Study for a degree at an accredited Korean university or college.
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
Issuance-manual sections covering D-2 student visa issuance, consular review, and TB-related entry screening.
Stay-manual sections covering D-2 extension, leave of absence, school transfer, reporting duties, and part-time work permission.
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.
These points are drawn from Korea immigration manuals and recurring review patterns for higher-risk visa categories.
HiKorea — Korean visa & residency manual: Issuance-manual sections on D-2 issuance and TB-related entry screening.
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau: Stay-manual sections on D-2 extension, leave, transfer, reporting, and part-time work.
Stay Duration
Duration of program (typically 2–4 years; 1 year per issuance, renewed annually)
Processing
1–4 weeks
Visa Fee
$74.63 (status change) / $44.78 (extension)
Fees and processing times sourced from HiKorea & Ministry of Justice. Figures are updated periodically but may change — verify before submitting.
Readiness check
Use this quick self-check before you spend time on forms or book a consultation for Student Visa.
Next focus
Eligibility fit
I meet the core D-2 requirements and understand any sponsor, degree, income, family, or experience conditions that apply.
The D-2 visa is issued to students enrolled in accredited higher education institutions in Korea. Sub-categories include: D-2-1 (associate degree), D-2-2 (bachelor's degree), D-2-3 (master's degree), D-2-4 (PhD), D-2-5 (research), D-2-6 (exchange student), D-2-7 (work-study / 일학습연계유학), and D-2-8 (visiting student). It is the primary visa for foreign students pursuing a full degree in Korea.
Foreign nationals who have been accepted into a Korean university or graduate program accredited by NIIED or the Korean Ministry of Education. Also covers Korean government scholarship (GKS/KGSP) recipients.
Accepted into a Korean government-accredited university or graduate school
Completed required level of education (high school diploma for undergraduate, bachelor's for graduate)
Proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses
No criminal record
Meets the institution's admission requirements
Online/correspondence universities (방송통신대학 etc.), vocational training institutes (한국폴리텍대학 직업훈련과정), and night-only programs without day courses are excluded from D-2 eligibility
Delay and refusal risks
Student-visa delays usually come from school eligibility, FIMS/admission records, finances, or student-status compliance.
The school, program, or standard admission certificate must support the exact D-2 subtype. Non-eligible programs, missing FIMS records, or inconsistent admission details can slow review.
Manual basis: The D-2 manual sections distinguish eligible education institutions, D-2 subtypes, standard admission certificates, and FIMS registration.
Bank statements, scholarship proof, tuition/payment records, or parent-sponsor documents need to match the applicant's country, school, and program requirements.
Manual basis: The manual lists financial ability documents and notes additional country- or route-specific financial-document handling.
Leave of absence, transfer, dropout, poor attendance, or a program change can affect extension or status-change review even after the original D-2 approval.
The stay manual treats school status, transfers, leave, and student compliance as part of D-2 stay management.
Real-world scenarios
Use these examples to map the D-2 student-visa rules to common student situations.
You are applying from abroad for a Korean bachelor's program and the school has issued admission documents.
Main risk
Financial proof, school/FIMS records, and document authentication must match the consular route for your country.
Documents to prioritize
Valid passport
Visa application form + passport photo
Certificate of admission from Korean institution
Original academic transcripts and diplomas (apostilled or verified)
Proof of financial ability (bank statement of approx. ₩20,000,000 or scholarship letter)
TOPIK score certificate (if required by institution or for certain scholarships)
Passport copy of parents (for under-18 applicants)
Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate required for nationals of 35 high-risk countries (issued by certified hospital, sealed envelope)
Apply to a Korean university
Apply directly to Korean universities or through government scholarship programs like GKS (Global Korea Scholarship). Receive an official letter of admission.
Apply for the D-2 visa
Submit your visa application to the Korean embassy in your country with your admission letter and supporting documents.
Enter Korea and register
Register at immigration within 90 days of arrival. Bring your ARC registration receipt to your university's international office.
Maintain status and renew annually
Your D-2 visa is typically issued in 1-year increments. Renew at the immigration office each year with proof of enrollment and continued financial means.
Need help with your D-2 visa?
Connect with a verified specialist who handles D-2 applications.
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Unfamiliar with a term?
Specific tracks under the D-2 category. Pick the one that matches your situation for track-level documents, criteria, and filing notes.
The same visa can involve different authentication, translation, sponsor-document, and review risks depending on nationality and document origin.
Vietnam
The D-2 route is the main page for Vietnamese citizens entering Korea for degree study at a university, graduate school, exchange program, or other approved higher-education track.
Focus areas
Nigeria
The D-2 route is the main Korea student-visa page for Nigerian citizens entering a degree, exchange, graduate, or approved higher-education program.
Focus areas
Still have questions about the D-2 visa?
Ask K-VISA AI — free, instant answers on Korean visa requirements and procedures.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
D-2 work permission is separate from the visa itself. Unauthorized or excessive work can create extension and future-status risk.
Manual basis: Recent manual updates clarify part-time work scope and restricted activities for foreign students.
Source note
These are practical risk factors for Student Visa, not a complete list of legal refusal grounds. Final review can vary by nationality, filing channel, consulate, immigration office, and case facts.
You are entering a master's, doctoral, exchange, or research program with school funding or a professor/lab arrangement.
Main risk
Scholarship evidence must clearly cover the study period and line up with the admission route, research status, and D-2 subtype.
Documents to prioritize
You are already in Korea on student status and plan to move to a different school or program.
Main risk
Transfers, leave of absence, dropout, and school-status changes can affect extension or reporting obligations.
Documents to prioritize
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