Korean visa types
Korea runs more than thirty statuses of stay. These are the ones that matter to most foreign residents, with what each one lets you do and what it takes to get it.
Not sure which applies to you? The visa eligibility checker screens your profile against every category below in about a minute.
| Code | Name | Typical duration | Work rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-2 | Student (Degree programme) | Length of the programme, renewed yearly | Part-time work permitted with a permit from the immigration office and the university's international office. Hour caps depend on TOPIK level and year of study. |
| D-4 | General Trainee / Korean language study | 6 months to 1 year, renewable | Part-time work allowed only after six months of enrolment and with a permit. |
| D-8 | Corporate Investor | 1–5 years, renewable | Work only for the invested company. |
| D-10 | Job Seeker | 6 months at a time, up to 2 years total | No regular employment. Short-term internships are allowed with prior permission. |
| E-2 | Foreign Language Instructor | 1 year, tied to the employer, renewable | Teaching at the sponsoring institution only. Extra classes elsewhere need a separate permit. |
| E-7 | Specially Designated Activities (Skilled Worker) | Up to 3 years, renewable, tied to the employer and occupation code | Only the designated occupation at the sponsoring employer. Changing employer requires a change-of-workplace report. |
| F-2-7 | Points-Based Residence | Up to 3 years, renewable; a strong step towards F-5 permanent residence | Nearly unrestricted employment. No employer sponsorship, no occupation code. |
| F-6 | Marriage Migrant | 1–3 years, renewable | Unrestricted employment. |
| F-5 | Permanent Residence | Indefinite; the card is renewed every 10 years | Unrestricted. |
| F-4 | Overseas Korean | Up to 3 years, renewable | Most professional work allowed; simple manual labour is excluded. |
| H-1 | Working Holiday | 12–18 months depending on the agreement, non-renewable | Most work allowed except in entertainment and some regulated sectors. |
Work
-
Foreign Language Instructor
For native-level language teachers at schools, universities and licensed academies (hagwon).
-
Specially Designated Activities (Skilled Worker)
The main professional work visa. Covers roughly 90 designated occupations across management, professional, technical and skilled trades.
-
Working Holiday
A once-in-a-lifetime status for young nationals of partner countries, allowing travel plus incidental work.
Study
-
Student (Degree programme)
For students enrolled in a degree programme at an accredited Korean university — associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral.
-
General Trainee / Korean language study
For language-institute students and non-degree trainees. The usual first status for people learning Korean before applying to a degree programme.
Residence and permanent residence
-
Points-Based Residence
A residence status awarded on a 170-point scale, with a pass mark of 80. It removes employer sponsorship: you may work almost anywhere, change jobs freely, and start a business.
-
Permanent Residence
Indefinite residence with almost all the rights of a citizen except voting in national elections and public office.
Family
Business and investment
Job search
Before you rely on this
Visa requirements are set by ministerial notice and change without much warning. Everything here is a summary written for orientation, not immigration advice. Confirm the current rule with HiKorea or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center before you file anything.