D-10-1 Job Seeker Visa Score Calculator: Full 2026 Points Table
Korea's D-10-1 (General Job Seeker) visa switched to a points-based system in October 2018. To qualify, you must score at least 60 points out of 190 total, with at least 20 of those points coming from the 'basic items' (age + education). This guide lays out the complete 2026 scoring table from the official residency manual so you can calculate your score before applying.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed July 2026
Review & source basis
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
July 14, 2026
Source references
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
Overview: how the D-10-1 points system works
The points table has four components:
-
Basic items (기본항목): Age + Education — maximum 50 points. You must score at least 20 points from these two items combined. If you score under 20 on basic items, you are ineligible regardless of your total score.
-
Optional items (선택항목): Work experience + Korean study in Korea + Korean language ability — maximum 70 points. These are additive; you can combine all three.
-
Bonus points (가점): Ministry referral, global university, Fortune 500 experience, STEM degree, high income — maximum 70 points.
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Deductions (감점): Immigration law violations and criminal penalties. These are subtracted from your total.
Passing threshold: Total ≥ 60 points AND basic items ≥ 20 points.
Special note: Nationals of certain countries designated by the Ministry of Justice face a higher threshold of 80 points. Check the current Ministry of Justice list for your nationality.
Basic items: age and education (max 50 points)
Age (max 20 points):
| Age range | Points |
|---|---|
| 20–24 years old | 10 |
| 25–29 years old | 15 |
| 30–34 years old | 20 |
| 35–39 years old | 15 |
| 40–49 years old | 5 |
| 50 years old or above | 0 |
Age is calculated as full years (만 나이). A person who is 49 years 11 months old scores 5 points.
Education (max 30 points):
| Degree | Points |
|---|---|
| Korean 2-year college (전문학사) | 15 |
| Bachelor's degree (domestic or overseas) | 15 |
| Master's degree (domestic or overseas) | 20 |
| Doctoral degree (domestic or overseas) | 30 |
Notes: Degree certificates only (not diplomas, certificates of completion, or professional licenses). Overseas 2-year college degrees are excluded (Korea cannot verify them consistently). The Korea National University of Arts' 예술전문사 program is treated as equivalent to a master's degree.
Optional items: work experience (max 15 points)
Work experience is scored based on the past 10 years. Both Korean and overseas experience count, and they can be combined (double-counted).
Domestic (Korea) work experience:
| Duration | Points |
|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 5 |
| 3–4 years | 10 |
| 5 years or more | 15 |
Overseas work experience:
| Duration | Points |
|---|---|
| 3–4 years | 5 |
| 5–6 years | 10 |
| 7 years or more | 15 |
Only experience in your degree's relevant/similar field counts. Internships and work done during the job-seeking period itself are excluded. You must provide a certificate of employment specifying dates, location, and job role.
Optional items: Korean study in Korea (max 30 points)
This category rewards having studied in Korea as part of a degree or formal training program.
Korean university degree (within 3 years of graduation):
| Degree level | Points (within 3 years) | Points (3+ years after graduation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year college (전문학사) | 30 | 5 |
| Bachelor's | 30 | 10 |
| Master's | 30 | 15 |
| Doctoral | 30 | 20 |
Other Korean study (1 year or more):
| Program type | 12–18 months | 19+ months |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate researcher (D-2-5) | 3 | 5 |
| Exchange student (D-2-6) | 3 | 5 |
| Government/public institution training (D-4-2) | 3 | 5 |
| Private institution training (D-4-6) | 3 | 5 |
| Language study (D-4-1) | 3 | 3 (no increase) |
Note: Korean study and Korean degree points can be combined — for example, scoring points for both a Korean bachelor's degree AND prior language study (D-4-1) is allowed.
Optional items: Korean language ability (max 20 points)
Korean language is measured through TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) or KIIP (Korea Immigration & Integration Program).
| Level | Points | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK 5–6 / KIIP Stage 5 or final exam pass | 20 | TOPIK score certificate or KIIP certificate |
| TOPIK 4 / KIIP Stage 4 or intermediate exam pass / KIIP pre-test 81+ | 15 | TOPIK score certificate or KIIP certificate |
| TOPIK 3 / KIIP Stage 3 or KIIP pre-test 61+ | 10 | TOPIK or KIIP |
| TOPIK 2 / KIIP Stage 2 or KIIP pre-test 41+ | 5 | TOPIK or KIIP |
TOPIK scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. KIIP stage completion certificates do not expire.
