Korea's Regional Visa Pilot Program (광역형 비자 시범사업) Explained

The '광역형' (광역 = broad/metropolitan area, 형 = type) visa pilot is a KIS initiative that creates streamlined visa pathways for international students and graduates connected to participating regional universities. Rather than a brand-new standalone visa category, it is an administrative pilot that modifies how existing visa types (primarily D-2 student and related work visas) are processed for eligible university/department combinations.

The core idea: Korea faces a structural challenge where foreign students and talent concentrate overwhelmingly in Seoul, while provincial cities and regional universities struggle to attract and retain international students. The regional visa pilot creates an incentive structure — improved or expedited visa services — for those willing to study and work in Korea's regions.

Participating universities and departments are designated by KIS in coordination with regional local governments (광역자치단체) and the Ministry of Education. The list is periodically updated — February 2026 saw a revision to the list.

Key points about eligibility:

• Universities are designated by region (not by overall national ranking)
• Specific departments or faculties within those universities are approved, not the entire university
• The program targets fields where Korea has regional labor shortages: engineering, manufacturing-related sciences, agricultural sciences, healthcare, and information technology programs at regional universities are commonly included
• Students and graduates of listed university/department combinations receive the visa pilot benefits; students in non-listed departments at the same university do not qualify

To check if your university and department are currently on the list, visit the HiKorea portal (hikorea.go.kr) or contact the Korean Embassy in your country.

The specific benefits vary based on the student's stage, but based on the pilot's stated goals the program provides:

For current students (D-2):

• Streamlined visa processing through designated regional immigration offices (광역출입국·외국인청)
• Faster CVI (사증발급인정서) processing for initial visa issuance
• Simplified document requirements for students enrolled in participating departments

For graduates:

• Enhanced or expedited (job seeker) status change processing for graduates of participating programs
• Priority consideration when applying for work visas, with employer matching support through regional employment centers
• In some cases, reduced minimum score thresholds or extended stay for graduates who commit to working in the same region

Note: The pilot is still in development and specific benefit parameters have been evolving since launch. Always confirm current benefits through KIS or the participating university's international student office.

Standard applications are processed through KIS central or the Korean consulate in the student's home country without any regional differentiation. The 광역형 pilot creates a separate processing track specifically for regional universities:

• Applications are processed through the regional immigration hub (광역출입국·외국인청) covering the university's metropolitan area (e.g., Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan)
• The regional immigration hub maintains closer coordination with the university's international student office
• Employment transition ( → ) is coordinated with the regional employment centre (광역고용센터) to match graduates with local employers

Students at participating regional universities should ask their international student office whether their specific degree program is registered under the pilot before submitting applications.

In September 2025, the 광역형 비자 pilot was expanded beyond its original student/graduate focus to include a multi-province job seeker benefit for certain holders. Under this expansion:

• Eligible job seekers connected to the regional pilot can seek employment across multiple provinces (광역자치단체) rather than being administratively associated with a single region
• This is particularly relevant for graduates of regional pilot universities who, after graduating, want to explore job opportunities across several regions before committing to one employer
• The expansion was updated again in February 2026 — the current version specifies that holders must have completed a degree at a participating regional university (or have a qualifying work history in a pilot region) to access the multi-province benefit
• Standard job seekers without this connection do NOT automatically gain multi-province flexibility under the pilot

This update makes the 광역형 pilot significantly more useful as a career development tool, not just an initial enrollment incentive — graduates can now more actively compare regional employers before making their transition.

1. Confirm eligibility: Ask your university's international affairs office (국제처) whether your department is registered under the 광역형 비자 pilot and what benefits currently apply.
2. Initial D-2 visa: Apply for your student visa at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country using the standard D-2 process. Indicate that your program participates in the regional visa pilot if instructed by your university.
3. After arrival: Your university's international office will guide you through registration with the regional immigration hub. Keep your university enrollment and attendance in good standing — the pilot benefits are tied to active enrollment.
4. Job seeker transition (D-10): Upon graduation, apply for through the regional immigration hub. Your university's career services office may have a direct channel for pilot participants.
5. Work visa (E-7): When you have a job offer from a regional employer, the CVI process may be expedited through the regional hub and the local employment center.