Immigration Specialists
Verified professionals who can help with your visa application
The visa is Korea's job seeker and startup preparation visa for foreigners who want to find work or start a business in Korea after graduating or completing a work assignment. Most people know D-10 as a generic 'job seeker visa,' but it actually has four distinct subtypes — each designed for a different situation.
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
April 22, 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.
The most common subtype. D-10-1 is for foreigners who have graduated from a Korean or overseas university (bachelor's or higher) or who have completed a work visa assignment in Korea and want to stay to look for new employment.
Eligibility:
• Korean university graduate (bachelor's or higher)
• OR overseas university graduate in a field relevant to an E-7-eligible occupation, with relevant work experience
• OR former E-series work visa holder who has left their job and wants to search for new employment
Stay duration: 6 months (extendable once for 6 additional months, maximum 1 year total)
Work restriction: Cannot work commercially during D-10 without changing status. The visa is for job-seeking activities only — attending interviews, taking language courses, networking.
2025 D-10-1 scoring criteria update:
As of 2025, immigration officers evaluate D-10-1 renewal applications using an updated criteria matrix that replaces the prior binary checklist. Key scoring dimensions:
| Criterion | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Educational qualification | High | Korean university grad scores highest; overseas grad requires field relevance |
| Prior Korea residency record | Medium | Prior E-series holders with clean record score higher |
| Language ability (Korean) | Medium | TOPIK score or KIIP enrollment improves evaluation |
| Active job-seeking evidence | High | Job interview records, employment agency registration, job fair attendance logs |
| Financial self-sufficiency | Medium | Bank balance covering living costs for extension period |
| Immigration compliance history | High | Any prior overstay or violation significantly lowers evaluation |
For the first-time extension (6 months → 1 year), officers focus heavily on active job-seeking evidence. Applicants should collect and bring job search records (면접확인서, 입사지원서, 헤드헌터 연락기록) to strengthen the renewal application.
D-10-2 is for foreigners who want to start a tech-based business in Korea. Holders must be enrolled in or have completed a government-recognized startup support program.
Eligibility:
• Must be enrolled in or have completed the OASIS program (Overseas Access to Startup & Investment in Korea) or an equivalent MOJ-approved startup accelerator
• Must have a concrete business plan for a technology-based startup
• Must demonstrate business founding capability (relevant education, experience, or funding)
Stay duration: 1 year (renewable while startup is actively progressing)
Pathway: D-10-2 is designed to transition holders into D-8-4 (startup visa) or D-8-1 (investment visa) once the business is incorporated and operational.
D-10-3 is a newer subtype for advanced technology sector interns — graduates of highly ranked universities who come to Korea for a structured internship in a strategic technology sector.
Eligibility:
• Graduate of a top-ranked global university (specifically, universities listed in the QS World Rankings top 200 in relevant fields)
• Internship offer from a Korean company in a designated advanced technology sector (semiconductors, AI, bio, aerospace, etc.)
• Valid job offer or internship agreement
Stay duration: Up to 1 year
Key benefit: D-10-3 holders have an expedited pathway to . The internship experience itself counts toward E-7 qualification after the period ends.
D-10-T was introduced in April 2025 as a premium job seeker track for the world's top-tier talent — specifically designed to attract highly specialized professionals and researchers to Korea.
Eligibility (any one of the following):
• PhD holder with research experience in a cutting-edge field (AI, biotech, quantum computing, semiconductors, aerospace, clean energy)
• Senior researcher or specialist with a publication record in a globally recognized field
• Award recipient at an internationally recognized level in a relevant technical domain
• Recommendation letter from a designated Korean government agency, KAIST, POSTECH, or equivalent institution
Stay duration: Up to 2 years (longer than standard )
Key benefits:
• No K-Point test required for F-2-7 conversion (exceptional talent exemption)
• Expedited processing at immigration offices
• Eligible for the 광역형 비자 (regional visa pilot) with enhanced support
• Access to government matching services connecting top talent with Korean companies
Summary comparison:
| D-10-1 | D-10-2 | D-10-3 | D-10-T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | General job seekers | Startup founders | Top-uni tech interns | World-class specialists |
| Stay | 6 months (1yr max) | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years |
| Work allowed? | No (job seeking only) | Startup prep only | Internship only | No (seeking only) |
| Pathway |
D-10-1 is only renewable once — after 1 year, you must either have a job offer and change to E-series, or depart Korea.
