How to obtain a study visa in South Korea

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Following our article about the study guide in South Korea, now it’s time to think about how to obtain a study visa in South Korea in order to travel there.

Indeed, that will be after you receive the acceptance letter directly from a Korean University. Of course, the residency program varies according to the study program you are targeting.

Check out the top 10 universities in South Korea.

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Types of Korean student visa

Any foreigner planning to study in a Korean university for more than 90 days needs to apply for a student visa. And in South Korea, there are 2 types of Student Visa:

1) South Korea study visa D-2.

2) South Korea General Training Visa D-4.

Note: In South Korea, the visa is called ‘Sajeong’. As a matter of fact, it is the official name for the visa by the Korean Ministry of Justice.

Study visa application in Korea starts with a Certificate of Admission from a Korean institution of higher education. And usually, applicants need to pay the tuition fee for at least 2 terms of study to get this document. Academic years in South Korea consist of 4 terms, each term has 10 weeks duration. Moreover, on a student visa, you can apply for part-time work once you have completed more than 6 months study in South Korea.

South Korea study visa D-2

D-2 is a visa available to all students who wish to study (Bachelor’s study) or complete their studies (Masters and PhD) in South Korea from all over the world.

How to apply for a D-2 study visa in South Korea

The application process is done through the Korean embassy or consulate in your country.

You need the below paperwork and documents to get a South Korean D-2 study visa:

A valid passport.
Visa application form (obtained from the Korean embassy or consulate).
Acceptance letter from the Korean University that you wish to study in.
Most recent educational certificates obtained.
A document of the student’s bank account.
Visa fee with the amount of $30 for a single-entry visa, or $50 for multiple entries.

Learn also the types of scholarships in South Korea.

South Korea General Internship Visa D-4

D-4 is a visa available to students who want to reside in South Korea for the purpose of studying the Korean language.

Or people studying in educational institutions other than the Academic Research Institute.

In addition to the purpose of vocational, industrial and technical internship in Korean national research institutes.

Here you can check the education system and the teaching language in South Korea.

How to obtain a D-4 General Internship Visa in South Korea

Likewise, it is very similar to the way to obtain a D-2 study visa in South Korea. Basically, applying for it is done through the Korean embassy or consulate in your country.

Requirements for obtaining a D-4 General Internship Visa and the necessary documents:

A valid passport.
Visa application form (obtained from the Korean embassy or consulate).
Certificate of proof of acceptance and registration for internship or study at an educational institution other than the Academic Research Institute.
Most recent educational certificates obtained.
A statement of the bank account balance (provided that it exceeds $1,000 in local banks or documents related to academic exchange).
Identification certificate (for those who cannot prove their financial capability to cover the study, internship and living costs).

See the topic of study and living costs in South Korea.

Student visa in South Korea: cost, duration and extension

Visa fee is $40 for a single-entry visa and up to $90 for multiple entries. Fees may differ according to international practices, national agreements, the principle of reciprocities. So always check with the South Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.

Validity for a Korean student visa is for a maximum stay length of 2 years. If you extend your study period in South Korea, you need to apply for a renewal of your study visa on-site. For that, you need beforehand to pay the remaining semesters’ school fees, then go to your local Immigration Office to apply for a visa prolongation.

To help you ease the process and get more instruction, contact your university. You can also check Hi Korea website.

Moreover, international students with a visa that lasts for more than 90 days need to apply for an Alien Registration Card at the Immigration Office in South Korea. To avoid fines, make sure to o it within the 90 days upon your arrival in Korea, as this Alien Card can substitute for an ID card in the country. Moreover, the alien card in combination with a single-entry visa can function as a multiple entries visa in Korea.

For more information and contact about studying in Korea, visit the official website of the Korean government