Bonus points (max 70 points — combinable)
Bonus points can push applicants with moderate basic scores over the 60-point threshold:
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Ministry or consulate recommendation (20 points): A recommendation from a relevant Korean government ministry or Korean consulate abroad identifying you as a specialist. This requires a formal recommendation letter from the ministry/consulate.
-
Global university graduate (20 points): Graduation within the past 3 years from a university ranked in the top 200 of THE World University Rankings or top 500 of QS World University Rankings. Also applies to STEM graduates from Asia-region universities ranked within QS top 1,000 for the 9 target countries (Vietnam, China, Thailand, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines) — pilot through October 2027, must be aged 29 or under with TOPIK Level 2+.
-
Fortune 500 company work experience (20 points): Having worked for a Fortune 500 company for 1+ year within the past 10 years, and the experience must have been within the past 3 years.
-
STEM bachelor's degree (5 points): Holding a bachelor's or Korean 2-year college degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field.
-
High-income professional (5 points): Previous employment with an annual salary of USD 50,000 or more.
Deductions
Violations of Korea's immigration law or other laws result in score deductions:
Immigration law violations (5-year window):
| Penalty amount | Deduction |
|---|---|
| KRW 3 million or more (cumulative) | -30 |
| KRW 1–3 million (cumulative) | -10 |
| KRW 500,000 – 1 million | -5 |
Criminal sentences:
| Penalty | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Fine of KRW 3 million or more | -30 |
| Fine of KRW 2–3 million | -10 |
| Fine of KRW 200,000 – 2 million | -5 |
Note: ①+② deductions are combined (not double-counted for the same incident). Also note: if within the past 3 years you received immigration penalty of KRW 3 million+ OR a criminal fine of KRW 3 million+, you are disqualified entirely — not just deducted.
Exemptions: who does NOT need to pass the points test?
Several categories of applicants are exempt from the 60-point requirement:
-
First-time D-10 conversion from D-2 degree: If you are a D-2 student who just graduated from a Korean university and are applying for D-10-1 for the first time, the points system does not apply. You receive 1 year automatically. On renewal, the points system applies.
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Korean university graduate with strong Korean language: If you graduated from a Korean university within 3 years and hold TOPIK 4 or KIIP Stage 4+ (or KIIP pre-test 81+), you are exempt.
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Youth who grew up in Korea: Applicants aged 18–24 who completed all of elementary, middle, and high school inside Korea are exempt (the domestic youth foreign residency program).
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Promising talent (유망인재): Applicants aged 29 or under who graduated from a THE/QS top-200 university at bachelor's level or above within 3 years, OR who hold TOPIK 6 with a Korean studies major.
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Care worker trainees: Those who have completed the Ministry of Health's designated care worker (요양보호사) training program at a Korean institution and are preparing for employment at a long-term care facility.
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Frequently asked questions
I am 32 with a master's degree from a foreign university and no Korean study experience. What is my score?
Basic items: Age (30-34) = 20 points + Education (Master's) = 20 points = 40 basic item points. Optional items: No Korean study = 0, no Korean language = 0, work experience (depends on your history). If you have 1-2 years of domestic Korea work experience, add 5. Bonus: if your master's is from a THE/QS top university, add 20. Without the bonus: 40-45 points — not enough. With the global university bonus: 60-65 points — you pass. Bottom line: foreign-educated applicants without Korean study often rely heavily on the global university bonus or Fortune 500 bonus.
My TOPIK 4 certificate expired 3 months ago. Can I still use it?
No. TOPIK certificates are valid for 2 years from the test date. An expired certificate does not count for scoring. You need to retake TOPIK or use KIIP completion as an alternative.
I scored exactly 60 points. Will I be approved?
60 points is the passing threshold, but it does not guarantee approval. Immigration officers also evaluate the quality of your job-seeking plan, the plausibility of your activities, and your overall immigration history. A borderline score with a strong job-seeking plan and clean record will typically pass.
I'm from a country on the Ministry's 'higher threshold' list. What do I do?
Nationals of certain designated countries need 80 points instead of 60 to qualify for D-10-1. The list of designated countries is published by the Ministry of Justice. If your country is on the list, you need to identify which scoring components can get you to 80. Bonus points (global university, Fortune 500, ministry recommendation) become even more critical in these cases.