D-4-6 (Foreign Trainee at an Excellent Private Training Institution) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What D-4-6 Is

D-4-6 is a non-degree vocational/technical training visa under 일반연수(D-4), for foreigners training at a private institution that meets a strict institutional whitelist — not an ordinary language school or academy. Eligible institutions include ones founded by (or affiliated with) a Korean listed company, a university-affiliated specialized technical institute, the Korean branch/exclusive-license operator of a famous overseas technical institute, a vocational-competency-development corporation licensed by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, a lifelong-vocational-education academy accredited by the Ministry of Education, or one of a named list of 전공대학 (국제예술대, 백석예술대, 정화예술대) under the Lifelong Education Act. Visas are issued only via a Certificate for Visa Issuance (no direct consular issuance), and the pathway also functions as a later bridge into E-7 work status for graduates who complete a long enough course.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Has acceptance/enrollment in an eligible D-4-6 training program/institution.
• Can prove sufficient financial capacity for training and stay period.
• Provides required academic/identity documents under current standards.
• Meets any nationality-specific or risk-control documentation rules in effect.
• Maintains lawful stay/reporting compliance for extension or status changes.

3. Criteria Summary

• D-4-6 is not a points-based status.
• Adjudication emphasizes authenticity of training purpose and program/institution credibility.
• Manual updates can adjust document or eligibility detail for training pathways.
• Review offices may request additional proof when case profile requires deeper verification.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• D-4-6 is training status; no E-series salary-threshold structure applies as core eligibility.
• Work authorization is not automatic and is separately regulated if permitted.
• Funding proof for tuition/living costs is more important than employment income.
• Using D-4-6 for de facto work intent can result in refusal or compliance action.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• D-4-6 is not employer-sponsored as primary status basis.
• Training institution changes, leave, or withdrawal should be properly reported.
• Any approved outside activity must stay within immigration permission scope.
• Unreported program/status changes can damage extension or later status-change outcomes.

6. Required Documents

• Visa/stay application form + passport + photo + applicable fee proof.
• Official training admission/enrollment documents for D-4-6-eligible program.
• Academic/identity background documents required by current guidance.
• Financial proof for training and living expenses.
• Any additional institution/nationality-specific documents requested.

7. Fees and Processing

• Fees follow official issuance/extension schedules in the manuals.
• Processing times vary by mission/office workload and documentation quality.
• Weak training-purpose or funding evidence often causes supplement requests.
• Apply early relative to program start and expiry dates to reduce risk.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Training program/institution eligibility is unclear or unsupported.
• Financial evidence is insufficient or inconsistent.
• Applicant purpose credibility does not match D-4-6 training objective.
• Prior overstay/compliance issues or unreported status changes.
• Application relies on outdated training-document assumptions after revisions.

9. FAQ