D-10-2 applicants: enroll in OASIS before applying — proof of enrollment is required for the application.
D-10-T applicants: gather all credentials (PhD certificate, publication list, award documentation) in apostilled form before applying.
While on D-10, you CAN take Korean language classes, attend startup events, and go to interviews — these are all permitted job-seeking activities.
Need help with this?
Our specialists handle d-10 job seeker visa subtypes in korea — d-10-1, d-10-2, d-10-3, and d-10-t explained cases regularly and know exactly what Korean immigration officers look for.
Verified professionals who can help with your visa application
Mr. Visa Korea lists certified immigration administrative agents (행정사) who have been verified by our team. Book a consultation directly — no cold calls, no guessing.
Verified profiles only
Direct consultation booking
Certified & reviewed
All agents on Mr. Visa Korea are certified immigration administrative agents (행정사) registered in Korea.
Unfamiliar with a term? Browse the full glossary
Visa Process
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
The Alien Registration Card (ARC) is the official ID card issued to foreigners staying in South Korea for 91 days or longer. It is required to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, and access most public services.
Visa Process
HiKorea
How to use HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — Korea's official immigration portal for visa extensions, status changes, and ARC renewal. Processing time: 3-10 business days.
Visa Process
Visa Extension (Stay Period Extension)
A visa extension — officially called a 'stay period extension' (체류기간 연장) in Korean immigration law — allows a foreigner to legally remain in Korea beyond the expiry date on their current visa or ARC without leaving the country.
Visa Process
Status of Sojourn Change (체류자격 변경)
A status of sojourn change allows a foreigner already in South Korea to switch from one visa category to another without leaving the country — for example, from a D-2 student visa to an E-7 skilled worker visa upon graduation and employment.
Can I extend D-10-1 beyond 1 year?
No. D-10-1 can be extended once for 6 months (total maximum 1 year). If you have not found employment after 1 year, you must depart Korea. If you are very close to receiving a job offer, an immigration officer may grant a brief extension at their discretion, but this is not guaranteed.
Can I work part-time while on D-10?
Generally no — D-10 is for job-seeking activities, not employment. Working commercially on D-10 without authorization is a violation. However, if you were previously authorized to work under a prior status and that authorization remains valid, check with an 행정사 about your specific situation.
What is the OASIS program for D-10-2?
OASIS (Overseas Access to Startup & Investment in Korea) is a government-run startup support program for foreign entrepreneurs. It includes business mentoring, co-working space access, visa support, and connections to Korean investors and accelerators. Enrollment in OASIS is a prerequisite for D-10-2. Visit the K-Startup website (kstartup.or.kr) for current application cycles.
I'm a PhD in AI — which D-10 should I apply for?
If you hold a PhD in a cutting-edge field (AI, biotech, semiconductors, etc.) with a research or publication record, D-10-T (Top Talent) is designed for you. It gives a 2-year stay and an expedited path to F-2-7 without a K-Point score test. Gather your PhD certificate, publication list, and a recommendation letter from a relevant Korean institution if possible.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
| E-series / F-2-7 |
| D-8-4 startup |
| E-7 |
| F-2-7 (no points test) |
If you are a recent Korean university graduate, D-10-1 is your standard option. If you want to start a business, look at D-10-2 combined with OASIS enrollment. If you are a top researcher, D-10-T offers the most flexibility and the fastest path to long-term residency.
