of personal information page)
• Photocopy of Hong Kong ID card

If you have already received a “visa issuance confirmation number” from the South Korean Immigration Office, you do not need to submit the following additional documents to the Hong Kong consulate.

Additional documents required based on the program

• Original and photocopy of the “standard admission certificate” from the intended school
• Proof of financial support (bank statement, transaction records for the past 3 months)*
• Original and photocopy of school certificate/graduation certificate
• Original transcript
• Photocopy of the intended school’s business registration certificate
• Photocopy of the Student Exchange Agreement (MOU) (only for D-2 visa: exchange students)
• Receipt of tuition payment, course content of intended study, and study plan written in English or Korean (only for D-4 visa: language training)
• “Invitation letter” issued by the National Institute for International Education (only for D-4 visa: government invitation scholarship recipients)
• Invitation letter issued by the Ministry of National Defense (only for foreign military students invited by the Ministry of National Defense)

*The required amount for financial proof for formal degree programs is approximately US$10,000, while it is approximately HK$25,000 for exchange programs, short-term courses, language training, and government invitation scholarship recipients.

Application Time for applying Korea Student Visa

To apply for a Korea study visa, you’ll need to have your local educational institution obtain pre-approval on your behalf. Once you receive a confirmation email, you can submit your student visa application to the consulate in Hong Kong. The review process typically takes around 2 business days, excluding weekends and public holidays.

If you’ve obtained a “standard admission certificate” and have prepared all the required documents, you can apply for the visa. However, it’s important to note that you should not apply earlier than 3 months before the start date of your program. This is because the visa is only valid for 3 months from the date of issuance and can only be used as a single-entry visa.

Process of applying for Korea Student Visa

1. The South Korean educational institution will apply for the “Confirmation of Visa Issuance” on your behalf at the local immigration office or online.
2. The result will be sent via email and the approval can only be used for a single visa application.
3. Submit your application at the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong within three months (please check for the latest opening hours).
4. If you have already received a confirmation number, you only need to submit standard documents, including the application form and identification documents.
5. The review process takes two business days, and your passport will need to be temporarily held at the consulate.
6. After obtaining the visa, you need to enter Korea within three months.
7. Within 90 days of entering, you need to register at the local “Immigration Office”.
8. After obtaining the “Alien Registration Card” (ARC), you can enter and exit South Korea multiple times during your stay.

Fees of applying for Korea Student Visa

• Visa fee (for general countries, single-entry visa, 90 days or less): HK$320
• ARC renewal fee: KRW 60,000

Common Questions of applying for Korea Student Visa

1.How long is the validity period of a student visa?

Students holding a D-2 study visa can stay in Korea for up to 2 years, depending on the length of their course. If you are unable to complete your course before the visa expires, you need to renew it four months before the expiration date of your Alien Registration Card (ARC). The D-4 General Training visa has a shorter stay period, with a maximum stay of 6 months. Similarly, if you plan to continue studying advanced Korean language courses, you should allow enough time to enroll in the next regular course and then apply for an ARC renewal before it expires.

2.Can I work while holding a South Korean student visa?

People holding D-2 and D-4 student visas have limited opportunities to work in Korea during their stay, but the hours of work permitted vary depending on their length of stay, Korean language proficiency, type of course, and progress in their studies. It’s important to note that D-4 visa holders studying language courses must have resided in Korea for at least 6 months before they can begin working. If you are studying in an English-language program, you must meet the English proficiency requirement (equivalent to IELTS 5.5) before you can work. (*This requirement may be relaxed by approved schools).

As a student studying abroad in Korea, there are limited job opportunities to choose from, usually low-skilled jobs such as restaurant servers, sales associates, etc. Before starting work, it is important to obtain relevant permission from the relevant departments of the school and the immigration office.

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