D-6 Religious Worker Visa Korea — Missionary, Clergy & Religious Organization Requirements

D-6 is for foreign nationals engaged in:

• Mission work (선교활동): Ordained or commissioned missionaries under a Korean church or denomination

• Clergy duties (성직활동): Pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, monks, nuns conducting regular religious services

• Religious education (종교교육): Teaching theology or faith-based education at a recognized religious institution

• Religious organization administration: Senior administrative staff of a recognized Korean religious body

Not eligible for D-6:

• Laypersons volunteering at a church without a formal religious worker role

• English teachers at a church school (need E-2)

• Humanitarian aid workers (need G-1 or E-7 depending on role)

The sponsoring Korean organization must be registered with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) under the Religious Corporation Act.

Recognized categories: Christian denominations, Buddhist orders, Won Buddhism, Confucian organizations, Cheondogyo, Islam (Korea Muslim Federation), other MOC-registered bodies.

Key documents:

• Proof of ordination or commissioning (목사안수증, 신부서품증, 선교사파송장)

• Sponsorship letter from the Korean religious organization with MCST registration number

• Academic credentials (theology degree, seminary certificate)

• Criminal background check (apostilled)

Duration: 1 year, renewable annually. ARC required if staying more than 90 days.

• authorizes religious activities only — side work is not permitted without separate authorization

• If you move to a different church or denomination, report the change to immigration

• Foreign ordination documents must be apostilled or consularly authenticated and translated into Korean